Liaison dispute defines City Council session
Board also OK’s funds to help fight local gangs
By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 12:17 PM PDT
Ontario — The Ontario City Council approved funding to fight a local gang problem, Ok’d two system development fee resolutions along with concrete repairs to the East Idaho Avenue underpass and listened to local veterans voice opposition to a councilman’s appointment as a veterans liaison Monday night.
While the funding for the gang enforcement officer was the key issue at the session, the resistance from several area veterans groups regarding Councilman Ron Verini’s appointment as a liaison between veterans and the elected board took centerstage.
The dispute eventually concluded when Verini walked out of the council session.
Verini’s departure signaled the end of a period of contention that began during the public comments portion of the City Council session. During the public comment period, American Legion Post No. 67 Commander Stephen Farrow asserted the group had never appointed or elected Verini to represent them.
Members of Ontario’s Disabled American Veterans D-Day Chapter 18 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 5452 also spoke at the meeting, expressing Farrow’s sentiment.
Ontario resident Doug Dean spoke out in favor of Verini’s position and said Verini allowed a line of communication for veterans not involved in the organizations.
Ontario Mayor Joe Dominick indicated he was convinced he should remove Verini from the veterans liaison slot.
Dominick said he recognized some people might consider his action as caving in to pressure.
“I prefer it be said that I changed my mind,” he said before removing Verini from the liaison position.
Verini spoke out against the decision. He said he believed Dominick was, indeed, caving in to a small group of people.
“You don’t have the guts to stand up and let me keep this position,” Verini said.
Verini also asserted he did not represent any one group of veterans and called the action a slap in the face of every veteran and active duty person in the city.
“You’re just about over the line,” Dominick told Verini.
Verini continued to pack up his belongings as he responded.
“I am over the line?” he said.
Verini then began to walk out of the council chambers.
“I happen to be a little upset,” he said.
Councilman Bruce Tuttle said he serves as a liaison to the Ontario Airport and does not vote on issues presented to the committee.
“I’m just there to bring back facts, figures, wants and needs,” he said.
After the meeting, Dominick spoke about the interaction.
“I’m surprised at his (Verini’s) reaction,” he said.
He also said about 40 veterans opposed the position, with only three for it. Dominick said he planned to meet with Verini to discuss the issue further.
Verini, who did not return to the meeting, said after he did not know what the future held.
In a phone interview after the meeting, Verini found fault with the fact Dominick did not consult other council members before reaching his decision. However, at the meeting, Dominick said he had the power to remove Verini from the position since he was the one who approved the position.
In other council action:
— The council also approved a plan to fund a patrolman position with the Ontario Police Department in an effort to tackle the local gang problem.
The elected board agreed to use $80,000 from interest earnings on cash reserves and increased motel occupancy tax receipts to fund the endeavor.
The new patrolman slot will free up an officer, previously dedicated to patrol duties, to focus on gangs.
“The police department needs at least one more body right now,” Ontario City Manager Henry Lawrence said.
In 2006, OPD Chief Mike Kee said the department allowed one patrol officer to focus only on gang issues for the summer months.
“We had him do nothing but gangs, do nothing but shake some trees and see how many gang members he could get to fall out,” he said.
— The council also held a public hearing and approved two system development charges resolutions. The first resolution listed capital improvement projects such as pump stations and water storage facilities to be funded with SDCs.
The second resolution presented the SDC fee schedule, with Interim Public Works Director Chuck Mickelson highlighting the fee schedule for different areas of the city under the plan.
— The Ontario City Council also approved taking $30,000 from the city’s contingency fund to create a part-time economic development coordinator position, which would be filled by part-time airport manager Alan Daniels. Daniels will now spend half of his time focusing on the airport, for which he has obtained a number of significant grants for the city, and the other half as economic development coordinator, finding further grants for the city as well as working to market the city of Ontario.
Ontario City Councilwoman Susann Mills expressed her approval of the $51,034 salary.
“I believe it will come back twofold,” she said.
Dominick requested a monthly update on grant searches, which Daniels supported, asserting the grants require a close working relationship with the council.
— Lawrence informed councilmembers about a downtown revitalization meeting slated to take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday. This meeting he said, would be an informal one that would “dispel the myths and rumors” surrounding the potential project.
Life of Riley wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:03 PM: