Compton : Dismissal Appealed

Laurence Adams, son of Compton City Councilman Robert Adams, has filed an appeal over his dismissal two weeks ago as head of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency.

“This is just a case of a wrongful dismissal,” said Adams, who filed his appeal with the city’s personnel board. No hearing date has been set.

City Manager James Goins removed Adams as CRA director on Oct. 17, saying he had not performed satisfactorily during his 1-year probation period. Adams, who says the firing came as a complete surprise, claims he had already become a permanent employee by the time of the firing and, as such, was entitled to due process and prior notification.

Subsequent to the firing, says Adams, city officials offered to give him three months’ severance pay and a consultant’s contract if he would sign a resignation dated before the time he became a permanent employee. Goins is in Korea visiting Compton’s sister city and could not be reached for comment.