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AG mayor seeks restraining order on public speaker

October 10, 2014
Mayor Tony Ferrara

Mayor Tony Ferrara

By DANIEL BLACKBURN

Arroyo Grande City Council members met Wednesday morning to “discuss” hiring a private investigator who  apparently had already started his job, and Mayor Tony Ferrara angrily asked for a restraining order on outspoken critic Otis Page.

According to the agenda, the council was meeting to discuss hiring a private investigator from Ventura to look into a employee scandal and alleged cover-up. However, city employees said the company had already been selected, the private eye was hard at work, and the meeting was a “sham.”

Several city employees said officers who had first-hand knowledge of a recent city government scandal were contacted for interview appointments by Sintra Investigations in the days before the special council meeting, which had only the one item on the agenda.

Sintra Investigations will be looking into the late-night City Hall rendezvous on July 3 between City Manager Steve Adams and a subordinate employee, Teresa McClish, as well as the council’s handling of the issue. The incident was first reported by CalCoastNews on Aug. 19, and since then numerous Arroyo Grande residents have expressed dismay at the response by Mayor Tony Ferrara and his council mates in meetings and in letters to council members.

Ferrara, responding to one resident’s email asking the council to approve an independent investigation, recommended his fellow council members not reply to the resident.

“No need to reply,” Ferrara said in an Aug. 21 email to council members Tim Brown, Jim Guthrie, Joe Costello and Kristen Barneich, and copies to Adams and McClish: “This is an FYI. I wanted you to know where I’m coming from. Not about to take this crap from anyone.”

About 25 citizens attended the rare morning session, many criticizing a “lack of transparency” by city officials, a failure to fire Adams, and the already-completed deal with Sintra.

Resident Page said both the meeting and selection of the investigator was “a sham” as the council had already hired the firm. Ferrara then ordered microphones and public broadcast television cameras to be turned off, and demanded that a police officer escort Page from the council chambers.

A visibly irritated Ferrara asked a nearby police officer if he could “get a restraining order” against the outspoken Page, a police department employee confirmed. Ferrara was then informed that it was unlikely he would be able to secure a restraining order against Page.

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Emails to Council PRA 09-22-14 by CalCoastNews


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Write-in candidate campaigns are hard, but hardly impossible. In 2010 Lisa Murkowski won a write-in campaign for US SENATE for Alaska with over 200,00 votes and both major parties having candidates.


C’mon AG don’t let haters bring you down, Jim Hill for Mayor!


Lisa Murkowski (Write-in) Joe Miller Scott McAdams

Party Republican Republican Democratic

Popular vote 102,252 90,740 60,007

Percentage 39.0% 35.5% 23.5%


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All of this would make for a great editorial for The League of California Cities


Western City Magazine


Editorial


(916) 658-8234


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More contacts for The League of California Cities


http://www.cacities.org/Resources-Documents/About-Us/League-Staff-Contact-Directory.aspx


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So much of this scandal is about Ferrara’s bloated ego which makes him feel as though he can control and get over on others. You can literally watch his frustration grow as more and more people begin to ignore him or take issue with him.


I wonder when (if ever) the last time Ferrara put the good of the city ahead of pumping-up his own image?


IF AG reelects Ferrara then they deserve what they would get — hideously untrustworthy “leadership” that’s going to cost the city in a multitude of ways over the coming years.


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Go back to SLO SPAN and watch the public comment.

Wednesday’s meeting is up.

Look at Tony’s behaviour. Why is he always talking so much?

He love to talk about process when it suits him.

But…. He never speaks of it when it does not

At the special meeting, he was prohibiting any comments that were not directed at the investigation unless Doug Perrin wanted to share what a swell guy he was.


Also, the lack of the introduction of the agenda item and proceeding right into public comment is what caused much of the furor with the audience.

Learn how to run a meeting you lonely puffed up egotistical liar.


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The cops should arrest Otis…then he could share a cell with Otis…Mayberry’s town drunk.


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I have a better idea, the police can arrest Tony Ferrara for impresonating a mayor……..


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Wow your mayor down there in AG is as big of a dirtbag, as the one we have in

Morro Bay. No wonder Jamie Irons has such admiration and respect for this guy!


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It’s time for you to nip it in the bud……www.youtube.com/watch?v=de_P2aUZJyA


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Mayor Tony is a drunk as well?


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Yes, with power!


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Ferrara needs to resign…


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Wow! Ferrara has got to be brain dead to keep doubling down like this; he’s acting like a mafia capo. Nice moves Godfather lol


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rather than money as your bet, you should place your vote……


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7000 Households in Arroyo Grande. 50 volunteers could knock on every door in the evening next 23 days. Breaks down to 7 households per person each day. An hour a day! That’s the only way I would put any money on Hill’s chances.


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What neighborhood do you want? You can get flyers and assigned precients by calling 441-5133


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he can help me on Sunday—-I will doing a group of streets in AG and will be getting my assignment today……..


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MAKE THE FLYER DOUBLE PLY….SOFT LIKE CHARMINS


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Is that you, Tony?


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Yes Smiley, I hope this means you want to help. I can give you fliers, a sign for your yard, what would you like?


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Wow….The League of Califronia Cities must be very proud of their president. (Not)


I wonder if this is how Tony handles his emails there? Keep up the good work Tony


Vote Jim Hill


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Maybe that email should be forwarded on!


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Absolutely it should! Wouldn’t you want to know if this was who you’d just elected into office? I hope J & M do it, no more power for King Ferrara.


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Wow, what a shock to see what we felt were private emails posted on CCN! We have since been told that any correspondence written to City personnal is considered public record.


What upsets us more is that they did NOT provide the threatening email that was Tony’

s response. They only released what we wrote and Tony’s command to his kingdom to not bother responding to us, that he took care of it for them. (BTW, Tim Brown and Kristin B did respond!)


So, in all fairness, I will post his response below this posting. It’s a long winded letter, with a few threatening comments within, and lots of bashing of CCN.


What bothered me MOST about his response was telling us we were “very welcome to show up at the next meeting. We (the city) have a lot to say”. I thought during public comment they were NOT suppose to respond. And, this issue was not an item on the agenda for the Aug. 26 meeting. What really bothered me during that meeting is how Tony had Mr. McMahon (lawyer who did the investigation for Carmel’s office) STAND UP DURING PUBLIC COMMENT TO GIVE HIS REPORT. AND, invited up by the Mayor to contribute to the public comment! That alone must have violated something!!!


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(Tony’s response to our personal email dated Aug 21, 2014)


Mark and Julie,


I am both disheartened and disappointed that intelligent individuals in our community would be so quick to judge two very dedicated public servants and a hard working council committed to this city, based solely on an irresponsible, vaguely sourced “hit piece” from Cal Coast News.


The tone of your e-mail is alike in kind to the detached, unfounded gossip that Cal Coast News is famous for. You’ve apparently already passed judgment. So your very welcome to show up at the next meeting. We will have a lot to say.


I would have thought that this city government had at least earned the benefit of the doubt. Had you sent an email that asked the question; “hey guys, tell us what’s going on here.” We would have responded. Cal Coast News printed their “sleaze” without bothering to check the validity of their sources, and didn’t have the decency to call any of the parties involved until “after” they wrote their lies. We do not consider Cal Coast News to be legitimate media and do not respond to their inquiries. To do so would result in the same distorted garbage they continue to proliferate. Our city attorney’s office conducted a thorough investigation, interviewing everyone who was present that night. No one observed either Steve or Teresa engaged in anything illicit. No one observed them fully or partially unclothed. In short, none of the illicit behavior that Cal Coast News printed was true. But did that stop them from causing this kind of community upheaval? No. Did they care about the fact that they would damage the reputation of two very hardworking city employees and embarrass their families in the process? Again…no!


The Tribune just published their version of what happened. You might want to check their website. It’s much closer to reality. Steve is guilty of poor judgment. He and Teresa both realized that after the opening at Robert’s they had consumed a bit more wine than they should have. They were in no shape to get in their cars and drive home. They were drinking huge amounts of caffeine laced tea when the officers arrived. Steve conversed with them “fully clothed.” All they wanted to do was verify that Teresa was OK since her husband had called wanting to know if she was enroute, etc. They quickly determined that and left. How many of us have been in that same position. I’ve been there a few times. How about you? In a perfect world, no one would have one glass of wine too many. I’m glad they had the common sense to not attempt an immediate drive home. I find it ironic that Karen Veeley who was recently arrested for drunk driving and has subsequently lost guardianship of her grand kids because of her behavior, would be so hypocritical. It’s ironic but not surprising. Many have dubbed her and Dave Congalton, the “Sleaze Team.” They are most deserving of this title.


So feel free to show up. I’ll have a statement and Steve may want to say something as well. If you want to chat beforehand you can reach me at 550-6446.


Tony


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Check out the phone number 550-6446.


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