Letter to the Editor

Subject: Lack of ethics displayed by a Community Service Commissioner

At the Dec. 2, 2013, Mission Viejo City Council meeting, the mayor attempted to prevent citizens from making Public Comments about Agenda Item No. 24, the Community Service Funding program. As the mayor started to go to the next Agenda Item, I objected from the audience, and the city attorney advised the council as to actions on my request.

The issue to put it succinctly was that one of the Community Service Commissioners [Wendy Bucknum] had not recused herself from a vote on Item 24, where she has/had an involvement. 

Once permitted to speak, I pointed out that this action by said Commissioner was totally unacceptable, and that the Chairman of that Commission (himself a lawyer) [Bob Breton] provided cover for that commissioner.

After I detailed this Commissioner’s unacceptable actions, this very same Commissioner attempted (before the city council) to rationalize her action. Her explanation was lame at best!

Both the Chairman and the Commissioner should be censured for their actions. The city provides ethics training for all Commissioners before they join a commission. When you read the Ethics training modules, it becomes very obvious that the training, comprehension, and compliance as noted in the Ethics training material did not penetrate some participants.

Once again, I am calling for a censure action of this Commissioner.

Joe Holtzman
Mission Viejo