Grand Terrace City News Reviews. From Email InBox

Paww..

The City Manager's Job is on a Contract and the Contract Ends and it is NORMAL to have a open hire or application after the end of each Contract Period. UNFORTUNATELY Tom Schwab and the Citizens of Grand Terrace have not had Good, Normal Management Practices for the prior contract renewal periods. The city should have taken applications from others in the past. Perhaps, the city could have gotten a better qualified person who would work for less money and perks.

A contract ends, and taking applications is Good Management Practices. Simple as that. It may be cost effective to let both Schwab and Berry Go... Simple as that no need for the drama to be added to the decision making process. Nor is there a need for "Loyalty" to be an issue, a contract is a contract, and it is time the City Council think of what is best for the City and Citizens, including Cost of the Contract, not what is right or loyal to Tom or Steve...

So get over the Loyalty Crud, and get the Best Lowest Cost City Manager you can hire and be done with it.

Pawww...

Apparently Steve Berry threatened to expose the fact that the Millers were surprised by there being an issue that the City News received funds for Adds placed by the City in the Grand Terrace City News was a violation of the 1090 rules, prohibiting a Council Member from benefiting from City Business. The City News Group is owned by Marge Miller, her husband does not Own the Paper... and most know there is little income a result of running a local paper. Any way this is under investigation and the practice was stopped when it came to light.
Prior to letting the Contract or placing the Add should not the City Management Know that to place the add in the City News Groups Paper would put the Millers in a Questionable Position at a minimum, and in violation of 1090? Isn't it a Lack of Professional City Management that put the Millers in this situation. A Council Member is just an elected joe citizen... whereas the City Manager, should be aware of the Regulations and Procedures required for contracting services.

So, then Steve Berry also defended himself about a wine purchase from the City...
When did the city get a ABC License to sell wine?
Why was city surplus offered for sale only to City Employees? This is not the Proper Practice for the Disposal of City or Government Surplus.
This speaks to the professional ethics of the Management of the City.

Then Steve defends him self on the Window Tinting on his car... with a claim he has receipts, and there is a different color. This is interesting, if the receipts are dated in the same time as the Report by the Sheriff's Investigation or after the investigation, a cover up of the cover up... a do over of the tint job after getting caught or not... who knows we were not allowed to know the events at the time.... nor do we know now.

Steve Berry offered no reply to the more serious charge of Falsifying Government Records, and Contracting with an individual to tint the windows of the City in a manner in violation of Fair Business Practices and Proper City Management. Again, this was not done with out the consent or knowledge of Tom Schwab. There is no doubt that Steve Berry did not act alone in coming to be in the situation that a Convicted Violator serving Court Ordered Community Service was diverted to get a " Good Deal on a Tint Job for the City" and "Day Care Center"... in violation of the terms and conditions of the Court Ordered Community Service. Short cutting Contracting Practices and Proper Business Management Practices was not done in isolation, Checks had to be approved to purchase materials, and the designation of a work order or charge off account for the task had to involve at a minimum the GT Finance Dept, and Possibly the City Manager's Approval, and the Consent of the City Council when they approved the Checks that were written that month.

No he offered no answer to that part of the SBCS Report. No real reply has been offered by any of his co-conspirators who also were in violation of several government codes and regulations, when it comes to running a proper government purchasing and contracting.

PAWWW....

Gene Carlstrom who is the owner of Terra Loma Real Estate is the employer/associate of one of the City Council Members. So is any City Business provided to Gene Carlstrom a violation of the 1090 Regulations?

Paww... folks who suggest that IF Tom Schwab is not hired back the Citizens will vote out the council.... have missed the point ..... The Citizens Don't Support either Tom or Steve...

More and more they are looking like Pinkie and The Brain Cartoon... and the Citizens are the ones paying for their folly.

It is time REAL Contract Negotiations Take Place, and REAL APPLICATIONS for OPEN POSITIONS are CONSIDERED... not just be "LOYAL" to the Same old Dictator contact after contract...