More Trouble Brewing At City Hall?
SENIOR STAFFERS PLACED ON LEAVE
Sources have confirmed that Public Affairs Manager Dan Joyce and his assistant, Christine Cordon, were placed on administrative leave late Tuesday afternoon. No information was given about the reason for these actions.
NO MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE NOW
Because this is a personnel matter, no further information is available at this time and all questions have been referred to Assistant Chief Executive Officer Rick Francis, acting on behalf of the vacationing CEO Tom Hatch.
CURIOUS COINCIDENTAL TIMING
The timing of this situation is interesting, because at about the same
time Joyce and Cordon received the word, resident and 60th Anniversary
Committee member Sue Lester was speaking out during Public Comments at the council meeting last night, expressing concerns about possible violation of City rules, requesting
contract and other financial information about the 3-day 60th
Anniversary event and addressing other failings she perceived during
that event involving treatment of volunteers.
THE CHAIRMAN WAS SURPRISED
I've spoken with 60th Anniversary Celebration Chairman Mike Scheafer about this issue. He was surprised to hear of the personnel actions and said he had not been contacted about it.
WILL WE EVER KNOW?
So, more drama at Costa Mesa City Hall. We can now all speculate about what went on, whether there is a financial scandal brewing and how far up the food chain at City Hall it might reach, but will likely not know all the facts, even if there is an investigation. That's a shame, particularly if the issue involves use of public funds.
NO MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE NOW
Because this is a personnel matter, no further information is available at this time and all questions have been referred to Assistant Chief Executive Officer Rick Francis, acting on behalf of the vacationing CEO Tom Hatch.
CURIOUS COINCIDENTAL TIMING
THE CHAIRMAN WAS SURPRISED
WILL WE EVER KNOW?
So, more drama at Costa Mesa City Hall. We can now all speculate about what went on, whether there is a financial scandal brewing and how far up the food chain at City Hall it might reach, but will likely not know all the facts, even if there is an investigation. That's a shame, particularly if the issue involves use of public funds.
Labels: Christine Cordon, Dan Joyce, Mike Scheafer, Rick Francis, Sue Lester, Tom Hatch
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 8/07/2013 12:01:00 PM
41 Comments:
Who cares? I wanna know who the shot caller was to put out the big lie that the Foo Fighters were playing!!!
Sorry, couldn't resist. But the plot certainly thickens. Can't wait to see what the total monetary loss was on the event, though.
****MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS AT CITY HALL?****
Today Dan Joyce put on admin leave. There are a myriad of possible reasons but we thought we would throw out this headline just to get in the spirit of local journalistic style.
if you only knew why some people have left local governments or placed on leave or disciplined you might have a way different opinion than the ones you form based on politics or their "letters". you would find who really was the screw up and not attack the wrong side.
We cannot comment at this time about any of the current audits or actions regarding the City of CM 60th celebration as that is currently under a personnel matter and , well we cannot comment about that.
If Joyce goes, does this signal the beginning of the end for Baugh-Righeimer in Costa Mesa?
*laughing so hard*. Its about time!
***RIGGY OUTS CORRUPTION AT CITY HALL, HAILED A HERO?***
can't wait for the letter from the disgruntled employee or spouse to hit the press damning the City and taken at face value by a gullible electorate in their quest for responsible government. facts won't matter, there's a coverup!!
4 out of 7 comments to this post as of 6:37 PM appear to be from rig-trolls.
Conclusion:
Riggy and his puppets are running scared.
"commenting" is correct. in fact, all the posts are from one person no doubt. alf knows there is no support for the boyz. how did they get elected is the only question. there is support somewhere. must be the silent majority.
too bad Register opinion writer Reicher blew it in his reporting in the city and was, uh, transferred by popular demand. Here is perhaps a real story he could work on instead of slanting things or making stuff up. anyone else up to investigating this?
is this a shiny object or real bad stuff?
Wow. The news about Joyce and Cordon is HUGE! I love how the Cauldron is on top of everything! Timing is a little too coincidental, but like you said Geoff, no one but senior HR will ever really know what happened.
It could be SO many things. From what I've seen, once placed on administrative leave, they don't come back. If they got rid of a great employee like Julie Folick, these two are definitely aren't coming back.
"Jimmy, you start writing a bunch of nonsensical posts to create a smokescreen.. Then go to the dive- free drinks for ya along with Diet Coke receipts..
Stevie, run down to the airport and bully someone. Call Zint anonymously first to tip him off.
Scott will disavow, Allen will introduce a bill. I'll be in the fifth stall at Sonic on Harbor. Look for the window tray with 3 Supersonics on it.."
From the Daily Pilot: "Public Affairs Manager Dan Joyce and Special Events Coordinator Christine Cordon, were put on leave Tuesday pending the outcome of an outside investigation, said two high-ranking city officials, each of whom requested anonymity."
Whoa! It appears there's trouble in 5th floor paradise! These two positions appear to be Riggy's "special" positions to help his political career. At a time where the City is cutting police services, they made up a Public Affairs Manager and Special Events Coordinator position? Come on...no wonder some people hate government employees.
An outside investigation? What in the world did they do?!!!
I do love the part where they said that our very own Geoff West was the first to break the story! GREAT JOB GEOFF!!!
running your own business out of the clerk's office makes for missed deadlines and poor decisions concerning vendors.
I can't believe the news about Dan Joyce and Christine Cordon has made the media. Both the OC Register and LA Times did an article on them. It's got to be bad when one can Google or Yahoo search their names.
One thing I found interesting when Googling their names is that they are both business owners. I wonder if the investigation will reveal them using city time to run their business or somehow awarding themselves contracts.
Somehow, I think this is all much more than that. I know Geoff will sniff it all out and let us all know.
Keep up the good work Geoff!
Dear City Hall,
Rather than fear the union and place these good people on admin leave, why not figure out who is leaking information to this blog?
What a violation of trust and you name it on many other fronts.
Maybe someone else needs to go on leave?
Too early to tell, but these two may come back. It's rare to come back aftervadministrative leave, but it's happened.
Julie Folcik wasn't a great employee, by the way. She had great employees who did all the work for her while she sat and smiled clueless. She ran around city hall more concerned about aesthetics than anything else. She had such high turnover rate in the 10 years she was there because staff couldn't work with her being so inefficient and unqualified as a clerk! She had a document imaging budget taken away, so now when it takes forever to get copies of documents, you can thank her for not moving us into the modern age. She was always behind on minutes since she started in 2002. She wasn't certified and barely got her University of Phoenix BS degree when she was hired as Deputy City Clerk. She only became City Clerk when her position was grandfathered into City Clerk because Roeder (another useless work) didn't want to be dual City Manager/City Clerk anymore. So great employee? You're out of your mind. Get the facts straight. That big smile and sweetness were part of the book's cover, and the old saying is not to judge a book by it.
@dba as EventAdvantage
Wow...the city's website shows Dan Joyce making $148,000+ and Christine Cordon $90,000+. It will be very disappointing if you're right. They were paid very good money as it was. I'm confused as to what an Assistant Recreation Supervisor is, but I'm sure it was a made up title for an unnecessary position.
This city is starting to sound a lot like Bell. There are a lot of people out there who would be willing to plan events for $90,000 a year with a pension plan.
Hey, welcome back "dba as EventAdvantage"... Looks like your comments are still as inaccurate as ever.
Another one of Riggy's unqualified minions, bites the dust. Who is Dan Joyce and why was he qualified for this position? Never got an answer about that. Maybe the all knowing Fitzpatrick can fill us in. I'm sure he would love to replace Joyce since being qualified in not a requirement and be needs a steady paycheck. http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2011/04/who-is-dan-joyce-and-why-is-he-public-affairs-manager-for-costa-mesa/
Wow Christine. Slamming your old boss, because you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar. You were lucky Julie put up with you for as long as she did. Instead of commenting here, you better start checking the job boards, because your career in Costa Mesa is over.
@so long
From the tone of "Get it Right", it does sound a lot like her. Julie was a great employee who had class and did her job well. We all know she was thrown under the bus and ran over again and again by her staff.
As to the getting the hand caught in the cookie jar comment, well...I just don't know what to think anymore. All in time and time will tell.
Something sure does stink and I wish Geoff would be quicker with his investigative skills! I know you're doing the best you can Geoff :)
How come the city isn't being more transparent about this? Also, what's up with the Assistant City Manager's comment about them "crafting" something up? Did he slip or did he mean to say that they'll eventually put a spin on the story?
Awwww look at these dumb employees fighting with each other and throwing blows instead of working... Your taxpayer dollars at work, ladies and gents.
I worked with Dan and Christine on the 60th. I thought they put on an awesome event. I did not feel mistreated as a volunteer.
Administrative leave is used to remove employees from the workplace while an investigation is going on so that they do not interfere with the those being debriefed.
As to whether or not they come back it depends a lot on whether they were contract employees or regular employees.
A regular employee is entitled to progressive discipline, but an at will or contract employee has many fewer rights and can be terminated pretty much for any thing.
I have to laugh about the tax dollars at work comment. You want to see your tax dollars at waste? Visit city hall's 5th floor. They have an entire floor of damage control and propaganda specialists. Then, look at their Vegas getaway receipts. How about their trip to ghost town China?
How about the use of about 5 outsourced law firms?
Yes, see your tax dollars at work folks.
Hey Geoff, where is your outrage at the "cowards" posting anonymously here? Taking specific potshots at specific people, yet no outrage from you?
Double-standard? Say it ain't so...
It's funny to see how camp riggy hates this blog. They somehow think the employees who have information will just sit quietly as their livelihood is slowly being taken away from them.
"Shocked" must be both dumb and stupid thinking employees will use their real names when exposing this city for what it is.
One fellow I feel especially sorry for is our former EMS Coordinator Larry Grihalva who was asked out of the blue to speak at a council meeting. Shortly after, his position was terminated.
Kind of reminds me of communist China where the government will do anything to shut someone up.
There's 2 down from the 5th floor and there's more to come. If anyone has any info that could be worth investigating, email it to Geoff and he'll be sure to sniff around or forward to an investigative reporter.
Let's take these guys down and get back to the happy family we once were.
We Miss Billy,
You, and especially Geoff, ARE both stupid and dumb to think that anyone who has any involvement with the city, either as a business owner, vendor, consultant, etc. would use their real names.
It is plainly clear that the "associations" and union do take revenge and attacke their opponents.
Just look at the infighting on display here.
nothing wrong happened. we have the "bestest" employees, right? wendy said it, must be true.
innocent until proven guilty is a strange concept for some apparently. right sk?
let's not get distracted by this and get back to the real problem:
water district officials flew on jets!
Get it Right, you are the only one that feels that way. She wasn't fired for stealing equipment from their employer. She doesn't have any s@#^%l harassment claims against her. She wasn't a chauffer at age 40. She was a lady with class. Something you will never be able to buy with all your wife's money.
How can these two make that much money and these people complain about what the actual workers for the city make? Most make half of that. Funny, but it seems that Riggy's hires make a load of money and because there is so many of them, they don't have to work hard. But the guys in the field, make half, and work their butts off. Glad its starting to come to light.
@about time
It's disgusting how much Dan Joyce Joyce and Christine Cordon Lam made. Dan was about $150K and Christine at about $100K for some fancy position. It appears both own a side business. So explain it to me like I'm a 10 year old. They got escorted out of city hall when there was supposed to be a meeting where the public finds out how much was spent on the unnecessary city party that used tax payers money. One can only conclude that timing wise, their departure maybe had something to do with misappropriation of city funds? Sounds criminal. Sounds a lot too much like Bell. I hope we all get to find out soon. So isn't the report on where the money went public information or has the city found a way to keep that no so transparent?
Dear where did the money go?
You will see this is nothing more than union pressure and assst CEO folding like a bad hand.
They will be back soon.
This is not about these 2. This is about the union going after Riggy.
Are you that naive? Well of course you are. Put on some big boy pants and admit how this game is really being played.
Thanks for the great laugh "Open your eyes"
That's about the funniest and dumbest thing I've seen posted here.
WEEEERRE BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!
Yea, "the union goes after Riggy" by forcing Rick Francis, a solid OCGOP hacktivist, to put Joyce and Cordon on leave.
Maybe they do stuff like that in Pop Warner and the Central Valley, but this is real life, in a town where most people can read and write.
Yeah right, there's no coming back.
"Open your eyes".... Just like Jim and Steve, always got your union excuse ready when something doesn't go your way. If you had an independent thought you would ask yourself the question - "what if they did do something wrong?"
Good luck on functioning in the rest of your life without the union excuse. Oh wait, just like your buddies, I guess unions are the reason you are where you are in life, so everything is their fault.
I have to laugh about all the postings. It's really funny when you set aside your emotions. The bottom line remains, no one knows what happened. There's a lot of speculation, but I don't see any insiders leaking any real information regarding this matter.
Again, a lot of speculation, but the fact remains no one knows and maybe know one will ever know unless its totally dramatic with arrests being made.
Like the asst city manager said, they'll be working hard on "crafting" a response. Crafting, putting a spin on it, whatever...it will be interesting to see the outcome.
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