A call for termination of 2 planning commission volunteers “without cause” brought division to the city council members and caused the Mayor to reach a boiling point and put the meeting in recess.
Jeffrey McConnell and Jeremy Briggs are the two newest members of the Grand Terrace Planning Commission. Last week, Councilman Jeff Allen and Mayor Darcy McNaboe, working with City Manager G. Harold Duffey, placed an item on the Tuesday night, December 10 agenda which called for the consideration of the removal of each. As noted in the agenda, no cause for the removal of either was cited.
The Grand Terrace Municipal Code and state law does provide that a planning commissioner serves at the pleasure of the governing panel of the city or county wherein the commissioner serves and that the governing panel has the ability to make such a removal without citing cause.
When the council took the matter up on Tuesday night, Councilwoman Sylvia Robles said, “I would like to hear if there’s a reason. If each proposer declines a reason, I’d like to at least hear that and be able to substitute a way of going about this. I would hope that one of the things we could consider is do a reset, [to provide] some training of all of our appointees. Obviously by this, the two individuals realize there is some big concern, and have some kind of method to [provide them] some training. Either our city attorney can do it or insurance authority can do it. They can sign that they understand the key points of the training. We can do a reset and move on.”
The removal of Briggs and McConnell was considered separately, with the matter relating to Briggs being taken up first.
As public comment first on Briggs’ removal was to take place, Mayor McNaboe noted there were a number of emails received at City Hall with regard to the removal requests. When she asked that the city clerk give a “summary” of the contents of the emails’ contents, several of the substantial number of city residents in attendance at the meeting who were present in the chamber called for the emails to be read individually. McNaboe responded, “Please, I’ve asked the city clerk to summarize the email. That’s what we are going to do.” When members of the crowd repeated the call for the emails to be read into the record, McNaboe put the chamber in recess, declaring a five minute suspension of the proceedings.
When the council resumed the hearing, Robles insisted on making a motion to have the emails read into the record, which was seconded by Councilman Bill Hussey. The motion failed with Robles and Hussey in favor and McNaboe, Councilman Allen and Councilman Doug Wilson voting in opposition.
City Clerk Debra Thomas then told those assembled that the city had received 29 emails from the public in opposition to the removal of Briggs, and she read the names of the senders.
During public comments, Rita Schwark told the council, “I hope this taking him off the planning commission is not personality related nor is it politically related. I think the decent thing is we should be told the cause, what is the reason…different opinions and different views of things are good for the community. That’s what we need. I think Jeremy and Jeff should be allowed to stay on the planning commission.” Jeremy Rivera made note that, “The planning commissioners are volunteers. And you are removing volunteers? You can’t even get a quorum for the Park and Rec[reation] Committee. I think it’s something personnel. I think it’s something very personal. I do not want to see Jeremy Brigg’s removed. He does a lot for his city. He’s a wealth of knowledge. He helps the youth. He’s here for the kid’s.”
McConnell also spoke against Briggs’ removal, commenting on the municipal code, his 18 years of experience on the commission and the general plan update.
“This municipal code that is being quoted has no due process,” McConnell said, “What kind of message does this send to volunteers? This is a volunteer community. This is spreading around town. This is one of the reasons people don’t want to get involved, especially in politics. We have a general plan update coming up. I’ve been going to the planning commission for 18 years. I sat through the last 2016 general plan update. Experience is needed on the planning commission, whether it’s my experience as a general contractor and in real estate or Jeremy’s experience in the trucking world. We would both be a valuable asset. It is a very long, boring and arduous procedure.”
Briggs said what was being done to him was a “blindside attack to my personal character…That’s exactly what it looks like. If there’s no due process, no staff report, no reasoning why this is, and we’re just going to make a vote on it but you can’t tell me why? I put my heart and effort into this city the last six years. I have kids, right here. The reason I’m standing up here tonight is for those three girls and everyone that I’ve coached.” He went on to say,”As manager, I’ve always brought in employees that were failing and done nothing but to turn them around. I ask for the same thing, but obviously I don’t get that respect.”
McNaboe then made a motion to remove Briggs. Allen seconded the motion. The motion failed 2-to-2, with McNaboe and Allen in favor, Councilman Bill Hussey and Councilwoman Sylvia Robles in opposition, and Councilman Doug Wilson abstaining.
The council then moved on a discussion of the removal of McConnell.
City Clerk Thomas said there were six emails from public in opposition to McConnel’s removal, and she read the names of those submitting them.
Rita Schwark again inveighed against McConnell’s removal, saying she had known McConnell for many years. “He knows what he’s talking about. He’s very experienced. He might have different opinions, different views…we need him in this community. He knows what is going on in this city.”
Jeremy Rivera said on McConnell’s behalf, “I don’t think there is any malicious intent that Jeffrey McConnell has brought forth towards the city. It’s important there are people on the planning commission that understand building and codes. We had two recent spec[ulation] tracts put in, one on Briergreen Lane, I believe. Have you walked that tract? There’s not enough room on the driveways for cars to park on the driveway so you can walk on the sidewalk… if you would have had somebody with some knowledge, perhaps like Jeffrey, you probably would have caught those things. So now I’m not going to walk in that tract of houses because I can’t walk on the sidewalk. I have to walk on the street, with my five-year-old. It’s important to have experience.”
Darryl Moore said, “Anybody who serves in a city post makes a big investment in time and energy with no expectation to get rich, and deserves recognition and thanks. Jeff has been in the city a long time. He faithfully attends all the meetings. He keeps himself informed. He’s a very knowledgeable person in building and development. We have many issues coming, including the general plan update, and his knowledge would be very valuable.”
Allen then made a motion to remove McConnell, which was seconded by McNaboe.
In the discussion before the vote, Councilwoman Robles offered her comment that she believed the action the council was engaged in was “against the spirit of the Brown Act.” Robles then said, “We don’t do things without cause. It’s not in the spirit of the Constitution. It’s not in the spirit of due process. It’s not in the spirit of a good community.”
Councilman Bill Hussey said, “Without cause leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I know it’s written in there ‘without cause.’ I don’t know why it’s written in there. It’s something that’s got to be changed. I think that if somebody is doing something wrong, it should be [dealt with] through a process.
The vote to remove McConnell failed 2-to-2, with Allen and McNaboe supporting the removal and Robles and Hussey opposed and Councilman Doug Wilson abstaining.
Mayor McNaboe responded to an inquiry for comment with the following, “I always do what I believe is the right thing to do for the residents of GT and will continue to do so as long as I'm an elective representative.”
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