Jan 11 City Council Meeting:

GT Council To Appoint Missing Colleague

Friday, December 24, 2010

San Bernardino County Sentinel

GRAND TERRACE --Despite concerns that an appointment could create or solidify factionalism on the Grand Terrace City Council, members of that body this week resolved to accept applications from city residents to fill the open seat created when Walt Stanckiewitz was elected mayor in November. Stanckiewitz had two years remaining on his term and his elevation to mayor necessitated his resignation from the council post he was elected to in 2008.

With two newly elected members on the council - Darcy McNaboe and Bernardo Sandoval - there appeared to be a deadlock over the city’s direction. Sandoval and Stanckiewitz campaigned on platforms calling for reform of the way the city has done business in the past. McNaboe and incumbent councilwoman Lee Ann Garcia have both been supportive of what is perceived as the status quo. The two factions did not appear to be able to come to agreement on who to choose to fill the gap because of misgivings over the appointee aligning him or herself with one side or the other and thus forming a dominating coalition. The alternative, holding an eleiction would cost the city $50,000. In an unexpected turn, McNaboe departed from Garcia and voted with Stanckiewitz and Sandoval to choose a council colleague from among those applying for the post.

Among those anticipated to apply are Sylvia Robles, who was the top vote getter among the unsuccessful candidates in the November race.Robles, who finished closely behind McNaboe, is considered to be a reform advocate. She would be a natural ally to Stanckiewitz and Sandoval, having propounded many of the same suggestions they did in the race. Another likely applicant is planning commission chairman Doug Wilson, who placed second in the race for mayor. Wilson is perceived as favoring the status quo, and was quoted as stating he thought there was far more that needed to be preserved in Grand Terrace than needed to be changed. Another potential applicant is former city manager Tom Schwab, who epitomizes the status quo. Stanckiewitz has been outspoken in his criticism of Schwab and the policies he put in place during the 19 years he was the city’s top administrator.

The council voted at a special meeting to take applications from registered voters residing in Grand Terrace. Applications can be obtained at City Hall, the library, the Grand Terrace Childcare Center or www.cityofgrandterrace.org.

Applications must be submitted by January 4 to qualify for a selection hearing to be held on January 11.

Grand Terrace Council to appoint new member

Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer

Posted: 12/22/2010 08:13:31 PM PST

Updated: 12/22/2010 08:19:46 PM PST

GRAND TERRACE - After lengthy debate, the City Council has voted to accept applications for an open seat on the council.

The 3-1 decision, with Councilwoman Lee Ann Garcia dissenting, came following extended discussions at a special meeting Tuesday and the previous week, when the City Council delayed the decision to avoid an apparent 2-2 stalemate over whether to hold a special election or appoint someone.

"Everybody was surprised that we were able to come together," Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz said afterward. "See, we can agree. People shouldn't be afraid that one group is trying to get power over the other."

Many of the citizens advocating for an election had expressed concern that the four council members would be unable to agree on a fifth member. Some also worried that if they chose the most-recommended appointment suggestion - Sylvia Robles, who lost in November by 1 percent - she would align with Stanckiewitz and Councilman Bernardo Sandoval to overpower the remaining two council members.

Others said allowing the council to choose its own member was undemocratic.

But the majority of residents said the city could not afford an election, which the registrar of voters said would cost $31,000 to $50,000.

The council voted Dec. 14 to ask the registrar if money could be saved by consolidating the election with another city's, but no cost-cutting methods were found.

Any registered voter in Grand Terrace can fill out an application from City Hall, the library, the Grand Terrace Childcare Center or www.cityofgrandterrace.org.

"I think there's somebody out there who all of us will be happy with," Stanckiewitz said. "Are they somebody who ran? Maybe. I doubt it, because there (are) a lot of hard feelings on both sides."

Applications must be submitted by Jan. 4. The City Council will interview candidates and vote to accept one at the next meeting, Jan. 11.

ryan.hagen@inlandnewspapers.com
909-386-3916

Gramps says

Clearly Sylvia Robles is the desired Council Member by much of the community. Also as clear Neither Council Member Garcia nor Council Member McNaboe will approve her appointment. Even if a Boy Scout Hosted Election under the upervision of a Certified Public Accountants were to result in a vote for Sylvia Robles, Darcy McNaboe asked if the council would have to approve that indicating that she would not comply even if such an election selected Sylvia the popular vote. Perhaps this was why she went along with the appointment rather than an election. She feared that Sylvia Robles would have won an election of any sort, after seeing the number of supporters attending the two city council meetings. She selected appointment with several times assuring Council Member Lee Ann Garcia that there was little likely hood that three Council Members would find a candidate they could vote for and thus the seat would remain open.

Well, given the above it would make since that Sylvia Robles in spite of public support saves the public and the council's time and just waits on an election period that will count and neither McNaboe or Garcia can avoid the election results. Let's hope that the low election results for Wilson, Schwab and the others who ran in the last election also prove them unworthy to be seated and that a person who did not run may be the only option that could possibly result in an appointment. It should also be a person not previously serving on the Planning Commision as all those servings are in the position due to a selection process tainted by the Schwab Era of Administration.