OXNARD : City Manager Calls Clerk Inexperienced

Oxnard City Clerk Daniel Martinez is too inexperienced to efficiently run the clerk’s office, and the City Council today should deny an automatic 5% pay raise that was deferred last year, City Manager Thomas Frutchey said.

In a report to the council to be discussed at today’s meeting, Frutchey said Martinez lacks the ability and experience to administer the full duties of the city clerk.

“In spite of high-quality staff in his department, the quality of the services and work products produced by the city clerk’s department has in many cases been below acceptable standards,” the report states.

Despite recommending against the 5% salary hike for Martinez’s administrative work, Frutchey suggests that Martinez receive a raise of $150 to $450 a month to cover inflation for performance of his elected duties.

But Martinez said the report and subsequent recommendation to deny him a long-delayed pay raise are the result of a political backlash.

Martinez beat out Mabi Plisky--longtime clerk and wife of Councilman Michael A. Plisky--in a hotly contested election in November, 1992.

“I don’t agree with (the recommendation), but staff is submitting it to council so it’s up to the council to decide,” said Martinez, who has asked for a meeting with Frutchey to more clearly define what is expected of him.

In November, the council delayed Martinez’s scheduled 5% pay raise until Frutchey completed his performance review.