By Stephen Wall
Sun Telegram
Posted: 07/15/2009 09:33:15 AM PDT
GRAND TERRACE - After more than three hours of closed-door discussions, the City Council on Tuesday night decided that Steve Berry will remain as the acting city manager until the city concludes its recruitment for a permanent city manager.
However, Berry will not be hired as the permanent city manager, the council decided.
"We believe that it is in the best interest of the city to limit the recruitment to outside candidates only to give a fresh perspective to the organization," according to a motion passed by the council.
The motion passed 4-0, with Councilwoman Bea Cortes abstaining.
The city has received applications from nine candidates for the city manager's job, City Attorney
John Harper said. Applications are due Aug. 17. The council is expected to appoint a city manager in the fall.
Berry was suspected of embezzling city funds and filing false records in connection with a window-tinting arrangement involving a work-release inmate in 2002, according to sheriff's reports.
No criminal charges were filed against Berry and he was not disciplined at the time.
Former City Manager Tom Schwab said he chose not to discipline Berry, who was then assistant city manager, to avoid bringing embarrassment to the city.
Berry became acting city manager in June 2008 after Schwab was hospitalized with a brain injury.
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((0))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Oh here we go. Let the News Papers Gloss over the Facts: Fact Charges were not made because Schwab squashed the investigation from being advanced to the DA's Office in a effort to aid Council Members during an election cycle. Schwab made public statements to this effect.
Steve Berry admitted to the investigator he falsified attendance records and submitted them as Official Government records.
Steve Berry allowed the excessive purchase of materials charged to the City of Grand Terrace. He nor any other of the City Employees in the purchasing of the material have been charged because Schwab squashed the investigation.
A Grand Jury should investigate and advanced indictments on the Sheriff Officers, Schwab, Berry, and all city employees in the Finance and Maintenance Department who knew of the deal and did not call a halt to the clear excessive materials purchase and thus a payment to the Work Release Criminal in the form of barter or materials.
The 25 page report also indicates the Work Release Criminal was getting credit for time by paying people to do the window tinting for him. This is an interesting transmutation of the Deal made between Berry and the Work Release Criminal.
There is more reporting to do on this story, and leaving Berry in charge one more day is an error in judgement on the part of the city council. Can't you just hear the paper shredders running?
