SANTA ANA : Acosta Questioning Ream’s Performance

The City Council will be considering whether to extend a three-year contract with City Manager David N. Ream amid a split among members in their support of council appointees.

Councilman John Acosta, who was recently charged with a misdemeanor count of interfering with administration appointments in the city, said he will ask the council to evaluate Ream’s performance as well as that of two other council appointees, City Clerk Janice Guy and City Atty. Edward J. Cooper.

“I’m going to recommend that we do an immediate evaluation on Mr. Ream and then determine whether we should extend his contract or not,” Acosta said Friday.

Acosta has had a running battle with Cooper, whom he had unsuccessfully tried to place on administrative leave in October. The council is allowed to appoint administrators to the positions of city manager, city clerk and city attorney only.

Acosta refused to comment on whether he thought that Ream was doing a good job.

Two weeks ago, Acosta was charged by the Orange County district attorney’s office with violating the city charter’s separation-of-powers clause, which states that it is illegal for council members to interfere with the city’s administrative branch. Acosta said he did nothing wrong and had only given “friendly advice” to Ream during a conversation.

“I thought I did a good deed by giving good sound advice,” Acosta said of the conversation. Acosta is scheduled for arraignment in Municipal Court on Feb. 5.

The council will discuss Ream’s contract the same day.

Although Ream’s contract renews automatically, the council can vote to drop the extension and allow the contract to end in February, 1992.

The council appointed Ream city manager in a June, 1986, executive session.