HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 1945/08/27 [[I~u'±'~,~ OF ADIOUREED RE(FJLAR [.~TING 0F ~ 0ITT 00UNCIL
OF T~S CITY OF CHULA ~/.g~A, CALIFOI~IA, ~m~T~ L~OED~y, ~UL~3~T Z?, 19~5.
T~e Council met in the Oouncil C~ambers of the Olty Hall, on the above
date, at 7 o' clock P.~., with ~ayor Eeithley presiding. Present: Councilmen
Keithley, Howe, Burnside, Rleslend, Kidder. Absent: None.
RE,OR,,T OF l~2~S~ C0~$~S~ION: In the case of ~.Yoh~n~en, who had
been discharged by the Police Ohief, the clerk ~ead the report of the findings
of the Personnel Commission which were to the effect that no justification w~s
foll~ f~r his discharge and that he should be retained on the force.
On motion by Councilman Ifeithley, seconded by Councilmau Kidder, which
carried, findings of the l~ersonnel Commission wex~
I¥1ayor Keithley commented that this action on the par~ of the council
in sustaining the findings of the Perso~uel Commf~sion should not set ~ precedent
as the co-mission should be entirely capable of decision'.
On motion by Councilmma Burnside, seconded by Cou~cil~-~ Howe, which
carried, the Chief of Police was instructed to notify 2-~r. $oha~sen to report
for work on the morning of August 28.
TAXI-GaB FRANCHISE APPLICATION: ~r.Thom~s of the Otmla Vista Yellow Taxi
Gab Company, submitted au application for exclusive franchise to operate Taxi Cabs
within the City of Chula Vista. His application stated that, in the ev~t the
City Council decided to cell for bids, that he ~ould submit a definite figure.
also applying for a pemit to operate T~t cabs were E~r. Oarl ~ims end D.H.McOlendon.
On motion by Counci~-u Keithley, seconded by Councilman Howe, which carried, the
matter was referred to City ~ager Ray for investigation of tim advisability of
granting either or both of the above requests ~ report at the next meeting of
the council or at the e~rliest possible time.
BIT.T-~ PAID: Nsrr~nts NOS .A68~ -~ 4684, after exe~iuation were ordered
paid by the following vote to wit:a ~yes: Council~n Burnside, Kidder, Riesland,
Keithley, Howe. Absent: No~e: Noes: None.
U.~0~ BUILD/~G: On motion by Oouncil~ Rlesland, secomded by
Councilman Eeithley, which carried, City }~anager P~y was instructed to investigate
the status of the U.S.O.Building, and infox-m the proper authorities that the City
of Chula Vista is desirous of acquiring title to the building .~t appurtenances,
his report to be presented at the next meeting, or aS soon aS possible.
~L~U A~E~JE REPAIR: Oity ~anager Ray presented a detaile~ report of
his ~indiugs and rec,.,--e~datioms for the repai~ of Third avenue, using
rock paving at a total estimal~d cost of $Z0,959.00. UpOn motion by Councllm~n
Riesland, seconded by Counc~lm.~ Keithley, the re~wwm~nd~tion was ~pp~v~d, providing
state and county funds could be seemz~d with which to do the wozk. The motion
waS passed by the following vote to-wit: ~s: Councilman Riceland, Keithley,
Howe, Burnside, Kidder. Noes: None. Absent: Nons.
RESIGNATION OF C~t~EF OF POLICE: The clezk re~d a lattar of resignation
from l~errill E.Kelly, Ghie£ of Police, to be effective at ~.50 p.m., Septamber 15,
19&5. After the reading of the resi_~m-tion, the Mayor eske(l Mm.Kell~ if he cored
to comment on the above matter. ~.~elly them stated t~t, iu his opinion,
he had left a w~ll organized Police ~epartms~t which operated smoothly wh~ he
joined the Navy, and that, du~i~g his absence under l~r.D%%pree, gestapo methc~a
had been established in the department and as a consequense the depertmen~, im his
estimation was shot to pieces. He complained that Mr.Yok-~-sen was reporting on
the outside ~ll things taking place in the dep~rtmsnt. He further stated that
there wera definitely several factioms represented in the department which
prevented complete cooperation.
~t this point he vs~y strongly criticieed Counci~m-~ Bu~nside for his
interference by contacting city employees, making dissension lm all departments
using the k~owledge thus gained as subject for gOssip on the street. Councils--
Burnside flatly denied the accusation. Gaief Kelly similarly accused
Ho~e .n~ said that too much of the city's business was car~Aed on un the side-walk~
end curbs of Ohula Vista. He accused OounciTM Howe of nmking himself
a nuisance ~u the departments, to which 0ou~c~l~n Ho~e auswmred that, aS
Oouncil~, he had a perfect right to visit the departments aS often as he
v~lshed, at this point Councilman Burnside moved that Chief F~lley's
resignation be accepted, effectiV~ at once. Council~u Ho~e seconded the
motion, but, before a vOte w~s taken, City Attorney Atherton
Councilmen that, u~der provisions of Ordinance No.3A~, Section 12, l~r.Kelly
could not be dismissed without due hearing. No further action was taken
on the motion.
It was then moved by Councilmau Burnside, seconded by 0ou~cilmsn Howe,
that Chief Kelly's resig~ation be accepted to be effective Septem~ber 15, 19~5o
at this point ~yor Keithley suggested that it would be better to postpone
voting on the above motion until next regular meeting to be held ~eptember ll,
1945, and thus give all parties concerned a chs~ce to cool off. ~ayor Keithley
thereupon moved that the motion before council to accept Chief Kelly's resigna-
tion, be continued to the next regular meeting date of the council, n~mely,
September ll, 19~5 at 7 p.m., The motion was seconded by 0ouncil~n Kidder
and passed by the following vote, to-wit: [~res: Councilmen Keithley, ~bwe,
Burnside, Kidder, Rleslaud. Noes: None. ~bsent: None.
Discussion continued and Councll~u B~rnside asked Chief Kelly if he wrote
the letter that w~ sent to ~r.$ob~usen, notifying him of his dlsmlss-1.
Chief Kelly did not immediately ausw~r, a~d Councilw~n Burnside continued saying
that City ~enager Ray wrote it. Chief Kelly then remarked that that clearly
indicated what he meaUt wheu he said he must have loyalty in the rankS.
He again accused Oounci1~ Burnside of beLug nothing but a gossip. Councilman
Rieslamd at this point ~te the statemex~ that no 0orporation eVer continues
to exist where individual directOrs attempt to give orders to employees.
Oouncil~-n Burnside then ~sked City ~nager R~y directly if he wrote the letter.
l~r.Ray ~uswered that, following the recommendation of City ~tterney ~therton, who
said the letter re, st be written, he asked Ohief Kelly to ~ite to ~r.$ohansen
immediately. ~M.Ray then dictated to ~s .Hog~u a s~mple letter which he asked
her to refer to Chief Kelly as a s~ple for his guidauce, ~d she to suggeSt to
him that the letter go out ~ediately. Councilman Kidder then ~sked I.M.
Re~,' if this was after the discharge, to which I~M.R~y answered "yes". ~,M.Ray
then further stated that he could not say ~hether the letter w~S precisely the
s~me as the smnple or not.
~layor Keithley then made the statement that much of the internal trouble
is caused by government by gossip, .md that, before the OitY could be operated
efficiently, this method must stop. Chief Kelly then continued to say that
he had a meeting of all the department and explained to them that the giving
out of information on city matters must be stopped, but that it still continues,
~ud nothing shor~ o~ mass l~-offs ~ould co~z~ct it. City~I~uager R~y stated
that he had issued instructionS that no city busineSS to snyone not authOrized
to receive same, may be divulged by eny city employee, ~n~ that he has told
the employees that ~1 may come to him freely end without prejudice.
Council~n Kidder then asked Chief Kelly if his resignation was prompted
by action of the Persounel Commission. Chief Kelly answered that he w~s all
for the I~aua~r form of gover~maut and for ~.R~y as l~n, gSr, ami when elections
come up next ~pril, he would be out there pitching. Mt. Ray mentioned
meeting with the police department end said that Chief Kelly has had tou~h
sledding since he came baCk. He said he thought that ~s a resul~ of ~hls
meeting end subsequent meetings to be held, that more ha~y would exist now.
Ow~ OF C0k~C~ ~brILDZNG SiTE: The matter of a building site for
· ' the Chamber 'of C°~mUeroe was discussed~ut no deciSiOn or reccmm~ndatlons were
reached,
Council~an
y~TOD~l~jT. Upon motion by Councilman Keithley, seconded by
howe, which card'ed, the meeting was adjourned to Tuesday, September 4, at 7 p.m.,
Ci'ty Clerk. ~