Sunday, July 09, 2017

MAYOR DALLAS & CITY COUNCIL CONFIRM 2015 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Conclusion ‘That the actions of the Mayor and City Council appeared to place more importance on…unfavorable media exposure…than on conscientious oversight and governance’ Two Years Later

EXHIBIT A:  Compensation overpayment to then-Public Safety Director/Police Chief Michael Calhoun between March 2015 and September 2015 for responsibilities and duties of city administrator after the hiring and commencement of duties by City Administrator Chip Rerig in March 2015, associated CalPERS pension spiking and inflated compensation between October 2015 and retirement in December 2015. While The Carmel Pine Cone neglected to report on the aforementioned facts and circumstances specifically involving City Administrator Chip Rerig, Mayor Steve Dallas, then-Public Safety Director/Police Chief Michael Calhoun, taxpayer monies and CalPERS pension ramifications, The Carmel Pine Cone reported on a similar circumstance involving former Fire Chief of Monterey, Carmel and Pacific Grove Andrew Miller.

EXHIBIT B:  The fake news article published by The Carmel Pine Cone regarding then-Human Resources Manager Maxine Gullo’s “discovery” that the CalPERs cost sharing changes approved by the city council had not been implemented when an examination of city correspondence proves that then-Finance Manager Paul Wood and Finance Specialist Deanna Allen repeatedly communicated to the city their concerns about CalPERS cost sharing implementation several months prior to City Administrator Chip Rerig’s hiring of Maxine Gullo as human resources manager. Interestingly, The Carmel Pine Cone belatedly reported the “resignation” of then-Finance Director Paul Wood on page 12A, March 17, 2017, ten weeks after Paul Wood’s resignation on January 9, 2017.

EXHIBIT C: Consent Agenda Item 19 Consideration of a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Carmel-by—the-Sea adopting the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea General employees union – an affiliate of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, United Public Employees of California, LIUNA/UPEC, Local 792, AFL-CIO; and the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea Management Employees Union - an affiliate of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, United Public Employees of California, LIUNA/UPEC, Local 792, AFL-CIO was approved by the city council at the June 6, 2017 regular meeting. The Staff Report, submitted by Maxine Gullo, Human Resources Manager, and approved by Chip Rerig, City Administrator, included the RESOLUTIONstating the inclusion of Exhibit A, "WHEREAS, the City and LIUNA have reached an agreement which is embodied in the attached Memorandum of Understanding (Exhibit A) for the period of January 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019.” However, not only was Exhibit A not included in the agenda packet for the public or city council members, but the RESOLUTION included the approval of THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE SEA MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES UNION - AN AFFILIATE OF THE LABORERES’ INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA, UNITED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES OF CALIFORNIA, LIUNA/UPEC, LOCAL 792, AFL-CIO AS OF JANUARY 1, 2017 even though city correspondence proves that negotiations and discussions were continuing and ongoing between Ryan Heron, Labor Relations Representative, United Public Employees of California Local 792, and city representatives, on the date of the city council meeting. The Carmel Pine Cone has yet to report on the aforementioned facts.

The 2015 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury report also included FINDING 15. The governance and administration of the City is unduly influenced by the reportorial and editorial practices of The Carmel Pine Cone. In the aftermath of that finding, two years later, it appears that Mayor Steve Dallas and City Council Members place more importance on The Carmel Pine Cone than “conscientious oversight and governance” on behalf of the public and in so doing the current mayor and city council have “vacated their responsibilities of oversight and inquiry” today as well. Déjà vu.

REFERENCES:
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA A GOVERNANCE REVIEW
Monterey County Civil Grand Jury, 2015

Retired chief suing for bigger pension By KELLY NIX, The Carmel Pine Cone, March 10, 2017, 5A

Taxpayers stuck with $72,000 retirement bill, By MARY SCHLEY, The Carmel Pine Cone, December 2, 2016, 1A & 27A

Mullane resigns as public works director By MARY SCHLEY, The Carmel Pine Cone, March 17, 2017, 1A & 12A

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