The city council will be conducting a special meeting tomorrow. Apparently they need to meet to evaluate the city manager and co.
According to the Brown Act, at every special meeting, the public must be given notice that describes the public’s right to comment.
We just reviewed the notice for the “special meeting” and there is no indication that the public was given such notice. Furthermore, even if the council retreats to closed session, the Attorney General advises that legislative bodies should afford the public an opportunity to comment on items prior to adjournment into closed session.
Bottom line:
Outside of any notice modification signaling the public’s right to speak before the council retires to closed session, it appears that the city may violate the Brown Act for not providing the public with proper notice. This violation may allow the contents of such meeting to be revealed for public review, despite it’s closed session status.
After the council returns from the closed session, they will have already decided whether to take action or not. This is the precise reason why the opportunity for public comment before closed session is so important. It’s your only chance to say something before the council makes a decision.
More importantly, this maneuver smells just like the Mayor’s move to dispose planning commissioners not favorable to her “vision” for Patterson. We believe the council is about to flex it’s muscles again with another squeeze out. This time, it appears that city staff is the target. The meeting should be terribly interesting.
Lon's Disciple said,
October 20, 2009 @ 8:25 AM
Here are my unofficial odds on who will be the primary target tonight:
Cleve Morris 1:3
Maricela Vela 1:25
Brian Whitemeyer 1:15
George Logan 1:20
Linda DeForest 1:20
Rod Simpson 1:2
Mike Willet 1:15
Adrianne Chaney 1:10
Margaret Souza 1:20
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see where this one is headed. All you have to do is figure out who the developers are not that fond of, the pawns will take care of the rest.
OldTimer said,
October 21, 2009 @ 2:52 PM
You forgot one. What odds would you put on Elias Funez being the target for this? With this council as twisted as it is, I wouldn’t be shocked at all if somehow his name came up for the blame……
Lon said,
October 22, 2009 @ 5:59 AM
Welp, according the Modesto Bee, Cleve Morris is the target.
The Patterson Irritator said,
October 22, 2009 @ 8:43 AM
Thanks for the feed Lon.
OldTimer said,
October 22, 2009 @ 9:07 AM
And now we know who is behind the attack, again from the bee:
But Campo said she alerted council members about her concerns
several meetings ago and only recently gathered relevant
information to bring the matter to a head Monday.
I now wonder who is feeding her info. Who is behind her ‘knowledge’? Who has something to gain from giving her information? “Only recently gathered relevant information” means her informant has fed her power grab appetite.
Patterson residents want to know.
We also want to know who she (and maybe Ms. Smith) has in mind as interim manager. They, the ones behind hanging Cleve out to dry, wouldn’t be moving forward at this point in time unless they already had a plan in mind. What are the odds that Ramos will be interim? Or someone with his backing?
Patterson residents want to know.
And why now? Is it just a coincidence, or does it have something to do with Wal-Mart and the health care center move?
Patterson residents want to know.
The Patterson Irritator said,
October 22, 2009 @ 9:25 AM
That’s the fire we need oldtimer, well said. Again, this is a power move similar to the reshaping of the planning commission, she’s setting the table.
OldTimer said,
October 22, 2009 @ 10:18 AM
You know what is really scary?
They can’t be stopped. They swindled themselves to power and now they can’t be stopped. With the power and money backing them, they just can’t be stopped. They are doing everything in their power to get more power, for themselves and for their friends and backers, while completely forgetting about the citizens.
Look at our city streets. Can anyone honestly say that they are safe for our citizens? Can anyone say, and I mean honestly say, that the gang members and drug dealers are under control? Can anyone honestly say that they are comfortable with the gang hangouts and drug dealing that openly goes on within blocks of our city schools?
I know that I am not comfortable with it.
But, does our city management do anything to get those issues resolved? Not only is the answer a very loud “NO”, but they are so focused on their own power, on making sure that their buddies are taken care of, that they have completely lost sight of what needs to be done.
We have no police force in our town. What we have is a traffic enforcement force. If you want to call the police to report drug dealing, gang gatherings, or underage drinking, you had better be prepared to give your name and address if it is before ten PM. Also, if it is after 5PM, you have got to be able to find the 1-800 number, because there isn’t, to my knowledge, a local 892 number for off hours police. (Unless it is a 911 type emergency).
I remember when we had a local force, you could always, 24 hours a day, call the local police department number and it would be answered. Usually by someone that would get results.
Now we get to call the 1-800 number, which is answered in Modesto, and they MIGHT dispatch someone to look in to the report.
I’ll step off my soapbox now. I am just fed up with the city not WANTING to deal with public safety while they work on their power grab. I am fed up with the drug dealers asking our kids, every day, if they want drugs, while the city council worries about whether or not a certain developer is happy or not.
(Sorry for the diversion)
The Recorder said,
October 22, 2009 @ 10:26 AM
If you want to know more about the Mayor’s move to oust Morris, click on the link below, wow!
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/nBfS2ZQYpRo6dBy2