City Council Meets on Masry Effort to Oust City Attorney

After more than 90 minutes of spirited comments from the public, the City Council met behind closed doors Tuesday to determine the fate of longtime City Atty. Mark Sellers.

Councilman Ed Masry had initiated a plan to oust Sellers, the city’s top lawyer for 18 years, after the men sparred over a city land swap that Masry said unfairly favored developers.

Although the private session was originally Masry’s idea, he suggested postponing it until a later meeting to ensure that the city followed proper procedure if it decided to terminate Sellers.

But Councilman Dennis Gillette persuaded two other council members--Mayor Dan Del Campo and Andy Fox--to move ahead on the matter Tuesday.

“Accusations have been made. Clouds have been formed over our city employees. We need to clear the air on this matter. We can’t just let this thing linger and keep these people twisting,” Gillette said.

As of late Tuesday, the council continued to meet and had not announced a decision.

Before the council moved into a private meeting room, about 150 residents packed the council chamber in anticipation of the debate. Three dozen residents spoke on the matter with about a 5-to-1 ratio in support of Sellers.

Those supporters included former elected officials, developers, residents and a taxpayers advocate. Many of them accused Masry, a wealthy trial lawyer portrayed in the movie “Erin Brockovich” who financed his own campaign last year, of everything from buying his way into office to using sensational courtroom tactics during meetings to abusing power in the manner reminiscent of Julius Caesar.

Environmentalists and residents who had tangled with city staff over development defended Masry.

“Thank you for your scrutiny,” Mary Wiesbrock, Save Open Space director, told the councilman. “You are looking out for our best interests.”

But former Mayor Bob Lewis cautioned council members not to confuse differences of opinion with issues of competency.

“During my tenure, I frequently did not agree with the staff,” he said. “But we do not want or need ‘yes’ people.”

Masry balked at the audience’s criticisms, saying he didn’t appreciate being accused of grandstanding.