Meeting Highlights Video

Complete meeting video

What began as a normal city council meeting, Tuesday, quickly exploded into verbal fireworks from Steve Conaway, a seven-plus year councilman, as he condemned Mayor Washburn for her unprecedented conduct.

Last Monday Washburn called the city attorney’s office, informing a member of that firm that Fillmore’s City Attorney, Ted Schneider, was no longer to attend any city meetings. It is alleged that her justification for banning Schneider was based on accusations that he has had a relationship with a former city employee.

Conaway expressed outrage with this action, stating that neither the Mayor nor the City Manager, Yvonne Quiring, had any business taking such action, implying a lack of authority to do so. Conaway said it was nothing less than “a personal vendetta being executed” against Schneider, and that “an individual’s personal life is none of your business.”

Quiring was silent. Washburn questioned the source of Conaway’s information, denied the facts, and stated the matter would be discussed at a later time. Councilmen Brooks and Sipes quickly denied any knowledge of the matter. Councilman Gonzalez was absent.

Conaway stated that the Mayor and City Manager owe an apology to Schneider and his firm and that Fillmore residents are due an explanation for this disrespectful act.

Please refer to Conaway’s statement here http://www.fillmoregazette.com/letters/june-21-2012

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During this Special Meeting for the proposed budget, a quick review of the city’s dire financial situation was provided by City Manager Yvonne Quiring. Cuts in staff and services were discussed in efforts to deal with the $1.6 million deficit.

A sudden change of plan was revealed when Quiring announced that park bathrooms would not be closed. They would be maintained by volunteers until further notice. This was a response to great public pressure to keep the parks and bathrooms open.

Conaway and Quiring sharply disagreed about whether any savings was achieved in laying-off city workers and replacing them with temporary and contract workers. Quiring did not want to include the potential cost of unemployment issues in determining any savings. The issue was not resolved.

In order to assure that the council understood how city money was being transferred, Quiring demonstrated by holding a small jar of pennies up to the dais, then poured them into a bowl, much like a kindergarten demonstration. Most of the council seemed to get the point.

Former Councilman and Mayor, Evaristo Barajas spoke in defense of previous city councils after repeated condemnations from Councilman Brooks, Sipes, and Washburn. He reflected upon the nearly 40 percent surplus they had built up during those years (now gone) and commented on the fact that there was not the inter-council acrimony and backstabbing then, which has grown in council affairs since about 2008.

Brooks defended Quiring and her method of “managing” city affairs. Quiring’s managing style and attitude has been highly controversial since her arrival about two years ago. Two open letters of no confidence from all city employees provoked no action from the council majority, and council decided to extend Quiring’s contract without review. This, despite the fact that her contract with her previous employer was bought-out for more than $300,000.