More on the New City Manager and How the Council Works?

This will be a review in article..
THE PRESS MISSES THE POINTS AGAIN.

Grand Terrace hires new city manager
01:25 AM PST on Wednesday, November 4, 2009
By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise

The Grand Terrace City Council on Tuesday ended its three-month search for a city manager, hiring Moreno Valley's assistant city manager on a four-year contract.

"This is the most important decision we have ever made," Grand Terrace Mayor Maryetta Ferre said after the council voted 5-0 to hire Betsy M. Adams, 51, who lives in Redlands.

The Mayor and Council should had the same level of "Importance" to each time they continued Tom Schwab's contract without looking for a replacement. Their continued employment of Steve Berry for 1 day after his Criminal Investigation and Coverup was brought to the attention of the Council. MONTHS PRIOR TO IT HITTING THE PRESS.. These Decisions were Important and they clearly Decided WRONG. The Decision to go against Public Interest and Desires and placing the Senior Center and Housing, in a remote location rather than Down Town is a Big Decision... Mayor Ferre suggest untill the #()@! hit the fan the Council hasn't been taking their jobs serriously.

City Attorney John Harper told council members that the 37 applicants for the post represented "a lot of terrific candidates and a lot of terrific interviews."

Adams will be paid $185,000 a year to start, and will receive a $500-a-month car allowance, a $15,000 life insurance policy, group health insurance and two weeks of annual administrative leave. She will be eligible for city-paid retirement contributions, vacation and sick leave.

Adams has said she will be looking into the budget. Perhaps her first move will be to reduce her own income and use those funds to hire a cook for the Child Care Center. Or perhaps provide Medical Insurance for Part Time Employees.

Her contract includes a clause that requires the city to pay her six months' salary if she is terminated without cause. She starts work Dec. 1.

This is a standard clause. She has little to fear. This city had plenty of Cause to Fire both Tom Schwab and Steve Berry but their reviews were always possitive and their employment continued with increased cost to the city. However, if some Council Member doesn't like what she is doing she may find the DA's Office After Her...

Adams replaces Tom Schwab, who retired June 30 after a year-long medical leave. Finance Director Bernie Simon has been acting city manager since July 28.

Tom Schwab: Retired after it was clear he had covered up a criminal investigation of Steve Berry and that the release of that information in the press did not help his own job prospects with the city or elswhere.

Adams has worked for the city of Moreno Valley 19 years, including two years as administrative services director and the last five years as assistant city manager.

Grand Terrace council members noted her long service to the Riverside County city.

"It's wonderful that you have all those years in Moreno Valley," Councilwoman Bea Cortes told her at the meeting. "I hope you will have even more years in Grand Terrace."

Bea Cortez's idea that the council should select a City Manager that is corrinated King or Queen for 20 years is wrong thinking. City Managers are contracted for 4 years and each time there should be a real evaluation of that City Manager and Other Applicants for the Job. Including reduction of cost to the city for the services required.

Adams said she decided to leave Moreno Valley because "Grand Terrace is going to give me the opportunity to become a city manager."

What is it about her that Moreno Valley doesn't like? Her City Manager is about to retire... She is not being selected as the replacement. There may be nothing... However this would be a question to ask. Kind of like why Steve Berry was looking for a job with the city just months after joining the PE's Internet Services?

She said she considers Grand Terrace "a very special community" where residents are quick to volunteer.

Reach Darrell R. Santschi at 951-368-9484 or dsantschi@PE.com


Grand Terrace hires city manager
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/03/2009 05:44:41 PM PST

GRAND TERRACE - Ushering in a new era, the City Council on Tuesday unanimously selected Betsy M. Adams as the new city manager.


Adams, a 51-year-old Redlands resident, was chosen to help bring a fresh perspective to the city of 12,500 residents that was rocked by a scandal that brought down former acting City Manager Steve Berry. AND City Manager Tom Schwab.

"She has that demeanor, that style, that will promote healing," said Councilman Walt Stanckiewitz.

Let's hope she is all business, tells the truth, and stops going nuts with RDA Actions and Micro Management of Citizens Lives.

Adams becomes only the third city manager in Grand Terrace's 31-year history.

"This is a very historic time within the city of Grand Terrace," Mayor Maryetta Ferre said before introducing Adams.

It is Historic: They actually had full application and selection process. They hired a woman who we may presume would not be subject to flirtations. They hired some one with experience other that the way things work in Grand Terrace.

Adams has worked for the city of Moreno Valley for 19 years, the last four as assistant city manager. She begins her new job Dec. 1.

"That you selected me is truly the honor of my career," she told the council.

Q: Why wans't MV going to give her the job of City Manager? Did she apply or was the commute shorter? Pay better? Less work? We are a small town, and should pay less than MV..

Council members said Adams' administrative experience set her apart from the 36 other applicants who sought the position.

"I think you bring a lot of education and skills that we really need here so we can have a new beginning," said Councilman Jim Miller.

Ya Think? Why did it take so long to understand this. Every 4 year contract the council renewed or extended was a lost opportunity to get a better City Manager..

Adams' four-year contract will pay her $185,000 a year, plus a $500 monthly auto allowance, as well as health insurance and other benefits.

Quite a heavy budget item... Lets see if her budget cuts start with her own income first.

After the meeting, Adams said her first order of business is to meet with each employee "to get an opportunity to understand the organization."

Adams' hiring comes about three months after the council removed Berry from the job after allegations surfaced of the cover-up of possible crimes involving Berry and a work-release inmate in 2002.

The Cover-up involved actions of Tom Schwab, a couple of Sheriff Detectives and Investigators, and possibly all or some of the City Council and City Staff. The DA's Office has yet to file charges on this even after being spoon feed the case against Jim Miller by Steve Berry supported by Bea Cortez.

stephen.wall@inlandnewspapers.com, (909) 386-3916

Why MV City Manager is Leaveing?
Case MWV903677
Defendant 3216834

GUTIERREZ, ROBERT GREGORY - Actions and Minutes
11/16/2009 8:30 AM DEPT. R20

July 22, 2009
Rob Gutierrez

San Bernardino County prosecutors charged Moreno Valley's city manager, Robert Gutierrez, with seven misdemeanors on Tuesday.

The charges contend that he harassed and spied on his ex-girlfriend. Reportedly, San Bernardino County Supervising District Attorney David Hidalgo stated that Gutierrez was charged with three counts of making harassing phone calls, two counts of unlawful computer access and fraud and two counts of identity theft related to accessing phone records.

Assistant City Manager Betsy Adams had no comment on the charges and said that her and other city officials they will continue with “work as usual.”

When asked if either her office or the city as a whole had any formal comment on the issue, Adams stated that they did not.

It is uncertain if the city has certain legal protocol for situations such as this with city employees. After several attempts to reach City Attorney Robert Herrick, he did not immediately respond.

In an interview with the The Press-Enterprise, Moreno Valley Mayor Richard Stewart said Gutierrez will continue his duties as city manager. Stewart told the newspaper, “The bottom line is, like everyone, Mr. Gutierrez is innocent until proven guilty.

This entire incident revolved around a lady that is an employee with the city of Upland. As I understand, there's a lot more of it than has been made public. When it comes out we'll get a different take on it.

" Gutierrez has served as city manager for Moreno Valley for three-and-a-half years.

Gutierrez will appear in court for a September eighth arraignment in Rancho Cucamonga and could face six months in county jail on each of the harassment charges. Furthermore, he could potentially see up to a year on each of the other charges, although sentences for some of the charges could be served at the same time.

Gutierrez was unavailable for comment.

Andrew Carico can be reached at
acarico@publicceo.com