COSTA MESA Council places attorneys on...
COSTA MESA
Council places attorneys on leave, calls for audit
The City Attorney’s Office received a shocking blow last week as
council members voted unanimously last week to audit the legal
headquarters and place the top two attorneys on paid administrative
leave for undisclosed reasons.
The City Council voted during a closed session Monday to remove
City Atty. Jerry Scheer and Asst. City Atty. Tom Woods from the
office for at least three weeks to allow a subcommittee to conduct a
“detailed review†of their performances. Council members also
approved an audit of the City Attorney’s office during the late night
meeting.
Details regarding the decision are considered personnel matters
and are therefore classified.
Steve Hayman, the city’s director of administrative services,
would only say that “some sort of action†by the city’s legal
representatives prompted the council to take a closer look at the
operations of the department, but that no one should assume any
wrongdoing.
* LOLITA HARPER covers Costa
Mesa. She may be reached at (949)
574-4275 or by e-mail at
EDUCATION
Corona del Mar club teaches tolerance Sept. 11
A new club at Corona del Mar High School that was established to
fight prejudice and discrimination launched its first assembly on
Sept. 11. Tolerance Among People, started by two juniors, invited an
alumni, a firefighter and a Red Cross volunteer to share their
experiences and feelings about last year’s terrorist attacks and
their repercussions. The club plans to continue combating
discriminatory issues through assemblies, fliers and whatever else it
takes.
Orange Coast College also hosted another Circle of Remembrance to
honor the victims of the terrorist attacks.
* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers
education. She may be reached at
(949) 574-4221 or by e-mail at
ENVIRONMENT
Balboa Bay Club receives clearance to build docks
The Balboa Bay Club jumped the final hurdle to starting
construction on a new dock at the eastern end of the marina.
Club leaders were given the green light from the California
Coastal Commission on Tuesday to begin the $1.5-million project.
The commission approved the project, which will allow club leaders
to pull out a deteriorating 18-slip dock and install a new 16-slip
dock that can accommodate wider yachts.
Coastal commissioners, in granting a coastal permit, attached
several requirements to their approval, including a survey for
endangered eel grass and aggressive “killer†algae in that section of
Newport Harbor.
* PAUL CLINTON covers the
environment and politics. He may be
reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail
NEWPORT BEACH
Taste of Newport kicks off with 36 restaurants
The Taste of Newport kicked off on Friday with headlining acts Big
Bad Voodoo Daddy and The Boogie Knights. The biggest stars of the
food and wine festival, though, were the restaurants. More than 36
signed up to show off their chefs’ best.
The one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks hit
home for Newport Beach residents Lyle Davis, Scott Ramser and Lyle
Stewart.
The trio were all witness to the attacks last year and made
lifelong friendships when they found each other amid the rubble to
find a way home together.
Beachside restrooms could be in better condition soon. City
Council members on Tuesday decided to look into spending an
additional $25,000 to $40,000 a year to keep them clean.
Two commission vacancies got filled on Tuesday. Michael Toerge
will be the city’s new planning commissioner. William Garrett will
sit on the city’s Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission.
* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers
Newport Beach and John Wayne
Airport. She may be reached at (949)
574-4232 or by e-mail at
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