Council Votes 2nd Time to Remove 2 Officials
In an effort to remedy any possible violation of California’s open meeting laws, the City Council on Friday voted for a second time in as many weeks to remove the city’s attorney and manager.
After a heated exchange between members, the council voted 3 to 2 at a 7:30 a.m. meeting to place City Manager Faustin Gonzales on paid leave and terminate the contract with City Atty. H. Francisco Leal.
The first vote to remove the two officials was taken at an Aug. 12 special meeting. The agenda for that meeting failed to mention that the council would discuss the two officials. That, Leal and other legal experts said, constituted a violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act, the law that lays down procedures for open government meetings in California.
Leal, a partner of the law firm of Beltran, Leal & Medina, said he had told council members they could rectify the violation by voting again on the matter within 30 days and giving proper public notice.
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