Burbank’s ‘Maverick’ Keeps Council Off Guard

The frown on Al F. Dossin’s face seemed frozen as he listened to his fellow Burbank City Council members explain their individual reasons for removing controversial Burbank Airport Commissioner Margie Gee from her post.

The discussion came as no surprise to those who attended last week’s City Council meeting: The majority of the council members had stated for a week that Gee, a Burbank representative to the airport’s policy board, had to be ousted because her relentless and combative demeanor had damaged the city’s credibility. During the discussion, Dossin remained silent, and his face failed to betray where he stood on the issue.

When the vote finally arrived, four of the council members voted for Gee’s removal. But when his turn came, Dossin bellowed “No!” into his body microphone and sat back, resuming his silence.

As the week wore on, council members were still bewildered by Dossin’s vote, calling it a perfect illustration of how Dossin’s personal council agenda, personality and views are often shrouded in mystery. In terms of weight, Dossin may be the largest person on the council, but he maintains the lowest profile--much to the uneasiness of some of his colleagues.

An independent insurance salesman who was one of a slate backed by Mary Lou Howard in 1985, Dossin, 58, almost never attends banquets or luncheons hosted by city officials, and shuns most large community events such as the recent party for Burbank’s 75th birthday and the Burbank on Parade celebration.

Proclaiming himself as the “maverick” on the council, Dossin has determinedly disassociated himself from other council members, and has publicly snapped at council members whenever they speak about opinions he holds or does not hold. In addition to stubbornly standing by Gee, he was the only council member to vote against opening the Golden Mall shopping area to vehicle traffic.

Other actions of Dossin have thrown his colleagues off guard.

He single-handedly killed the council’s plans for a “communications and goal-setting retreat” last year when he refused to attend. When the Burbank Leader quoted him as saying he was unhappy with political life and that there was “no way in the world” he would run for public office again, Dossin, claiming he was misquoted, assumed a “no comment” stance toward the paper’s reporters that is now gradually warming. Rumors even circulated around City Hall that Dossin was living out of his car.

But despite his elusiveness, council members say they like him and, for the most part, admire his independence. “He gives a refreshed look to this council,” said Councilman Michael R. Hastings. “He’s not a political animal. He’s a man who’s following his own agenda, though I’m in the dark as to what it is. He doesn’t speak up. He’s private, almost too private.”

Effectiveness Questioned

However, Howard, who called Dossin “an enigma,” said Dossin is not being an effective public representative by his insistence on staying away from city functions.

She also said most of the votes have favored developers, rather than residents. She cited his opposition to a plan that would require developers to pay 1% of costs of their projects over $500,000 toward promoting arts and culture and his recent campaign to repeal a city ordinance requiring the review of developers’ initial construction plans.

“Al’s forgotten the people who elected him,” Howard said. “He’s put the residents aside and is now rolling out the red carpet for developers.”

Howard added that Dossin, who was her campaign manager when she last ran for council in 1983, is intent on distancing himself from her. “He’s so paranoid that I’m going to control him that he goes against me all the time,” Howard said. “If I voted for apple pie, motherhood and Chevrolet, Al would vote against them.”

When informed of Howard’s statements, Dossin took a deep breath and said: “I don’t care to respond to that. I just have a different style. I’m not politically motivated, and I’m not out to win any popularity contests. I just do things the way I feel I have to.”

During recent interviews at a Burbank coffee shop, Dossin, an animated talker and chain-smoker, talked about his perceived mystery. “I’ve never considered myself a mystery man. I just try to convince folks I’m independent and not part of the slate. Good decisions are not always popular. I base my votes on logic.”

Explains Vote on Gee

In explaining his vote to retain Gee, he said: “I know there were commissioners who wanted Mrs. Gee off the board, and council people who wanted Mrs. Gee off the board, but none of the people who live in the area most affected by the airport ever complained about her. The council put her on, and I just felt we should have stood by her.”

Dossin had previously said he didn’t attend banquets “because I’m already too fat, and I don’t need more roast beef and chicken at these functions.” As for his absence from city functions, he said he was out of town attending an art show on the day of Burbank’s birthday celebration. He did not attend Burbank on Parade because he was angered by a hoopla over whether the ousted incumbents or the candidates-elect would ride in the parade.

‘Do It Quietly’

“But when I’m asked to go to something, I’ll go,” he said. “I just do it quietly. I talk to the community. I meet constituents four times a day. I keep my pulse on the community in my own way. What’s the need for publicity?”

A resident of the hillside portion of Burbank with his wife of 33 years, Lorraine, Dossin loves to talk about details of Burbank developments. He said he decided to run for office in 1984 when he drove around downtown and saw numerous vacant lots. “I thought it was time to get some new people in, and I really care about getting downtown looking good again.”

Dossin, who was born in Detroit, doesn’t like talking about life before Burbank. He will only say that he moved to the city 28 years ago after serving three years in the U.S. Army and began selling insurance. He declined to discuss further details of his background.

“What’s important is what’s going on now,” Dossin said.

Enjoys Working With Council

His pet projects are watching the progress of the planned Towncenter shopping mall and providing housing for senior citizens. Most of all, Dossin said, he enjoys his colleagues on the council. “We all get along well, despite our differences,” he said. “No matter what happens in the meetings, we can still talk to each other afterward and there are no personal attacks.”

But Howard said she hoped Dossin would attend more community functions in the future. “You’re only as good as what you put in, and it’s important that representatives participate in what’s going on,” Howard said. “That’s all part of the job, but I guess Al doesn’t see it that way.”

Asked to respond to Howard’s remark, Dossin said: “No comment.”