SANTA ANA : Electorate to Decide Job Protection Issue

It will be more difficult to remove the city clerk from office if voters approve a proposed City Charter amendment that will appear on the November ballot.

The City Council this week voted 6 to 1 in favor of presenting an amendment to voters that, if passed, would require a two-thirds vote by the City Council to fire the city clerk. Currently, the procedure calls for a simple majority vote. There council has seven members.

Councilman Daniel E. Griset voted against placing the amendment on the ballot. “I’ve long held the view that the five-vote protection is appropriate for managerial positions and the clerk’s job is essentially a clerical position,” he said.

Councilman John Acosta disagreed and said the procedure for firing the city clerk should be the same as that used to fire the city manager and attorney.

“I believe in parity,” Acosta said. “I think this brings the clerk in line. We have three hired employees and they should all be under the same rules.”

Acosta, along with councilmen Richards L. Norton and Ron May, tried unsuccessfully two weeks ago to place amendments on the ballot that would change the requirements for firing the city manager and city attorney, calling for a simple majority vote instead of a two-thirds vote. After those amendments were voted down, Norton suggested the amendment concerning the city clerk.