My apologies go out to our new City Manager Yvonne Quiring for not having attended the welcome party last week. Although the Ventura Star received an invitation, the Fillmore Gazette did not. Isn’t that special?
All the same, Ms. Quiring, on behalf of the Gazette I welcome you and wish you every success.

***

While I’m on the subject of curious city management practices, I would ask, for the fourth time, that Asst. City Mgr. Bill Bartels pay the second half of the city’s obligation to the Gazette for legal notices (2009-2010). In 20 years the city has never before split this sum; and never before has it been 3 months late.

***

Our newly appointed Mayor Patti Walker, with the past cooperation of temporary City Manager Larry Pennell, seems to be painting herself into a corner on the issue of a serious Brown Act violation. I encourage everyone to read former City Manager Roy Payne’s letter on the subject this week. In short, Walker and Pennell deliberately ignored the warning of Councilman Steve Conaway and thereafter ran amuck of the law. The city has since been sued on the issue. Walker has brushed-off the violation as though nothing of consequence happened. We shall see.