Mayor Tony Ferrara resigns before term ends

November 26, 2014
Mayor Tony Ferrara

Tony Ferrara

By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN

In an unusual move, Arroyo Grande Mayor Tony Ferrara announced at Tuesday’s council meeting he intends to resign Friday at 5 p.m., three days before his term ends.

The early resignation means that Mayor Pro Tem Jim Guthrie will serve through the weekend and pass the gavel to mayor-elect Jim Hill at a ceremony Monday. After 16 years on the council, Ferrara lost his seat to Hill, a write-in candidate.

City residents allege Ferrara is responsible for a decade of abuse of power and the more recent cover-up of an alleged sex scandal involving former City Manager Steve Adams and a subordinate.

In the aftermath of the July 3 City Hall incident, Ferrara and Councilman Joe Costello lost their jobs, and Adams has been placed on paid administrative until the council selects a new city manager.

Until then, Debbie Malicoat, the city’s administrative services director, will serve as interim city manager.

Twelve members of Adams’ family were in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting. Steve Adams’ wife Rose spoke during public comment, relating how much the city and city staff meant to her family.

“He considers them his family too,” she said. “We are going to miss our friends and coworkers. We are going to miss our home.”

In addition, several speakers questioned why city staff had not put two engineering consulting contracts out to engineering firms for requests for qualifications before contracts with the Wallace Group and Water Systems Consulting were to expire. In response, city staff said  a recently-hired city engineer planned to begin the process shortly.

The council then agreed to a compromise — shortening the proposed extension from six months to three months to allow time to properly finish the engineering consultant process.

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Happy Thanksgiving…

I am thankful that Ferrara is GONE !

I am thankful that Adams is GONE !

I am thankful that Costello is GONE !


I will be MORE THANKFUL when our new MAYOR JIM HILL and COUNCILWOMAN HARMON are sworn in, and we can start to correct the wrongs that have infested and infected the City of Arroyo Grande for far to long !


I appreciate Honesty and Integrity, something Santa Claus can bring to the P.O.S. FERRARA and ADAMS ! But, I think they will get just what they deserve from Santa.


Every Dirty Dog has their day…


Did you see the LA times story about the disgraced Tony the chump Ferrara


Talk about taking one for the team. Adams wife stated, “We are going to miss our friends and coworkers. We are going to miss our home.” Well, Your husband is really really going to miss at least one co-worker… and as for missing your home, you need to thank your husband for that too. Lucky lady. I wonder if McClishes husband feels the same way? He seems to be the only real victim here.


Oh and Mrs. Adams gave a short list of accomplishments of her husband including Roberts restaurant. really? That is where Ms. McClish and Mrs. Adams husband had their infamous date.


Let’s see let’s add to Mrs. Adams list of Steve’s accomplishments

1. Paying $9,000 a month on an empty building

2. Reducing staff during the recession and now we need a bigger building.

3. Ed Arnold City council member trying to KILL a city staffer

4. Ed Arnold kiddy porn and swinger parties.

5. 0-4 at the ballot box on assessments and taxes.

6. Appointing Kristin Barniech to anything.

7. That awesome photo of he and Ms. McClish that CCN loves to put up!

8. “We can’t get any city business done because of all the public records searches”

9. The 3/4 page ad as a resignation letter

10. The tea story.


Steve was heard whistling this tune outside city hall last night….


Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman

Giving all your love to just one man

You have bad times, and he’ll have good times

Doing things that you don’t understand


But if you love him, you’ll forgive him

Even though he’s hard to understand

And if you love him, oh be proud of him

‘Cause after all, he’s just a man


Stand by your man

Give him two arms to cling to

And something warm to come to

When nights are cold and lonely


Stand by your man

And show the world you love him

Keep giving all the love you can

Stand by your man


Stand by your man

And show the world you love him

Keep giving all the love you can

Stand by your man


The Halloween public art of himself Costume?

Blaming a group of your employees for your Oops! Event!

The Rancho parkway Trader Joes roadway solution?.


Don’t forget negotiating that killer, sweet deal(for Nick Tompkins)

of paying $1,000,000.00 over market value for the City Hall property to begin with!


Adams certainly had his faults but your list includes several items that were outside of his purview and control. City manager is not the same as City Emperor. The long list of problems you gave was the results of many different people making mistakes. The worst of them are gone but a few remain and need to watched and, if possible, converted to a more honest and constructive management style.


Respectfully OTOH, what on the list was a result of making a mistake?

Seems to me those items were intentional, calculated and deliberate, with the exception of #5.


I think both families of the horny Adam Hill and Trish McClish are victims.


It is easy to think “I wouldn’t put up with that!” but some people whose spouses screw others on the side, but when there are kids at home it becomes more complicated.


Oh Mary, your Freudian slips are killing me!

Surely you meant Steve Adams, not Adam Hill, but when the shoe fits…


CRAP! That is the second time I’ve done that in two days!


Mea culpa.


Oh no, gives us a little insight into your true thoughts!

Keep ’em coming.


Lets face it, Ferrara is completely embarrassed by the fact that he lost to a write in

candidate. Thusly he has the brilliant idea that he is going to step down, that way he doesn’t have to suffer further embarrassment to himself by giving the position to Jim Hill himself. Instead he is stepping down and hiding behind Jim Guthrie.


Ferrara resigning just shows what we already knew about him: no honor, no ethics, no courage, no consideration for anyone but himself…and his cronies like John Wallace.


Ferrara, IMO is not simply embarrassed by his loss to Hill, he is infuriated.

He is simply too angry to pass the gavel to Jim.


This is the best BLACK FRIDAY bargain in the county…maybe anywhere!


Truthfully given the amount of taxpayer money Mr. Ferrara has wasted, siphoned, given to his buddies, and generally stole it was hardly a bargain but given what it would have cost us had Ferrara won, I suppose you are right. At least he is gone, it’s a start.


Bargain as in Costello, Adams AND Ferrara?


Character folks…we just confirmed that Tony is lacking in Character!

Good Riddance!


Interesting how the Tribune forgot to mention the Ferrrara resignation letter yet they printed word for word the Adams Ad.


Mary Malone must be shopping.


Did the Trib even mention Ferrara resigning at all?


Nope


Shoot, that stinks when you come down to AG to attend the meeting and then leave before the news happens!


Did Ferrara actually submit a resignation letter?


Yep


It all fit one one page too:


You’re all a bunch of losers

I’m outa here three days from now

Bye


Coward and sore loser.


Whew!

So glad I do not have to listen to Tony’s clicking and Ole Joe’s playing with his dentures.

See. We saved you KB,


We also don’t have to see that groovy oompa-loompa orange tan he’s sporting.


So why, exactly, is Adams on the payroll “until the council selects a new city manager?” He’s not helping pick his successor… or is he?


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