Compton : Renewal Director’s Firing Was Improper, Board Rules

The Compton Personnel Board has ruled that Laurence H. Adams, son of a veteran City Council member, was improperly fired in October from his job as redevelopment director by City Manager James Goins.

Adams, however, still has a second fight to win if he is to regain his position and his back pay. The board ruling resolves only a procedural question--that at the time of his firing Adams had completed the year-long probation that is standard for all new employees.

Goins claimed that at the time of the firing, Adams had not completed probation. When Adams appealed, saying he had completed probation, Goins issued another dismissal notice for cause, claiming that Adams did not adequately oversee redevelopment projects and improperly solicited charitable contributions from firms doing business with the city.

Adams has denied the charges and says that Goins knew about his charity work and even helped him with it and participated as the keynote speaker at one fund-raising event.

The five-member Personnel Board must now decide whether Goins had cause to fire Adams. City Personnel Director Sally Taylor said she did not know when the board, whose members are appointed by the City Council, will begin hearings on the case. The fired man is the son of Councilman Robert L. Adams.