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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - March 19, 1997 (84)AGENDA TITLE: Post for Vacancy on the East Side Improvement Committee MEETING DATE: March 19, 1997 PREPARED BY: City Clerk RECOMMENDED ACTION: That Council, by motion action, direct the City Clerk to post for the vacancy on the East Side Improvement Committee. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City Clerk's office received a letter of resignation from Dick Woolstrum on the East Side Improvement Committee (copy attached). Therefore, it is recommended that City Council direct the City Clerk to post for the following vacancy: East Side ImRrovement Committee Dick Woolstrum term to expire March 1, 1999 State statute requires that the City Clerk post for vacancies to allow citizens interested in serving to submit an application. The City Council is requested to direct the City Clerk to make the necessary postings. •. 4n"r ifeM. errin 11?�� Clerk APPROVED: H. xon Flynn -- City Manager , Dear Harry, When Phil Pennino interviewed me for the Eastside Improvement Committee board position, I specifically told him that my health and work schedule with Century Youth Ranch Charitable Endeavors, Inc. and our personal corpora— tion would limit or greatly hinder my attendance to board meetings and functions. He said that was fine, because I am considered a court expert on youth and the board needed my political knowledge and connections. All I had to do was try to attend as many regular board meetings as possible. All other functions were up to me. I took the position as board member on these terms. I also informed Virginia Snyder, then President, and the existing board of the appointment conditions. The health problems I've faced in the last two vears have made it difficult to be greatly enthusiastic about 100% attendance. Extensive tests have proven nagative in two or three areas that could have been terminal (passing large amounts of bloo•-1 , severe crushing chest, Peck, arm, and head pain, etc.). The problems are still considered serious, but, in part, they have no known reasons. The tests have been time consuming and will continue to be, until answers are found. When I could not attend a regular business meeting due to health, doctor appointments, or business in the Lodi area, I would try to check in, if scheduling allowed, to allow E.I.C. to have a quorum, and then leave. On one page 1 of 3 pages A Richard Woolstrum a j� 23438 N. Bruella �o Rd: Acampo, CA 95220 - February 25, 1997 Pi_'✓ Harry Marzolf, President Eastside Improvement Committee 445 Madrone Ct. Lodi, CA 95242 Dear Harry, When Phil Pennino interviewed me for the Eastside Improvement Committee board position, I specifically told him that my health and work schedule with Century Youth Ranch Charitable Endeavors, Inc. and our personal corpora— tion would limit or greatly hinder my attendance to board meetings and functions. He said that was fine, because I am considered a court expert on youth and the board needed my political knowledge and connections. All I had to do was try to attend as many regular board meetings as possible. All other functions were up to me. I took the position as board member on these terms. I also informed Virginia Snyder, then President, and the existing board of the appointment conditions. The health problems I've faced in the last two vears have made it difficult to be greatly enthusiastic about 100% attendance. Extensive tests have proven nagative in two or three areas that could have been terminal (passing large amounts of bloo•-1 , severe crushing chest, Peck, arm, and head pain, etc.). The problems are still considered serious, but, in part, they have no known reasons. The tests have been time consuming and will continue to be, until answers are found. When I could not attend a regular business meeting due to health, doctor appointments, or business in the Lodi area, I would try to check in, if scheduling allowed, to allow E.I.C. to have a quorum, and then leave. On one page 1 of 3 pages occassion, I was needed in order to do business, so I was regarded as present. The other times, I was regarded as absent. The rules of the State Senate and Assembly allow for the above method of registering present. Since E.I.C. has no rules on this issue, it needs to extablish some. If E.I.C. were to request someone's resignation, or expel a member, or if a boardmember felt pressured to resign under the above situation, it is possible that E.I.C. could be sued by the boardmember. Since the board says it operates under Robert's Rules of Order, just like our state legislator, it is required to adhere to the established order. It cannot change on a whim. The last meeting that I checked into, to give a quorum, E.I.C. already had one. I reminded you of the preceeding comments and you personally told Kevin Suess to register me present. When I read the minutes, I was marked absent, as in all the other times. Another disturbing habit of some boardmembers is to speak derogatively of the sitting city council members individ- ually and collectively. These are the people who appointed each of us to our positions on E.I.C.. I consider most of them friends or friendly associates. If each of the council were to hear the personal comments about themselves, I'm afraid there would be a new E.I.C. membership or no E.I.C. at all. Incidentally, I'm not referring to you, Harry. You are a gentleman and a political survivor. If you were otherwise, I would not have nominated you for president last year. I don't mean that the E.I.C. boardmembers have to agree with the city council, but to verbally malign individual council members because they won't change the rules for Lodi Avenue, due to alleged friendships and/or Christian fellowship with Lodi Ave. property owners is out of line. I feel some of the members of E.I.C. think they are "the Law" in Lodi and set themselves above the council. They fail to understand the council was page 2 of 3 pages voted into office by the people of Lodi, and speaks for the people, even when E.I.C. feels they are wrong. E.I.C. is nothing more than a group of political appointees, and, as such, I feel we should not attack individual council members in a personal or slanderous manner. It angers me when my friends are slammed behind their backs. I intend to send a copy of this letter to Phil Pennino and I'm recommending that each council member carefully select his representative on E.I.C.. I hope they do not continue to appoint carte blanche E.I.C. board's recommendations. This is building a group that holds the city council in contempt and will soon become impossible for the council to work with. I am afraid some of the E.I.C. are beginning to believe we truly are the great image the newspapers have made us. Due to the total sum of the previous statements, I feel ,it is time to tender my resignation, effective this date, February 25, 1997. Overall, E.I.C. has accomplished many commendable things and I have been proud to have been a member of it. There is much more work that needs to be done. Don't take yourselves too seriously and good things will come to pass. Incidentally, one word of caution. It was reported to me by a former tenant of Mohammed involved in the lawsuit over his apartment, that several people were offered bribes to join the lawsuit. The bribes were said to be offered by E.I.C. boardmembers and an overzealous private citizen. When questioned by Judge Baysinger in court, the people who had been offered or accepted bribes were not admitted into the lawsuit and made the entire proceedings suspect. We were told this by a party on the "other side of the street", so to speak, and don't know how much is actual fact, if any. But if it IS the case, it is very unethical and endangers everything E.I.C. is out to change and undermines the credibility of E.I.C. I am hoping E.I.C. has many more profitable years ahead and it is with regret that I am tendering my resignation. Sincerely, . ti tr r -771stei 1 t� POSTING OF VACANCIES ON THE FOLLOWING CITY OF LODI BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS Dick Woolstrum term to expire March 1, 1999 fifer M. rrin Clerk posting.doc