Van Cleave Admonished for Alleged Threat to Employee
The City Council has issued a “statement of disapproval” against Councilman Bill Van Cleave for allegedly threatening to fire a city employee.
Council members Manuel Lozano, Ricardo Pacheco and Teri Muse voted for public admonishment rather than a formal censure. Mayor Bette Lowes dissented. Van Cleave, who abstained, has denied making the threat. He could not be reached for comment.
The action came after a city code enforcement employee filed a complaint that Van Cleave threatened to have him fired after the inspector issued a citation to a person for illegally operating an auto repair facility out of his home. The person receiving the citation is allegedly a friend of Van Cleave.
The statement of disapproval carries no penalty.
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