"So when do you take office?" That seems to be the big question on many people's minds.
It's needlessly convoluted so stay with me.
Thursday morning, June 28, at or about 9:00AM, a City Council meeting was to be held in the Council Chambers to accept the results of the recall election. However, the City Manager reports that recalled council member Dick Jones backed out. Mayor Quirk-Silva and Member Bruce Whitaker were willing to be there.
As of this morning, Mayor Quirk-Silva was planning on calling for a special meeting on Monday morning, July 2nd, at 9:00AM. I have been told by City Manager Felz and City Attorney Jones that recalled council member Pat McKinley has promised to participate. According to City Manager Felz, Mr. McKinley has planned to be out of town this week for perhaps several months.
Regardless of whether the July 2nd meeting occurs, I have been told that Mayor Quirk-Silva will have a meeting Tuesday night. This would be a normal meeting but it had been canceled due to the July 4th celebration on the following day. So, if Monday's meeting is canceled, perhaps Tuesday's meeting will result in the new council being able to act.
If Monday's and Tuesday's meetings fail to have a quorum and seat the new council, I have asked City Attorney Jones to take the matter before a judge on July 5th. If that does not happen, I am preparing to take the matter before a judge on July 6th myself.
July 17 is tentatively scheduled to be the first regular City Council meeting though will be largely ceremonial including public ceremonial swearing in of the new members. There may be an item or two that will be addressed but I don't know what those will be.
As we approach this tumultuous transition in Fullerton's governance, I reflect upon President George Washington's Farewell Address and the elegance with which he stepped down. With quiet dignity and gentle words of wisdom, he stepped aside to allow someone else, John Adams, to preside over the United States. It is too bad that some of the recalled council members appear to have neither dignity nor wisdom to do what is right.
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