Local News in Brief : No Decision on Philips

After its third closed session on whether to fire City Manager Paul Philips, the Lawndale City Council Tuesday deferred the matter to another executive session on Dec. 10.

Council members refused comment on the closed sessions, but some city officials and others said that the council may be giving Philips the chance to find another job so that he can resign rather than be fired.

Philips has come under fire, partly because of a recent report critical of Planning Department practices during his 4 1/2-year administration. City Atty. David J. Aleshire said in the 45-page report that because the Planning Department has issued building permits for projects that do not comply with city zoning laws, the city could be subject to litigation.

Aleshire also said the city’s zoning code “contains many vague and conflicting provisions which are not consistent with the present state law,” and recommended a complete revision of the code.

Sources who have participated in the closed meetings said that the Planning Department problems are the main focus of criticisms against Philips.

Others, including council critic Nancy Marthens, say that another issue may be the extent of Philips’ responsibility for the city’s recent $1.6-million loss in a speculative investment made by former City Treasurer Ray Wood, who was fired Oct. 1 when the loss became known.

At Tuesday’s closed session, which lasted nearly 2 1/2 hours, the council also discussed a lawsuit by Friends of Lawndale challenging the city’s failure to conduct an environmental impact report on a proposed $4.2-million expansion of the civic center. No decision was made on this issue, Aleshire said.