Chula Vista

Although he has been given legal permission by the state Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) to vote on a trash collection contract later this month, Chula Vista City Councilman Frank Scott says he intends to abstain to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Questions over whether Scott could participate in the council’s decision on extending the city’s contract with Chula Vista Sanitary Services arose because Scott, a stockbroker, handles the account of Bud Chase, manager of the trash collection firm. However, FPPC lawyer Kathryn E. Donovan said in a written opinion that Scott could vote on the contract because the council’s decision would have “no direct effect” on Chase’s salary and because Chase is not a stockholder in Genstar Corp., the sanitation firm’s parent company.