COMPTON’S FAMILY TIES

Workers say three personnel decisions by Compton City Manager James C. Goins are only the latest examples of favoritism at City Hall. Goins denies any favoritism in those three cases. But officials acknowledge that 12.7% of city employees are related by blood or marriage, although most got their jobs by passing civil service tests. And other officials say 90 of 169 “unclassified” employees--those exempted from taking any civil service test--were hired in violation of city charter personnel requirements. Laurence H. Adams, son of Councilman Robert L. Adams Sr.

Appointed interim director of the redevelopment agency. Long a fund-raiser for his father’s campaign, Laurence now works with the same developers from whom he once collected political contributions.

Paul H. Richards, boyhood friend and past business associate of Laurence H. Adams Appointed assistant city manager for community development and public policy. Richards was elected Lynwood mayor last year with the help of campaign funds raised by Laurence Adams and passed through Councilman Adams’reelection committee.

Sheila Fenderson, wife of City Atty. Wesley Fenderson Jr.

Appointed director of Parks and Recreation. Despite her lack of a required bachelor’s degree, Fenderson was allowed to compete for the position. Following a subjective test, she was ranked No. 1, ahead of a Compton College dean who has a master’s degree and was a 1964 Olympic gold medalist.