Grand Terrace City News
Volume XIV, Number 15 July 2, 2009
Steve Berry Brings Scandal to GT
By: Margie Miller
Many people in Grand Terrace are embarrassed to find their City on the front page of the San Bernardino Sun. Especially after they have been reassured the allegations against Steve Berry were false. Walt Stanckiewitz, current council member said “I thought the Sentinel newspaper was on some kind of witch hunt, and the story was untrue. Now seeing it in the Sun the facts have been confirmed.:
Councilwoman Cortes, at a recent council meeting, shook her finger at the reporter who broke the story stating “You should be ashamed of yourself for reporting such lies. This is character assassination and you should apologize.”
Seven years ago, Steve Berry, the current Acting City Manager, then assistant city manager made what he describes as a “painful lesson” according to the Sun newspaper when he was investigated for embezzling funds and filing false records. Berry told the City News that he felt this was “not newsworthy” and the accusations were false.
A memo circulated regarding the veracity of the journalist Mark Gutglueck who broke the story in the San Bernardino Sentinel. Stating he has been sued many times. Gutglueck stated “Yes I have been sued on numerous occasions but no one has prevailed against me.?
According to the well documented Sheriff report (more than 150 pages), allegedly Berry allowed a San Bernardino County work release inmate to apply window tinting materials to City property including the Child Care center unsupervised. Berry had not disclosed to Sandi Ah Sue the director of the Child Care Services that the worker was an inmate on work release. The inmate disclosed to Ah Sue that he was in fact a work release inmate sentenced for an assault he had committed. Ah Sue stated that the inmate made her nervous. The tools he possessed … included razor blades. Berry, nor any other city workers had supervised him while he was at that center.
Berry falsified documents to show that the inmate had been present for his work assignments when in fact he had not.
Allegedly, Berry also allowed the inmate to apply window tinting to his personal property.
Berry authorized an open purchase order at a company in Anaheim where the inmate the end of September 2002. Some of the purchases included clothing. Confirmation of the invoices had gone to witnesses Michael Mullins a Grand Terrace City worker. Mullins became suspicious when Berry assumed the responsibility of documenting the inmates’ attendance. Mullins informed Berry the inmate had been a NO SHOW, Berry had told Mullins to leave that inmate alone.
Recently, Mullins was terminated through Berry’s request to the city council. Berry stated budget cuts were necessary even though Mullins and for other city employee salaries were included in the previous approved budget. At the 2009 staff Christmas party Berry stated “there will not be any layoff” less than one month later Berry went to the city council requesting the layoffs. Two weeks after that Berry requested a salary increase for himself. The council declined it.
Schwab who covered up this potential scandal in 2003 said “He wanted to avoid embarrassment to the city. We have never had even a hint of scandal in the history of Grand Terrace. To have our assistant city manager charged with falsifying documents and embezzlement would have embarrassed the city. I basically asked the Sherriff’s Department not to pursue it. I should have fired him, but he seemed genuinely remorseful and pleaded with me for a second chance.” Many employees remembered the incident and the day that Berry groveled for his job. The sobs could even be heard down stairs,” said one employee.
Schwab’s admission he made an “error in judgment” in not bringing this incident to the attention of the city council has raised the question why bring it up now. Berry believes It is an attempt to assassinate his character. The battle between Tom Schwab and Steve Berry over the City Manager position has been over since May 26, 2009 when Schwab took a retirement package of $177,000 and was no longer interested in battling with Berry. When asked who would provide this damaging information against Steve Berry? Schwab replied “The list is long and distinguished and I have found Steve severely lacks a sense of ethics and integrity.”
From the time Berry has been considered for the highest full time position in the City of Grand Terrace, his character has been in question. Everything he has done has become newsworthy. Berry was also featured in the Sentinel for not disclosing income he received from a Loma Linda developer. “Berry was receiving $3,000 per month to fight against a slow growth initiative,” Schwab said. He only found out about the undisclosed activity when Berry approached Schwab for a raise because he no longer had the income from the developer. Schwab’s response was “You are supposed to be a full time assistant city manager for Grand Terrace”.
Some feel Schwab is falling on his sword to protect some of the current council members. Of the five, Councilmen Jim Miller and Walt Stanchiewitz were not on the council at the time. Mayor Maryetta Ferre said she was completely unaware of any incident, the only knowledge she has is though the newspapers. Close friends of Ferre say “Maryetta could not have known given her high ethical standards.” Walt Stanckiewitz requested Mayor Ferre call and emergency council meeting but was unsuccessful due to both Lee Ann Garcia and Bea Cortes either not responding or being out of town. Miller was willing to postpone his vacation, the first one in 3 years Lee Ann Garcia the Mayor at the time of the incident occurred did not respond to numerous phone calls.
Lets us know what you think at grandterrace@citynewsgroup.com
This article brings forward some questions.
Who wrote the Memo about Mark Gutglueck.?
What is in the memo and who received it ?
Who on the Council Approved Payment for the Invoiced Materials?
Why not have a meeting with a quorum of 3 Miller Ferre and Stanckiewitz? Is it possible that the others are needed to Protect Steve Berry and Ferre was afraid of holding a meeting without them to back her up?
Are Cortez and Garcia in Argentina, or hiking the Appalachian Trail?
Is a Police Investigation Report not true if it is reported on a Blog, the San Bernardino Sentinel, or Grand Terrace City News? Is it not real until it is in The Sun Telegram?
Isn't the Sheriff's Action of bringing the decision to Schwab a violation of some sort? The Sheriff Department is a contracted service with the city. Was this waive off of criminal charges an accommodation for current or future contract negotiations?
Will the State Attorney General Jerry Brown or the FBI, order a full investigation as to the Covered up charges and obstruction of criminal investigation and possible additional collusion charges for actions taken after the council members had knowledge of the Criminal Investigation and persisted in the cover up? Berry’s transgression and the Cover Up of that transgression involves the County Sheriff’s Department, the County DA’s Office, the Employees of the City of Grand Terrace and the City Council Members at the time.
