Santa Ana Council Takes No Action on Ream’s Contract
After a heated debate, the City Council on Tuesday night voted not to take any action on City Manager David N. Ream’s three-year contract.
The council, in a 5-2 vote, rejected Councilman Richards L. Norton’s proposal not to extend Ream’s contract. Norton and Councilman John Acosta cast the no votes.
The council also agreed to scrap plans to have Ream evaluated. In a council meeting three weeks ago, four of the seven council members had discussed plans to have Ream’s performance evaluated.
Ream has been city manager since 1986. He signed a three-year contract in 1989 for a total of $350,000. However, the terms of the contract require the council to renew it each of those three years. The deadline for renewal is March 20.
If the council decides not to extend the contract, Ream will be able to continue two more years at the helm, but he will not be able to seek an extra year’s severance pay if the council decides to fire him.
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