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AG council weekend meeting targets Adams’ job

September 19, 2014

AG signSeeking to head off a growing firestorm of community anger, the Arroyo Grande City Council has announced a special meeting Saturday at 1 p.m. to discuss the job performance of City Manager Steve Adams.

It will be the third such analysis of the embattled manager’s “job performance” since he was discovered by police in a darkened City Hall office July 3 in what was later described as an “uncomfortable situation” with a subordinate, Teresa McClish, the city’s community development director.

The late-night incident, first reported by CalCoastNews, was later minimized by Adams, McClish and Mayor Tony Ferrara, who took public issue with police officers’ version of events, suggesting reports were tainted by ongoing labor negotiations. That resulted Thursday in a vote of no-confidence in Adams and Ferrara by the police officers’ association, and the filing of a formal complaint with the city council against the pair.

By slating the weekend special meeting, council members may be hoping to offset planned public displays at Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting.

 


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The meeting, if noticed at a minimum of 24 hours, is legally noticed – just ask mayor irons in morro bay, he was an expert at noticing in 24 hours. The real question – is a 24 hour notice the ethical move in respect to the residents of Arroyo Grande, and allowing them enough time to find out and participate in the meeting? The answer is no, the notice was likely done in that time frame in order to greatly reduce or eliminate public comment. One related and frightening note, I watched the morro bay city council meeting last week and noted that irons raved about your mayor tony and what a honor it was to have him as league president. Wow, morro bay wake up! And last, while I have not agreed with some of the tactics of CNN in the past with some of the stories they have done, I have to say that without CNN on this issue, we would largely be in the dark about this issue.


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Largely in the dark? Hardly!

It would be “lights out ” if it were up to Tony’s Trib.


We are fortunate to have access to investigative reporting, thank you CCN!


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AG can use this incident to raise some revenue by setting up a PPV with Adams and McLish’s husband in the octogan or selling the missing security tape footage to TMZ.


What a joke these elected stooges have become.


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Reflects badly on citizens of AG if we allow them to stay.

Shame on us all.


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Maybe Mayor Ferrara simply would like a reenactment of the alleged crime scene so that he can first hand provide insight, pointers and critique the situation. Or maybe he will stand-in for the reenactment. I wonder how many takes it will take for the Mayor and council to get satisfaction.


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The following provides a background summary for those who may attend to give public comment prior to the closed session (and also for the regular meeting scheduled for.September 23.)


The City Council of Arroyo Grande was reminded of the promise to place the Adams/McClish matter on the Council agenda in an Email on September 2, 2014, confirming the August 26 Council decision for an expedited open special meeting which was eventually set for the regular meeting of September 9.


The Email emphasized that the council had agreed on August 26 to a “process” (Tim Brown) to consider “transparently” (Joe Costello) an “expedited special meeting” (Jim Guthrie) discussion of the facts surrounding the allegation of misconduct with a view on openly deciding whether to establish an independent investigation . Any discussion on disciplining Adams was to be done in closed session. (Time Brown).


Based probably on advice from counsel (Tim Carmel), the Council discussed the matter in closed session on September 9, at the end of the regular meeting, thereby lying to the citizens. Even though the stated agenda item for the closed session was the City Manager (Steve Adams) the report from the closed session was there would be no investigation.


After the closed session on September 9, Council member Jim Guthrie passionately rationalized the city would soon forget the Adams/McClish matter and the Council would return to considering profound questions such as the tree problem.


But soon thereafter on September 15 Otis Page and Julie Tacker submitted a complaint to the Grand Jury seeking an independent investigation.


In a surprising if not amazing development, the Arroyo Grande Police Officers Association on September 18 submitted a formal complaint and a vote of no confidence against City Manager Steve Adams and Mayor Tony Ferrara, sensationally exposing the whole matter and substantiating the allegations by citizens there is a cover-up.


It is understood this complaint will also be submitted to the Grand Jury on Monday, September 22, prior to the regular scheduled meeting on the Council on Tuesday September 23, which expected to be heavily attended by prominent citizens of the City critical of the Council’s conduct.


And now the City Council will meet in closed session on Saturday, September 20 (today as this record is composed) to address the political (Humpty Dumpty) devastation it faces. For the allegations are now proven to be true.


The brave policemen sworn to protect our lives have placed their professional lives and reputations on the line to finger the lie — to set the record straight.


For those reading this record, will you as citizens also stand to support the truth as now courageously established by our police.


At the substantial risk of appearing callous over this tragic situation, One cannot dismiss exclaiming Wow! Hollywood could not match this story! Someone call Clint Eastwood.


Also — a small detail — thanks to CalCoastNews we are here today seeing the truth on this matter!!!


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This is a watershed event. Ferrara, Adams, McClish and the rest need to be replaced. Failure to do that is going to reinforce the growing belief here on the Central Coast that local government (and the individuals that comprise it) can pretty much do as they please, absolutely immune to the consequences of their actions.


The sordid mess in Paso Robles was ugly. In the end the ringleader — in many ways the worst of the bunch survived by throwing the most exposed POS under the bus. In the end the PR residents got screwed.


Atascadero’s ringleader escaped after spending a great deal of time in bed with the notorious Kelly Gearheart to the detriment of local citizens. City Government in SLO has been painful cinema every since the coming of Katie Lichtig from Malibu. I’m waiting for her and her girlfriend to get caught in an Adams/McClish scandal anytime now.


The worst crap is the county level led by David Edge, Gail Wilcox, Adam Hill and Bruce Gibson. Now even little Morro Bay is getting into the scandal business.


At what point does the citizenry just say F all of you POSs!?! You certainly don’t have our respect! Cleaning house in AG will be a good start…


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Just like in Paso Robles, it’s all a personal issue and a lot will be kept confidential.


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Because Mr. Adams has a morality clause I his contract, they can terminate for cause.

This will be NO win if Tony does not go too!


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Mr Adams and Mrs McClish should have both been suspended without pay on 7/7, and terminated immediately after an investigation, which if handled honestly, and correctly would have quickly revealed they had violated city policy.


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I honestly think nothing can be done by the people who actually pay the bills but it looks like MR.ADAMS will get the ‘golden parachute’ ala Paso Robles with praise for a job well done and a significant $$ severance package with the amount cloaked in personnel matter legal restrictions.


This is designed to appease the public and the AGPOA.


NOTHING will come of the missing video.


Mr. Adams will go on to be city manager in a resort city with more salary and an even better employment contract due to government privacy laws that ignore the indiscrections of past poor employment practices at the past and current taxpayers expense.


I hope TRISH lands on her feet and is not in anyway harmed anymore than she already has.


The missing video will be dismissed as a technical failure beyond any human control.


The Arroyo Grande Police Association will get everything and more in their contract negotiations.


Mayor Tony Ferrara will run for a higher state office and win.


KSBY and the TRIB will report only once on a Sunday morning and never revisit the issue again.


The SLO BOS will adamantly not allow this issue to be discussed due to non purview jurisdiction.


Kevin Rice, Julie Tacker, Aaron Ochs and many others will have a ‘sh*t’ fit and immediately spew their spinned diatribe in many different directions. And rightfully so… agreed or disagreed. They have a right to express their opinion.


This controversial issue will sink into the quagmire of everyday life of challenged local government scandals that mere mortal voter/constituent/taxpayers will eventually aquiesse and the whole issue will fade to black as by design.


WE ARE MAD AS HELL AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!


Unless we NOT become apathetic lemming sheep these aborations by our elected government ‘officials’ will continue to erode and disrespect those that have so many died in so many wars to uphold our principles of RIGHT and WRONG!


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Sir you have hit the nail squarely on the head. Not only does this occur in government but I have personally seen the same employment practices in public healthcare institutions.


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This is an absolute f’n crock! Trying to sneak this meeting in tomorrow?! I’m pretty sure this violates the Brown Act, which means they are subjecting the city to yet more liability.


This is a desperate action, an action of the guilty. They do not want the line shined in their dark corners. And it really shows the disdain for the people of AG.


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It’s like a pop quiz…they’re checking to see if we’re paying attention in class.


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