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Arroyo Grande needs a financial audit

October 31, 2014

AG signOPINION By OTIS PAGE

Considering the managerial dynamics imposed by the Arroyo Grande City manager’s “scheduled” resignation, there should be an audit of the finances and financial practices of the city. Accentuating this question is the persistent statement by the Mayor Tony Ferrara that there has been no cover up of Steve Adams admitted indiscretion during the period of July 3 up to the disclosure of the incident by CalCoastNews on Aug. 19.

What is the financial responsibility of the Arroyo Grande City Council in this matter? Why should the council — with its primary fiduciary obligation — entrust the city’s finances to a city manager who has resigned — but who will continue to manage the city’s finances for an undetermined period of time because of his conditional resignation?

Even the city manager should abdicate his financial role so that he cannot be accused of possible improper financial conduct in the future. Both Ferrara and Adams should avoid the impression there is or was a financial closeness between the two.

In this context, government watchdog/citizen activist Julie Tacker appropriately refers to the “charter cities … Bell, Stockton and Compton.” She provides the insightful commentary that of the nine-months of transition allowing Adams his full $13,000 monthly salary, that this should provide ample time for Adams to “hide skeletons” and “bury bodies.”

Buried with the bones on financial conflict is the possible allegations of financial conduct imposed by Arroyo Grande City Manager’s “scheduled” resignation. This begs the question. Must there be a call for an audit of the finances and financial practices of the city?

Tacker states, “Arroyo Grande voters are facing the question of ‘charter city’ on the Nov. 4 ballot. As they do, it is important to look at its current leadership’s questionable spending and ponder; is now the time to relax the standards in which to spend the people’s money?”

Why should the citizens be concerned with a financial audit? One answer is the concern of Adams possible financial manipulation of city funds in response to the suggestions or implied dictates of Ferrara. What are those suggested concerns? Of many, they include the subsidization of the Five Cities Fire Authority, the sanitation district financial issues, the taxing of water usage by the citizens — with no date certain to end the taxes once a the drought has been ended. And of course with all of this, as Tacker establishes, there is the charter ballot issue giving more financial leeway to the council.

Tacker adds to these concerns the fact that “the risk-taking allowed by charter cities has no place in Arroyo Grande,” such as “spending a cool million dollars on its current creek side city hall,” that the city has tried to build a police department; voters rejected paying for it — twice, that the city attempted but failed to consolidate police services with Grover Beach, fought against police department staff by hiring special counsel to ‘negotiate’ the contract.

Superimposed on all of this is the irony of the position by the League of California Cities that advocates strong financial oversight of California cities.

The irony of this magnifies Tacker’s closing judgment that, “In light of the recent expose’ by CalCoastNews, the City of Arroyo Grande, with its current leadership can’t be trusted to be a risk-taking charter city and can no longer afford Tony Ferrara as its mayor.”

Why the irony? Because Mayor Tony Ferrara is the recently elected President of the League of California Cities that by itself insists on financial oversight by the citizens.

 

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For the sake of healing our city, an independent and fully comprehensive audit of the entire city and all its departments might be a good idea. They are not cheap, maybe we will get extremely lucky and some courageous citizen with money to spare will step up to the plate.


If it occurs, the selection of the financial auditor should have nothing whatsoever to do with anyone connected in any way to the city. Many citizens probably don’t have much faith, if any, in some of the latest city matters and how they have apparently been handled. Concerns about the council’s involvement in the second “independent” investigation, the council’s involvement with handling Adams’ supposed resignation (which has not actually occurred yet), or their involvement with selecting his predecessor have all been brought up by our citizens.


To whomever is involved with starting the website about freeing the city council, the person who wrote an opinion piece slamming one very specific police officer based on supposed “sources” for the story, whoever is increasing the number of dislikes for CalCoast postings, and to those who may (or may not) potentially be contacting local businesses attempting to get them to take down Mayor Write-In signs…there was an interesting comment made by Ferrara at the end of the last council meeting. He was describing how the media attention and fall-out regarding the scandals is approaching or at libel (something to that effect). Since libel is a written defamatory statement, and slander is a spoken or oral defamatory statement, and potential criminal conduct by any party is and always will be a crime, that’s a very interesting opinion that EVERYONE should take notice of.


There is a whole lot of inflammatory gasoline being put on an already scorching four-alarm fire. Please by all means loyal pro-city council/management folks, don’t let our other Citizens and their seemingly Valid Concerns deter your apparent efforts (intended or unintended) to cause divisiveness within this city. This is getting sadder by the day.


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Rather than a website to free the council, how about freeing the citizens of AG from officials who abuse their power in such a way that they benefit at the expense of the residents?

The citizens of Arroyo Grande have been too trusting for far too long.

We wanted to believe that because these were nice people they were looking out for our best interests…guess again!

Talk to people who have worked for the city or who deal with them on business matters, they know how these “nice people” have been taking advantage of us for years.

This has got to stop, it is time to clean house.


Write-In Jim Hill for Arroyo Grande Mayor.


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They’re creepy and they’re kooky,

Mysterious and spooky,

They’re all together ooky,

The Mayor’sFamily.


City Hall is a museum

Where Stevie came to see ’em ;-)

They really are a scream

The Mayor’s Family


(creepy)

(sneaky)

(sleazy)


So get a witches shawl on

A broomstick you can crawl on

We’re gonna pay a call on

The Mayor’s Family.

They’re creepy and they’re kooky,

Mysterious and spooky,

They’re all together ooky,

The Mayor’s Family!


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Support Gil’s gas/market on Courtland and Grand!

The Ferrara supporters are harassing them over the Jim Hill signs,

Desperation has reached the point they have involved the city attorney! What a great use of taxpayer $$$$.


Apparently a little competition from a write-in candidate who’s barely visible due to. working 12-14 hour days during the Diablo outage is really putting the pressure on.


And Costello referred to those opposed to current city shenanigans as rancorous?

Wake up Joe!


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agag1 points out that is “…barely visible due to working 12-14 hour days during the Diablo outage…”


Hummm… how’s he going to govern the city if he doesn’t even have time to campaign?


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you have never heard the best way to get a job done is give it to the busiest person?


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Oh brother!

Outages don’t last forever unlisted, don’t be a ninny.


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One more thing…Jim is never too busy to take your call if you have any questions.

Please feel free to call him at home, even if only to discuss his busy schedule.

He can be reached at: 481-5654.

Jim will return your call if you leave a message including the best time to call.


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Have you ever heard of retirement? Maybe Jim will retire and be there to serve the people more effectively than the current mayor


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The Mayor is one of five.

He should not need to be retired to be the Mayor of AG


He can ONLY act if he has a majority vote of the Council so why does he need to govern more than the others?


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Very interesting. There is a long list of people feeling intimidated by the police union coming around asking to put up signs.

In fact the over zealous Jim Hill supporters are posting signs on public and private property without permission in the cover of night. I have observed many. Add to that the lack of any real position from Hill and the campaigns association with Kevin Rice and you have to wonder how this ever becomes a pathway for city reconciliation. This is a very divisive bunch.


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Good try AGDon


Most of the police officers do not even have signs in their yard.


And you are very confused. The sign machine has nothing to do with fellas.

Did you think guys could paint like that?


The police are squeaky clean on this Tony.


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Kudos for bringing out some real facts, AGDon. After being trounced, they will move on to their next victim Next Wednesday.


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What facts are these? That people put up signs at night?

There is NO fact that the police officers have anything to do with the sign campaign.

So the City who every year brings their attorney to negotiate with the POA was mad that the AGPOA brought an attorney with them to negotiations? I’m not a union guy, but really…. Fair is fair.


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100% hogwash AGDon, is your comment yet another jab at the POA by a city official?

Very interesting indeed, but not for any of the reasons you claim, your information is way off base.


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Hey “Don”

Give us this long list of those intimidated by the police so we can go hear their stories.

Or… Is it like the unknown website toting America and AG.


Someone has told you a bucket of …..

Think for yourself.

Do you have tea after wine?

Do you go to your place of work to sober up?

Would you go for one more glass and leave the City event instead of going home?


NO ONE BELIEVES THIS STORY.

Because it is not true.


The MAYOR should have told the truth from the beginning, but NO he wanted to be MAYOR and the PRES more..


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I would go to my office, or another place, as necessary. Current PSA’s remind us that “buzzed” driving is drunk driving. And your local corespondent can confirm that you don’t even need to be at the assumed .08 to be in violation of the law. While one does not want to play on the edges, tea and time would seem prudent.


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Man I’m all for elections being tough and a certain amount of Ray/ Compton mud, but really the amount of bs flung at the AGPOA for no reason is just fuelling the flames of distrust in City Hall.

The City Council should be trying to make amends with people not blaming them.

Are any of them salvageable?


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“Shenanigans as rancorous”? My brain hurts.


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We need to get the word out to other citizens of AG to support the businesses who have posted signs in their businesses…they need us—just like we need them….especially after Tuesday—


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Joe can’t wake up.

He’s been sleeping during meetings for years.

And now he is chomping on dentures or something.

The Rip Van Winkle act has got to go!


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Noticed today that the “Ferrara for Mayor” that as displayed at the house right next to the mayor’s has been taken down and appears to be laying on the ground up by the house, perhaps a relator decided having that sign was not good for business and made the house more difficult to sale, makes sense.


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Considering what day this is, and until such time as these ghosts, goblins, and spooks are removed from office, I declare AG..”The Village of the Damned.”


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WHY IS IT THAT NOT ONE CURRENT EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY HAS STEPPED UP TO THE DEFENSE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER


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Let me take a guess because there are none that support the mayor and/or city manager.


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Most employees like the rules to be applied fairly.

City officials turning a blind eye to the Adams/McClish relationship for so long

probably does not sit well with those who know they would be fired for the same manager/subordinate behavior.


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hmm, and where would they come forward to? This form to get flamed?


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How about the council meetings for starters?


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The MAYORS match.com site….

September 1, 2014


” Now how can you refuse an offer like this? ….I usually don’t like to talk politics. It is too depressing a subject these days. But you should know I am conservative with a sense of humor. …..I have little patience with liberal ideology.” .


“That said, you would join me for an occasional decadent chocolate dessert providing there was a plan to burn off the carbs in some form or another”.


“You’re patient, a good listener, and you’ll wait for me to stop talking before you start. You agree, as I do that good communication is essential in a relationship. BUT MOST of ALL, if “systems are all go” you’re not afraid to love someone like there is not tomorrow! ”


I just got done wiping my mouth after puking!


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Surfer dude, what about when Tony states”even sneak a hug or kiss in public if the mood is right,(Fair warning:these things are important to me”)

And that is under the part where he states ” now let’s talk more about “you”


When I read the part about ” if all systems are go” I just thought about the little blue pill Viagra. Any buddy else would have stated WHEN all systems are go, but then I am younger and I don’t have a problem with lift off.


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Don’t give a hoot about most of this, but the”have little patience with liberal ideology”, has me a bit puzzled.

Why is Ferrara supporting Caren Ray?

Or better yet, what does Caren have on Tony that would make him go against his beliefs to endorse her?


Is this still up and running? If so, doesn’t seem very wise.


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So… The Mayor is so embarrassed being our mayor that he doesn’t list it as his job and goes so far as to say he does not like to talk politics.

Women beware. I think his nose is longer than the photo portrays.


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They could come forward to the Grand Jury, letter to the editor. All the same outlets that any citizen enjoys.


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Lots of folks with opposing opinions to the majority of posters come here to post.


If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.


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I am sure they are worried about keeping their jobs as well as retribution from the group who is doing all the bogus calling to businesses.


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TONY FERRARA IN the COAST NEWS Tolosa Press

Page 34


“But most of all, I would want it remembered that I, along with the council, worked hard to heal our City; mend relationships, and that we re-energized our community spirit.”


Give me a BREAK.


Oh and Mr.Page

well done again!


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Much more believable to me is the statement from Jim Hill that he would like to work with the entire city. How wonderful that he realizes there’s more to AG than just the village.


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while i disagree with otis on issue of financial audit at anytime the city should be able to do an audit and prove where money is spent, additionally a bit of humility would go a long way


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Agreed, but the city would need a lot of humility at this point, and that doesn’t seem like Tony’s style.

We all know, the way Tony goes–so goes the council.

In other words, not going to happen DaddyO.


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The financial audit would be a GREAT idea. If the AGPOA is having trouble knowing where the money is,,, then show them where it is.

The City should have long ago opened their books to the POA.


Wouldn’t the new City Manager want to know he is starting with a clean slate?


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With all due respect Mr. Mayor, you have not done anything to heal this city—I just don’t trust you with this task and there are many others that do not either.


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I believe we need the State Legislative Audit Committee in Sacrament to investigate Arroyo Grande,South County Sanitation , and the Oceano Community Services District.


Forms are available online and I encourage citizens to submit requests and contact Your state elected representatives for support.


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Before this is all over there may be lots of people investigating a lot of things in AG.


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Spot on Otis.

I’m sure our city officials will appreciate our concern.


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LMAO!


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Mr. Page

What is the plan to insist this audit is completed?

Obviously the CC is NO longer listening to CITIZENS.


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