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The Buzz The Oct. 15 resignation of Lake Forest Councilman Peter Herzog was reported in the OC Register, but it didn’t include Herzog’s letter of explanation. Art Pedrosa’s county blog reported Herzog’s resignation with a link to his letter, first posted by Lake Forest Patch http://ocpoliticsblog.com/lake-forest-councilman-herzog-resigns-unexpectedly/ *** Here’s an article about the blowup following an Orange County Fire Authority official’s “unfortunate email” appearing to give current ambulance contractors preferential treatment in new bids, http://www.voiceofoc.org/countywide/county_government/article_55a32698-3083-11e3-9c9e-001a4bcf887a.html#user-comment-area . Advocating ethics and open government is a Mission Viejo resident, Stephen Wontrobski. As confirmation on how effective Wontrobski has become, OCFA threw him out of a meeting, as described in the article. *** Has OCFA Fire Marshal Laura Blaul been placed on administrative leave? No official announcement can be found as of this writing. Her name became known in 2012 during contentious hearings and a council majority decision to rezone half the community into high-risk fire zones. Residents said Blaul gave incorrect information, and they challenged her during the hearings. In February, Blaul received a one-week suspension after an audit found hundreds of businesses were billed for hazmat inspections OCFA didn’t conduct. City watchdogs indicated any action against Blaul last week probably was related to the hazmat inspections rather than the fire map debacle. Over strong objections from residents, the Mission Viejo council proceeded with fire map rezoning, voting 4-1 with Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht dissenting. *** Here’s a link to the Oct. 21Mission Viejo council agenda, http://dms.cityofmissionviejo.org/sirepub/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=2108&doctype=agenda . The party noise ordinance is back – Item No. 12. When Councilwoman Trish Kelley was pushing it two months ago, the draft ordinance was poorly written, and it appeared to violate Constitutional rights. Ms. Kelley apparently believes she has three votes to pass it. The title is Ordinance Pertaining to Public Cost Recovery for Multiple Calls to Disruptive Gatherings. *** Also note Agenda Item No. 14, Cal Card Program and Activity. This item resulted from Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht’s questions after she discovered the city was putting substantial amounts on a charge card. This blog reported the numbers two weeks ago, a total of $629,616.67 in four years: 06/30/10: $ 37,544.37 Additional information has come out: 30 cards are being used by eight departments. If this isn’t a slush fund, can the city staff demonstrate that all amounts on the 30 cards have been appropriately charged to corresponding accounts or projects? The staff should also be able to demonstrate that all amounts -- $629,616.67 – were appropriately reconciled. Given that city hall has the taxpayers’ checkbook and City Manager can write $30,000 checks at his discretion, why does any city employee have a charge card? *** Councilman Dave Leckness would like to change the logo of Orange County Vector Control. According to Leckness, no one knows what “vector” means. Since Leckness is challenged by any word with more than one syllable, he didn’t understand when someone told him vectors are disease carriers – e.g., rodents and insects. Too many syllables. When Leckness gives a report as the city’s Vector Control representative, the council majority members can’t stop laughing. Who says death and disease aren’t funny? Message to voters: get rid of these clowns. *** Mission Viejo’s city staff has taken advantage of young volunteers, diverting them into doing unpaid labor on city contract work. In July, young people planted vegetation on a city slope. In August, a city employee said Boy Scouts should clear brush in open spaces ( http://www.ccsense.com/2013/09/send-in-boy-scouts.html ). Such cleanup would have involved chain saws, wood chippers and heavy equipment. City officials are now saying “the public will be engaged” in planting vegetation in the dog park. City officials also tried to deflect blame by saying scout leaders came to them in search of a volunteer project. Perhaps the employees couldn’t grasp they had been asked for contact information for legitimate charities. *** Not every adult leader of a youth group knows where to look for an appropriate project for young volunteers – e.g., humanitarian causes and legitimate charities with non-profit status. Instead of directing a scout leader to an appropriate resource or just saying no, city hall said “come on down.” Children were then “engaged” in manual labor for the city without pay. The youth group’s time, talent and good intentions fell into the hands of city employees who are supposed to oversee contract work performed by businesses. Residents should ask how the city became so confused. Assistant City Manager Keith Rattay now offers the excuse, “We didn’t ask them. They came to us looking for a project.” *** Save the date, Wed., Dec. 4, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., for an Open House hosted by State Senator Mark Wyland. The location is 27126A Paseo Espada, # 1621, San Juan Capistrano. The event will support the Food Drive for Serra’s Pantry. RSVP to (949) 489-9838. Paid for with private funds, not tax dollars. |
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