Additional History of Conflict of Interest in GT

From Public Speaking during the Council Meeting Black OUT:

Current and former members of the City Council should be very
concerned about Jim Miller's case in view of the standard practices that have been occurring in this city for years. Consider the following examples for which there is clear documentation. On August 28, 1997, Byron Matteson, Dan Buchanan, Herman Hilkey, Jim Singley, and Lee Ann Garcia were on the Grand Terrace City Council when they all approved Check Register No. CRA 091197 which included a voucher for $7,500 paid to the Grand Terrace Chamber of Commerce. It was for fiscal year 1997/1998, and it was not designated for any particular thing. Bernie Simon was the Finance Director for the City of Grand Terrace, and Frank Ferré was the Treasurer of the Grand Terrace Chamber of Commerce. At that time, a Community and Business Directory for 1997/1998 was printed by Allstate Instant printing for the Grand Terrace Chamber of Commerce.
According to a newspaper article in 1997, Allstate Printing was owned by Byron Matteson. In the same article, it was also stated that Byron Matteson was the founding director of Inland Community Bank which appears to be the same bank that later gave construction loans for a project that is really in question right now. Some people feel that this project should have never been approved where it is located, right across from residential. An important Public Hearing at City Hall is going to be held on March 4, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. on the CUP for this business. Jim Miller had every reason to believe that he was doing nothing wrong. I believe that he acted in good faith and was ill-advised. I think that the citizens of Grand Terrace have a right to expect our City
Attorney and our City Manager to properly advise and support our City Council on matters so that competent and honest people are willing to serve in our City Council.

There There is THIS:
PENAL CODE SECTION 182
182. (a) If two or more persons conspire:
(1) To commit any crime.
(2) Falsely and maliciously to indict another for any crime, or to procure another to be charged or arrested for any crime.
(3) Falsely to move or maintain any suit, action, or proceeding.
(4) To cheat and defraud any person of any property, by any means which are in themselves criminal, or to obtain money or property by false pretenses or by false promises with fraudulent intent not to perform those promises.
(5) To commit any act injurious to the public health, to public morals, or to pervert or obstruct justice, or the due administration of the laws.
(6) To commit any crime against the person of the President or Vice President of the United States, the Governor of any state or territory, any United States justice or judge, or the secretary of any of the executive departments of the United States. They are punishable as follows: