Critics Jeer Ousted Council Members; Staff Firings Possible : Government: Four targets of recall election OK severance benefits for top city officials as their final official act.

Amid jeers and hoots from a standing-room-only crowd, the four ousted members of the Bell Gardens City Council left office after enduring a verbal drubbing from residents.

“I hope you will accept your defeat gracefully,” one man said at the council members’ final meeting Wednesday. “Goodby to you all. Good luck and good riddance. I hope you never come back.”

Mayor Robert Cunningham and council members Allen Shelby, Letha Viles and Douglas O’Leary averted their eyes, and the room erupted into thunderous applause.

The four were voted out in a rancorous recall election in December and replaced in Tuesday’s decisive victory by the leaders of the recall campaign, Josefina (Josie) Macias, Frank B. Duran, George T. Deitch and Rodolfo (Rudy) Garcia.

But the ousted lawmakers got off a final, quiet shot.

Without any discussion, the four and Councilwoman Rosa Hernandez--who was not targeted for recall--voted to guarantee severance pay to nine of the city’s highest-paid employees.

The employees covered under the new ordinance include the assistant city manager; the directors of personnel, finance, public works, planning and recreation; two police lieutenants, and the Neighborhood Watch coordinator. The police chief was not among the nine because he is on a month-to-month contract with the city as a consultant.

The severance law can be overturned by the new council members, but they have said that they will not do so, said attorney Alan Gross, who handled the candidates’ legal work.

The unanimous vote irked the raucous crowd, and one resident called the severance-pay ordinance a “blatant power grab to rape the city of its resources.”

Another warned the city against the misuse of public funds.

But City Manager Claude Booker, who expects to be fired as soon as the new council takes office Tuesday, said the ordinance was “designed to give the employees some degree of comfort” following the change of power.

Booker, who has an independent contract with the city, is not covered by the new law, but he is guaranteed a full salary of $112,000 a year until his contract expires in June, 1994.

The covered city employees expressed relief.

“These are tough times to get thrown out on the street with no pay,” said Finance Director David Bass, who would be eligible for $38,292 severance pay.

Up to six months salary is guaranteed to any fired department head under the new law. In the past, no provisions were made for exempt employees who were dismissed.

“Because of the rhetoric of the campaign, a lot of employees are worried about their jobs,” said Personnel Director Michael Martinet, who would receive $14,172 from the city if he were fired. “Most of the city staff has been looking around for new jobs.”

But at a news conference held Thursday at City Hall, newly elected council members said they do not plan widespread layoffs.

“Ninety-five percent of city staff will not, will not, be affected by the new City Council,” Councilman-elect Duran said.

And when asked whether the new council intended a wholesale housecleaning, Macias said: “No, we will not do that.”

Macias said the council plans to evaluate how everyone in City Hall is doing his or her job before taking any action.

But the outgoing City Council members’ jobs had already been evaluated by the more than 2,000 residents who voted Tuesday. And in the end, at least one wished his new leaders goodwill.

“I wish the new council good luck,” O’Leary said in the final minutes of the council meeting. “It’s going to be a great experience for you all.”