Sanitary District Board Votes To Oust Fitzpatrick*(Amended)
THE SHORT VERSION
The short version of what happened at the Costa Mesa Sanitary District Special Meeting this morning is... after approximately 30 minutes of deliberation in a Closed Session, the Board - back in open session - voted 3-2 to move forward and request the law firm of Meyers Nave to proceed with what is called a quo warrento proceeding. They will forward a request to State Attorney General Kamala Harris immediately for her opinion. If she concurs, legal action will be initiated to remove Director Jim Fitzpatrick from his seat on the Sanitary District Board. Fitzpatrick and Board President Bob Ooten voted against the motion. I tried to reach Ooten for a comment but he's not responded by the time I needed to publish this entry. I may post an amendment to this entry with his response later. I had also hoped to be able to link to Joe Serna's Daily Pilot article because he WAS there, but it's not ready at press time. I'll link to it later, so check back this evening. In the meantime, you can read his preamble coverage HERE. *11:00 p.m. You can read Joe Serna's excellent piece covering the meeting HERE. The accompanying photo by Scott Smeltzer shows Fitzy looking like he needs a Tums.
FITZPATRICK CREATED THIS PROBLEM
All this turmoil was created when Fitzpatrick ignored the original advice by District Counsel Alan Burns that holding seats on both the Sanitary District Board and the Costa Mesa Planning Commission simultaneously was incompatible as defined by state law.
BOOT-LICKER SUPPORT
According to reports from the scene, only two people rose to speak to this issue in the Public Comments segment before the closed session. One was a representative of a waste hauler, who didn't speak for Fitzpatrick, he spoke in favor of open bidding for the trash hauling contract. The remaining person who spoke was Costa Mesa Parks and Recreation Commissioner and Jim Righeimer sycophant Ethan Temianka. According to those at the meeting, Temianka presented views straight from Fitzpatrick's playbook - his email blast sent to "friends" yesterday encouraging support. Temianka recently announced that he will challenge Trudy Ohlig Hall for her seat on the Mesa Consolidated Water District Board next fall - another tenticle on the OC GOP takeover of the Newport-Mesa area.
EMAIL BLAST PROVIDED SUPPORT - BARELY
Incidentally, sources tell me that approximately a dozen emails were received since Fitzpatrick's frantic appeal yesterday and most of those were supporting his position. I've not seen them so can't give you any idea of the breakdown or the specifics of what they said. I know they were NOT unanimous supporting Fitzpatrick because they included my message. Considering the intensity of his appeal, this seems like pretty weak support to me.
BLOW-HARD STRETCHES MEETING
Because the meeting took nearly three hours, and because Fitzpatrick makes long-winded pontifications on almost every issue that is discussed, the Sanitary District Board did not complete their agenda. Some words used to describe his behavior at the meeting were: Egotistical; Self-centered; Know-it-all; Condescending and Bully. So, many of the more interesting issues - like a review of committee assignments - will occur at the regular meeting in March. Assuming that Fitzpatrick is still on the Board at that time, expect more fireworks at that one.
WATCHING THE METER SPIN AND WAITING...
Now we wait for a response from the Attorney General and begin to watch t
he legal fees tally up until this issue is resolved. It is estimated that it could cost around $50,000. It could be easily resolved if Fitzpatrick chooses to resign from either of the "incompatible" seats he holds. Based on his reaction to this situation, few think that will happen. He will probably let this legal challenge play out - forcing the Sanitary District to pay legal costs to move forward - to the point where he must, personally, begin paying legal bills.
The short version of what happened at the Costa Mesa Sanitary District Special Meeting this morning is... after approximately 30 minutes of deliberation in a Closed Session, the Board - back in open session - voted 3-2 to move forward and request the law firm of Meyers Nave to proceed with what is called a quo warrento proceeding. They will forward a request to State Attorney General Kamala Harris immediately for her opinion. If she concurs, legal action will be initiated to remove Director Jim Fitzpatrick from his seat on the Sanitary District Board. Fitzpatrick and Board President Bob Ooten voted against the motion. I tried to reach Ooten for a comment but he's not responded by the time I needed to publish this entry. I may post an amendment to this entry with his response later. I had also hoped to be able to link to Joe Serna's Daily Pilot article because he WAS there, but it's not ready at press time. I'll link to it later, so check back this evening. In the meantime, you can read his preamble coverage HERE. *11:00 p.m. You can read Joe Serna's excellent piece covering the meeting HERE. The accompanying photo by Scott Smeltzer shows Fitzy looking like he needs a Tums.FITZPATRICK CREATED THIS PROBLEM
All this turmoil was created when Fitzpatrick ignored the original advice by District Counsel Alan Burns that holding seats on both the Sanitary District Board and the Costa Mesa Planning Commission simultaneously was incompatible as defined by state law.
BOOT-LICKER SUPPORT
According to reports from the scene, only two people rose to speak to this issue in the Public Comments segment before the closed session. One was a representative of a waste hauler, who didn't speak for Fitzpatrick, he spoke in favor of open bidding for the trash hauling contract. The remaining person who spoke was Costa Mesa Parks and Recreation Commissioner and Jim Righeimer sycophant Ethan Temianka. According to those at the meeting, Temianka presented views straight from Fitzpatrick's playbook - his email blast sent to "friends" yesterday encouraging support. Temianka recently announced that he will challenge Trudy Ohlig Hall for her seat on the Mesa Consolidated Water District Board next fall - another tenticle on the OC GOP takeover of the Newport-Mesa area.EMAIL BLAST PROVIDED SUPPORT - BARELY
Incidentally, sources tell me that approximately a dozen emails were received since Fitzpatrick's frantic appeal yesterday and most of those were supporting his position. I've not seen them so can't give you any idea of the breakdown or the specifics of what they said. I know they were NOT unanimous supporting Fitzpatrick because they included my message. Considering the intensity of his appeal, this seems like pretty weak support to me.
BLOW-HARD STRETCHES MEETING
Because the meeting took nearly three hours, and because Fitzpatrick makes long-winded pontifications on almost every issue that is discussed, the Sanitary District Board did not complete their agenda. Some words used to describe his behavior at the meeting were: Egotistical; Self-centered; Know-it-all; Condescending and Bully. So, many of the more interesting issues - like a review of committee assignments - will occur at the regular meeting in March. Assuming that Fitzpatrick is still on the Board at that time, expect more fireworks at that one.WATCHING THE METER SPIN AND WAITING...
Now we wait for a response from the Attorney General and begin to watch t
he legal fees tally up until this issue is resolved. It is estimated that it could cost around $50,000. It could be easily resolved if Fitzpatrick chooses to resign from either of the "incompatible" seats he holds. Based on his reaction to this situation, few think that will happen. He will probably let this legal challenge play out - forcing the Sanitary District to pay legal costs to move forward - to the point where he must, personally, begin paying legal bills. Labels: Bob Ooten, Costa Mesa Sanitary District, Ethan Temianka, Jim Fitzpatrick, Jim Righeimer, Meyers Nave
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 2/28/2012 03:01:00 PM
7 Comments:
Don't worry Jimmy, you can still try and ruin the City by sitting on the Planning Commission. Keep that inflated head up high big guy.
Call Riggy, he'll make you feel better.
"Sanitary District Board Votes To Take Out The Garbage"
GW:
(Re Fitzpatrick's latest performance):
"Some words used to describe his behavior at the meeting were: Egotistical; Self-centered; Know-it-all; Condescending and Bully.."
Me:
Gee, which two council members has he been hanging out with and using as role models..
GW:
"It could be easily resolved if Fitzpatrick chooses to resign from either of the "incompatible" seats he holds."
Me:
You say that as if he has free will and makes decisions without taking orders from Righeimer.
i did not go to give support or write in a supportive email because it was an obvious lynching, so why bother? But maybe a few of us should have showed up considering it was 3-2. I had read SOMEWHERE that only 4 were meeting, Fitzy not invited. Must have been from a bad reporter of facts. Well, good for OOTEN. Just was saying this afternoon to our lunch group that he was a good guy, a guy for the ratepayers, and the most intelligent on the Board and we needed to excuse him for his coming anti Fitz vote, that voting for Fitz would do no good since the rest were hell bent "at any cost" (to the ratepayers, to themselves politically)to go forward. Voting opposite would just bring Ooten grief. Ooten going along with the recent hysteria would be understandable. What a pleasant surprise. The most admired (and top vote getter) Board member refusing to play their game. So, top two vote getters lost this vote to the bottom three vote getters. Survivor Island. Outwit, outlast, outplay. Will be interesting, especially the jury vote this November. And, good job Ethan, good boost to your prospects.
Oh and BTW my lunch group meets every afternoon at the bottom of Riggy's boots if you want to join us any day. The leather is amazing and we get marching orders before anyone and a pat on the head too for good work we support, do everything he says. Go Fitz.
Actaully this is bad news for the city planning and building staff. Now they have to deal with the meddlesome and inept Fisty even more often. I feel sorry for them.
Wait, I though Fitzy was no one and a lackey - how could any be his "boot licker"?
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