After 2012, when Mayor Sue McCloud and City Council Members Jason Burnett, Paula Hazdovac, Karen Sharp and Ken Talmage approved the deaccessioning of thirty-five artworks from the City’s art collection from a list compiled by art consultant Sheryl Nonnenberg at the January 2012 and April 2012 City Council meetings, there was nothing open and transparent about the city administration’s handling of the sale of the thirty-five city-owned deaccessioned artworks. In fact, the sale of the thirty-five artworks realizing $9,680.14 for the City was not communicated to the owners of the artworks, namely the citizens of the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, by City Administrator Jason Stilwell, Mayor Jason Burnett or any member of the City Council, rather the owners were informed of the sale of “
THIRTY-FIVE pieces of city-owned artwork appraised at a total $262,450 in 2007 sold at auction late last year for $9,680.14, according to public records, with some going for as little as a dollar apiece,” by Mary Schley, The Carmel Pine Cone, in the news article entitled,
Artwork, appraised at $250K, brings in just $10K, By MARY SCHLEY,
The Carmel Pine Cone, July 4, 2014, 1A & 21A.
Moreover, Administrative Services Director Susan Paul informed Janet Bombard, Library Director, and Jason Stilwell, City Administrator, on March 26, 2013, that the Master Consignment Agreement (MCA) between the City and Michaan’s Auctions did not “
have to go to Council” because “
it is a specialized service and under $25,000.” Apparently, neither Library Director Janet Bombard nor City Administrator Jason Stilwell considered informing the public about the City’s decision to commission Michaan’s Auctions to conduct the sale of the thirty-five deaccessioned artworks via a city council agenda item as a public service to the owners of the artworks.
And what about city government efficiency regarding the sale of the thirty-five deaccessioned artworks?
- Thirteen Months: The time between Janet Bombard, Library Director, contacting Allyson Bradley, Business Development Director, Michaan's Auctions on July 21, 2012 regarding sending “the list, with pictures, of the artwork slated for auction” and “working on getting the contract reviewed and signed” and Tammie Chambless, Trust & Estates Assistant, Michaan's Auctions, contacting Janet Bombard, Library Director regarding Harrison Memorial, Contract # 5572 and “Thank you for consigning property with Michaan's Auctions” on August 9, 2013.
- Nearly Five Months: The time between the last Michaan’s auction on January 7, 2014 with the sale of the final two deaccessioned artworks and City Administrator's Office Memo dated May 22, 2013 to Honorable Jason Burnett, Mayor, and Members of the City Council from Jason Stilwell, City Administrator, on the Subject of Art Deaccession Auction, specifically “The sale of the 35 artworks realized $9,680.14.”
Unfortunately, the city administration’s handling of the sale of the thirty-five artworks deaccessioned from the City’s art collection show City Administrator Jason Stilwell lacking the requisite leadership, professionalism and understanding of his duties and responsibilities as city administrator to inform residents and the general public about matters of public interest. To wit, if the city administration had informed the public about the City’s decision to commission Michaan’s Auctions regarding the sale of the thirty-five deaccessioned artworks prior to the auctions on November 5, 2013, December 1, 2013, December 3, 2013 and January 7, 2014, then not only would Carmelites have had the opportunity to participate in the auction and purchase artwork which was once a part of the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea’s art collection, but the announcement may have brought more participation at the auctions with the possibility of higher auction prices realized, thus generating more revenue for the City to fulfill its mission of maintaining and preserving the City’s art collection.
Written & Published by L. A. Paterson
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