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Police, public ream Arroyo Grande council and manager

September 24, 2014

arroyo grandeThe Arroyo Grande City Council and its embattled city manager received a barrage of criticism Tuesday night from both members of the public and city police officers.

About 75 people attended Tuesday’s council meeting, many of whom wore black in support of the Arroyo Grande Police Officer’s Association and spoke during public comment. All of the speakers spoke in opposition to the council’s handling of an apparent affair between City Manager Steve Adams and Community Development Director Teresa McClish, whom officers discovered together in a darkened City Hall office late at night on July 3.

On Tuesday, officers who spoke during public comment focused their criticism on the alleged coverup of the July 3 incident. They maintained that city management and council members have misrepresented their statements about Adams and McClish, have lied about apparent violations of city policy and have impeded a proper investigation of the matter.

One former officer said during public comment that Adams broke the law by lying to a police officer, and that he should be terminated. Other public speakers also called for the termination of Adams, as well as the resignation of council members.

Adams was frequently shaking his head in disagreement with the officer comments Tuesday night.

Not one speaker supported him.

Over the weekend, the council caved and agreed to allow an independent investigation of the July 3 incident. A task force including council members Tim Brown and Jim Guthrie will choose the investigator.

Mayor Tony Ferrara invited the police union to participate in the selection of the investigator, but the police officers association rejected the offer Tuesday. Officers said that it is not their duty to investigate personnel matters and city policy violations by city leaders and questioned why officials involved in the alleged cover-up would have any say in the investigation.

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A famous person once said: Power corrupts; and absolute power corrupts absolutely.


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Absolutely true!


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Steve Adams shaking his head, and mouthing the words, “no, no, no” as officers described him denying Teresa was in the building with him

was his Bill Clinton, “I did not have sex with that woman” moment.


Sure hope that’s on the council video.


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And a big shout out to Vanessa for publicly calling him out on it!


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I think the AGPOA and the citizens did an excellent job speaking at last night’s

city council meeting. I would say that is was somewhat comical to watch

Steve Adams sit on the side and shake his head mouthing no as the officers

called him (and the council) out on the lying I say it was almost comical if it

wasn’t such an embarrassment to hear and watch your top city official act like

a spoiled child. Reminded me of a toddler having a tantrum when they

get caught doing something wrong.


As the public opinions continued, Mayor Ferrea’s demeanor and body language

seemed to become strained.


A few more questions arise from this latest batch of fiasco and embarrassing

cover up


Why is Adams and McClish allowed to continue working and not placed on

Admin leave? Why did it take over two months to get the missing tapes and who

had access to these missing tapes. In last weeks interview on KVEC,

Mike Brindler said he reviewed the tapes it was apparent they had been tampered

and erased in some parts. Who did this?


Just some of the many, many unanswered questions of this whole incident.

I have zero respect for Adams and Ferrera and anyone else who was involved.

How sad they didn’t think of the citizens they are suppose to be representing.


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Just like a bad open wound, firm pressure must continue to be applied in order to stop the bleeding.

This is not the end.


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Right nurse 1?


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agag1, yes, having been a nurse for going on 26 years, my experience with bleeding is that pressure is usually the way to go. Unless of course you are dealing with politicians.


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Oh Lordy, what’s the cure for those?


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While Steve may not have run out of friends, it has become rather apparent they are no longer rushing to defend him with their claims of “he’s a nice guy”.

The facts are what they are. Add to that the interpretation of those facts (also known as the smoking gun) and we have a much clearer picture, the REAL picture.


Knowing our Mayor, City Attorney, and SOME council members “cooked the books” so they could claim Adams had violated no (not even one) policies, has led to the demand that they too, be included in the independent investigation. Their position of defending Adams, and using highly unethical tactics to do so, warrants one.


Tony tosses out the fact that the investigation could cost up to $25K in an effort to rile people up. Knowing this amount wouldn’t pay to re-pave the small street I live on, I for one, volunteer to continue driving around existing potholes in order to offset the cost.


It’s a small price to pay for getting to the bottom of why SOME of our elected officials intentionally, and fully intended to deceive us!


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This video should be shown at the next council meeting.It speaks volumes.

http://www.foxcarolina.com/…/cute-video-upstate-girl-gets-caught-with-doughnu.


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I am the former AGPD Officer who demanded the Arroyo Grande City Council TERMINATE Steve Adams immediately. The City Manager serves at the Council’s pleasure and can be terminated without cause ! Why should we pay any further money into an investigation of the City Managers horrific conduct, other than to assure he leaves his position empty handed without severance. No back room deals that allow resignation and a golden handshake as the problem exits this City and becomes someone else’s liability.


I also want the Council to TERMINATE the City Attorney, Law Firm of Tim Carmel. The City Attorney also serves the Council and can be let go without cause. As in the case of the City Manager, the City Attorney has given them cause as well. Tim Carmel has provided horrible advice to the City of Arroyo Grande for 16 years. Look at what his lawyering advise has cost the City of Arroyo Grande and the JPA in sexual harassment lawsuit settlements, and retirements.


When is enough, enough ? This does not have to cost additional monies to take care of these two problems immediately. Where I want this independent investigation to go is into the Cover Up and learning the reasons why this City Council, in particular Mayor Ferrara felt the need to believe the poor character of a liar (Steve Adams), over the five Police Officers, not to mention leaving the City and all other innocent employees vulnerable to harm in so many ways.


Finally the entire story from A to Z has been provided to the public no thanks to our elected City Representatives. It is time for a change in this town !


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No need to investigate Steve, that much has been made clear.

We DO need to investigate the rest of the bunch. Clearly something is wrong when they pick and choose the information they use to defend an indefensible position, and expect us to go along with it!


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When Tony asked Shawn Cosgrove to come back to the podium for a question I found it interesting what Tony said. “you don’t want to pick from the small group of people we have chosen?”


The decision has been made folks, Tony knows who they are going to use. We need to demand in writing to the entire council we want the DA of Slo co to choose the investigator.


If anyone other than the DA chooses the outcome will be the same.PERIOD!


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…but they’re all from out of town…


Like his buddy from the police academy that helped Tony out with that other investigation?


Smart move to pass on that offer!


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Oh Tony’s buddy Rich Thomas?


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Oh, I thought it was his rich buddy, Thomas.

Thanks for straightening that out! ; /


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Mr Andrews,

Do you think Carmel is giving the city horrible advice,

or following the horrible directions of our Mayor?

Or, are they one and the same, the lines too blurred to distinguish between the two?


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It’s Mrs. Andrews agag1, and YES I think Carmel (who has been the City Attorney for 16 years) has continued with his legal strategy for all those years and with different Councils and Mayors.

He immediately classifies issues like this as Personnel related which are protected and limit what can be said, and by who, while the “process” runs it’s course.

The most common course is to mute the complaint from the public and other employees, ADMIT NOTHING, then battle it out with attorneys representing the complainant. The Philosophy is that if the City admits any wrong doing, it will open the FLOOD GATES of like lawsuits.

Personally I would like to see ALL information gathered in cases like these presented for review and decision making by our City Council, NOT just the recommendation of the City Attorney.

It is my opinion that keeping the problems employed to continue the behavior that generated the complaint for the sake of protecting the City from additional litigation is preposterous, and why the problem never goes away.

The numerous cases I am familiar with have ended in settlements with confidentiality clauses attached. Often Industrial Disability Retirements are sought and approved. The Complainant goes away with a news release from the City that the matter has settled, the amount, and no further comment about the details are provided due to the confidentiality agreement.

All of this City Business goes on because we have a very apathetic public who really don’t care unless it is effecting them directly.


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Thank you for your response. Much of what you’ve stated I’ve heard rumors of for quite some time.

This is not my first rodeo at the AG council. Therefore, I realize it is nearly impossible for any group of individuals to gather enough ammunition to help fight these battles without brave folks stepping forward, as our POA did last night.

As a former employee, do you feel this may pave the way for others to come forward?

There are private citizens who have also been unfairly treated. We are willing to work together and unite in our effort to bring change, but as last night clearly shows, the voices of a few, or even several individuals are easily ignored without overwhelming, undeniable, insurmountable proof.

We are all aware that unless these issues are brought to light (and possibly even then) things will remain as is.

Mold grows best in the dark.

Thankfully, the upcoming election will allow us an opportunity for some change, but as we know, we need BIG changes.


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There is no employment contract? Might a contract have been signed when Adams pressured the council, behind closed doors, to assure him that his job was not in jeopardy?


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At-will contracts have a stipulation allowing the city to terminate at will, without reason or advance notification.


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75 people out of of population of over 17,000? Hardly representative.


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Sure beats the hell out of the ZERO that spoke for Adams last night!


Don’t kid yourself MF, most people would rather stay home…just like you.

Those 75 represented a whole lot more, the fact that they showed up speaks volumes.

Ask anyone who was there, or better yet,

ask Steve Adams, Tim Carmel, Tony and the rest of the council.

They wish none of those 75 had come.


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agag1, need not listen to MF, as he/she/it is a big fan of our mayor in Morro Bay who is good friends with your fab mayor Tony. As I have said before they are 2 peas in a pod (Tony and Jamie) pretty much both DIRTBAGS.


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Oh geez, no wonder he/she/it is so nasty! Enough said.


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Congrats to the people and the police.who spoke last night.


The consequence of not holding your ground against the Mayor and City Council’s political and pathetic response would be to develop an atmosphere of power, fear, cronyism, ineffective governance…known best as modeled by the City Manager of Paso Robles.


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JB– we already ARE in the land of power, fear, cronyism, and ineffective governance.

We’re working to change that, and get out of it!


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If there was ever any doubt as to who was, or is telling the truth, there is no more.


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They must get Adams out of City Hall.

The employees are living through a burden that must be crushing.


Show some respect, TONY and STEVE must GO. Carmel too!

The Council must act now- they cannot wait for an investigation. Claims will be flooding the City if they do it put a stop to this.


Lie Tony, say you have too many commitments and being the mayor is too much. Let mayor pro tem Githrie take charge. TONY you gotta let go now and stop this.


Can Tim Brown be the write in candidate for Mayor?


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