Feud Between City Officials Heats Up : Monterey Park: Councilman Barry Hatch says City Manager Mark Lewis abused his authority in connection with the police chief’s resignation. He wants to fire Lewis.

Councilman Barry Hatch, accusing City Manager Mark Lewis of financial mismanagement and abuse of authority in connection with the resignation of the police chief last week, is trying to enlist residents in his efforts to oust Lewis.

Hatch, who called for Lewis’ resignation after Police Chief Ken Hickman quit, said other council members have ignored his request for a city investigation of the city manager. So Hatch is hoping residents will help pressure his colleagues to change their minds.

At a news conference Tuesday outside City Hall, Hatch reiterated his demand that Lewis resign.

“Our police chief should never have been allowed to go,” said Hatch, who credited Hickman with streamlining police operations and controlling costs during his one year on the job.

Lewis, who has the support of at least three of the five council members, denied Hatch’s charges: “I think those allegations are absolutely without foundation.” Lewis became city manager in 1988, the third since 1986.

Hatch said Lewis had undermined Hickman’s authority by maintaining an “open back door” policy that allowed police officers to go to Lewis and win reversals of the chief’s policy decisions.

Hickman resigned after the Monterey Park Police Officers Assn. gave him a vote of no confidence. One of the association’s complaints was that Hickman had drastically reduced overtime. Overtime costs reached a high of $30,000 a month last year but were reduced to $6,000 a month in January, Capt. Dan Cross said.

Hatch accused Lewis of telling his staff to conceal mounting overtime costs and shortfalls in projected city revenues. He charged that there is a $300,000 deficit in the city’s budget of $30.5 million.

Helen Bell, Monterey Park director of management services, denied that a deficit exists. She said officials expect the city to be in the black by June, the end of the fiscal year.

In addition, Hatch was critical of Lewis’ decision to appoint former police Chief Robert Collins as interim chief, even though he has retired and is receiving disability benefits for a heart condition. Hatch said bringing back Collins could create additional worker compensation liabilities for the city if he experiences further medical problems while filling in as chief.

“I have lost total faith in our city manager,” said Hatch, adding that he will try to gain support for Lewis’ ouster as he campaigns door-to-door for reelection to the council. In the April 10 election, he is among six candidates vying for three seats.

Already, he said, a unspecified number of residents plan to press for Lewis’ resignation at council candidates’ forums and at Monday’s council meeting.

Mayor Patricia Reichenberger scoffed at Hatch’s accusations and defended Lewis as a good manager who keeps the council informed of financial matters.

“Mark has always been direct with us,” she said.

In response to Hatch’s charges, Lewis said he keeps an open door for city employees so they have “the opportunity to talk with the city manager about things that really bother them.” On the police officers’ dispute with Hickman, Lewis said he did not intervene until the matter got out of control.

In terms of the city’s financial situation, Lewis said he never instructed staff members to hide information from the council. Bell said revenues from some new municipal fees are lower than anticipated but said there is no cover-up.

“I never heard Mark say not to tell the council,” Bell said.

And as for the appointment of Collins, Lewis said doctors have determined that the retired chief is medically fit to work. He said attorneys have assured him that appointing Collins as interim chief will not lead to workers’ compensation problems.