Lawndale Worker Fired, 1 Resigns in Home Building Material Scandal

A Lawndale city maintenance supervisor has been fired and another worker has resigned amid allegations that they charged building materials to the city and used them on private remodeling projects.

City Manager Daniel P. Joseph announced Wednesday that he has initiated “termination proceedings” against Floyd (Bud) Marez, 47, a maintenance supervisor employed by the city since November, 1981. Marez has five days to appeal the decision, Joseph said.

Joseph added that on Tuesday he accepted the resignation of maintenance worker Thomas Gomez, 26, who has worked for the city since June, 1984.

Neither Marez nor Gomez responded to calls seeking their comments.

Joseph said two other employees were disciplined for “minimal” roles in the maintenance department scandal. He declined to name them.

Cleared of wrongdoing in the city’s investigation were Paula Burrier, city housing director, and personnel analyst Grace-Marie Johnston, who hired Marez and Gomez to perform remodeling work at their homes. Joseph said the city has found no evidence to show that Burrier or Johnston were part of a scheme to cheat the city.

In a letter asking the district attorney’s office to investigate possible embezzlement by city employees, City Atty. David J. Aleshire identified Marez as “the principal focus” of the requested investigation.

Aleshire said the city’s best evidence involves two construction projects in Norwalk that were undertaken by Marez. One involves homeowner Yolanda Candelaria, who said she saw workers in Lawndale’s orange and brown city uniforms delivering building supplies to her home during normal working hours.

In an interview with The Times, Candelaria said Marez started a $30,000 remodeling project at her home last spring but left the project uncompleted and her home a shambles after she had made a $20,000 down payment.

According to city Planning Commissioner Gary McDonald, who brought the irregularities to the attention of the City Council, Marez and Gomez charged to the city building supplies, including two skylights and materials for stuccoing, that the city does not need or use.

In his announcement Wednesday, Joseph said simply that Marez is being fired “for violating city rules and regulations.” He said that the city’s investigation, though not complete, turned up “adequate information” to warrant the action.

The district attorney’s office is continuing its investigation to decide whether criminal charges will be filed, he said.

Joseph said that to prevent future abuses, he has tightened city rules governing purchasing procedures and the use of city equipment.

Marez also is being investigated by the Contractors’ State License Board, a board official said, because Marez does not have a state-required license for remodeling work.