BELL GARDENS : Outgoing Council OKs Severance Pay for Staff
The recalled Bell Gardens City Council, as its final act, approved up to six months’ severance pay for nine of the city’s highest-paid staff members.
Mayor Robert Cunningham and council members Allen Shelby, Letha Viles and Douglas O’Leary enacted the ordinance Wednesday night amid rumors of a wholesale housecleaning at City Hall after the election of four new council members.
Those elected were leaders of the campaign to throw out the old guard: Josefina (Josie) Macias, Frank B. Duran, George T. Deitch and Rodolfo (Rudy) Garcia. The council-elect has vowed to fire City Manager Claude Booker but assured city employees that most will keep their jobs.
Booker’s three-year contract with the city is not affected by the ordinance. He is guaranteed $112,000 a year until the contract expires in June, 1994. Councilwoman Rosa Hernandez, who was not targeted in the recall, joined the four ousted council members in voting for the severance pay.
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