CV Tow May Lose Contract

Glendale police Chief Randy Adams is recommending the Glendale City Council not renew franchises with two towing firms, Crescenta Valley Towing and Gay’s Automotive & Towing Service.

The chief’s recommendations are based on the work of a study committee, composed of Glendale Police Lieutenant Donald Shade, Burbank Police Lt. Roger Mason, Glendale financial official Ron Ahlers, businessman Ariel Drachenberg and Glendale, commissioner Sam Manoukian.

The committee ranked Gay’s fourth and CV Tow fifth among the five applicants, which included two other companies doing business with Glendale’s Sunset Tow and Monterey Tow.

Adams recommended the city award contracts to Sunset Tow, Monterey Tow and an outside company from Monterey Park, Navarro’s Towing.

Navarro’s would serve District 3, the La Crescenta and northern Glendale areas now handled by CV Towing and would have six months to find a location and build a yard. Until then, the other two would serve District 3.

The expected debate over the issue fizzled out when council members decided at Monday’s meeting they needed more time to study the reports on the issue. They delayed the matter until August.

The debate is expected to be a heated one, as all three of the present operators have had contracts with the city for at least 30 continuous years.

Hal Present, owner of CV Towing, has hired attorney Sheldon Baker, a former Glendale mayor. Baker said in the meeting Present will reserve comments until October. Carvel Gay, owner of Gay’s as well as a veteran’s group leader and well-known figure in town, also said he during the meeting would withhold comment.

The tow contract issue came up when the city was accused by some outside operators of bypassing bid requirements and renewing the same three firms with little scrutiny.

The council ordered bids and said any firm bidding for a contract must be located either in Glendale or a short distance outside. CV Towing is in the county portion of La Crescenta.