Councilman’s comments anger City Hall

June Casagrande

An unfounded comment by Councilman Dick Nichols that one or more

planning commissioners might have been bribed has provoked outrage

from commissioners and colleagues -- many of whom say that Nichols

was out of line at Thursday’s commission meeting.

Nichols spoke at the meeting to oppose the commission’s decision

to deny a alteration for a South Bayfront home.

“It sure doesn’t look good. It looks like you’re taking money for

this one,” Nichols told commissioners.

On Friday, he said that he had no evidence of any such wrongdoing.

“I suggested that the Planning Commission decision seemed so

incongruous with what should be done that it almost leads one to ask

that question,” Nichols said.

Commission Chairman Steven Kiser was one of the city leaders

outraged by the comment.

“It was pretty inappropriate,” Kiser said Friday.

In an e-mail to Nichols, Kiser wrote, “This statement was

completely unfounded, inappropriate, and is a slander against all of

the planning commissioners.”

Commissioner Ed Selich agreed.

“I’ve been in public service a long time and I’ve never seen a

council member speak at a planning commission meeting,” Selich said.

“In my opinion, it’s totally inappropriate that he was even there in

the first place, not to mention what he said.”

While city rules do not forbid such behavior, City Atty. Bob

Burnham said, council members are expected to follow certain rules of

decorum. No other sitting council member has spoken at a Planning

Commission meeting.

Mayor Steve Bromberg said he was uncertain whether any action

against Nichols would be appropriate, but that he hoped the council

would look into the issue.

“It smacks of the perception of trying to influence or intimidate

a governmental body,” Bromberg said. “I, for one, think we should

take a look at this.”

The comment was made as the Planning Commission was considering

whether to grant a variance for a home on South Bayfront. The

homeowner was allowed a 25-square-foot room to accommodate an

elevator on her roof, but wanted permission to expand that to a

127-square-foot room with a bathroom. The commission ruled that her

request was out of line with city standards for such variances.

Nichols, however, thought they should permit the expanded room

because it did not appear to pose any burden on the neighborhood.

“He doesn’t understand variances,” Selich said.

Nichols emphasized that neighbors of the South Bayfront home

supported the request. Thus, he said, he did not know who might have

wanted to bribe commissioners to oppose it.

Councilman Gary Adams has been outspoken about Nichols’ apparent

inability to understand council procedure, frequently calling points

of order when Nichols seems to miss the point of council discussions

on various items.

“It was a foolish comment,” Adams said. “I’m hoping it speaks for

itself.”

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

[email protected].