City manager supporters, opponents weigh in
Published: October 27, 2009
By:
Frank GeorgeCouncilman Doug Humphreys, Mayor Ramon Bawanan and council men Matt Beekman, Ben Manley and Thomas Crowder look grim after taking their seats at Hughson City Council chambers Oct. 19. The council had just approved motions to fire City Manager Joe Donabed.Hughson City Council’s decision to begin the process of firing City Manager Joe Donabed was heavily criticized by former planning commissioner Candice Steelman, but one Hughson Fire Protection District board member says Donabed has his faults.
“The impression I got was if you went with him you were fine,” Gus Villarreal said. “But if your thought was a little different, it was war,”
The council passed two motions in closed session Oct. 19; the first was to give the city manager a notice of intent to terminate his contract. The second was for the immediate suspension of his contract. Both were supported by councilmen Ben Manley, Thomas Crowder and Doug Humphreys. Mayor Ramon Bawanan and Councilman Matt Beekman voted against them.
Villarreal recalled a planning commission meeting several years ago where Donabed allegedly belittled the fire district. The commission was considering a city request to annex Whitmore Avenue property for the new Grossi Fabrication plant.
“He kind of talked down the fire department because we didn’t have the capability or the right equipment to take care of it, which we do have,” Villarreal stated.
Humphreys is a firefighter/paramedic with the City of San Jose and was also on the fire board at the time. Villarreal said the board wanted to make sure district fees were in place before any new development began.
“It was always a challenge for us when we wanted to work with the city because they would never give us any information until they were ready to start the operation,” Villarreal said, “whether it was the annexation of property or redevelopment.”
Villarreal said the fire district would end up losing money from its tax base because the city would use it for redevelopment.
Meanwhile, the council will take a final vote on Donabed’s termination late next month, a move former city councilman Jerry Ledermann does not support.
“I had heard comments even four years ago that some people were dissatisfied with the city manager,” Ledermann stated. “Once in one of my visits to a voter I asked him why he was so negative about the city manager. He stopped, thought a minute, and then replied, ‘I don't know.’ I still remember him scratching his head and he couldn't think of a thing.”
Additionally, Donabed has managed an impressive list of accomplishments over the past six years. Among these is the latest city budget. Working with a council finance and audit committee that included Beekman and Bawanan, he brought in a balanced budget, something no other city in the county could mange this year. In 2004 the city adopted a strategic plan and the first and second phases of the Charles Street project were both completed under Donabed’s watch.
With that in mind, Steelman addressed the council Oct. 19. She described a January council meeting at which Humphreys and Crowder had conflicts of interest that kept them out of a closed session. As the councilmen waited in council chambers, they started conversing with city finance director Debbie Paul. Since the meeting had not yet adjourned, the city clerk’s audio tape was still running and Steelman indicated they didn’t realize that.
“In short, it was a conversation not worthy of members of a city council,” she said.
“In short, it was a conversation not worthy of members of a city council,” she said.
The council hired Donabed after Bob Wilburn resigned because Wilburn was accused of telling former Mayor Bart Conner he could use city credit cards for personal expenses. Donabed's 2008 salary was $118,758 and Ledermann believes he’s worth every penny.
“Whenever Joe was asked a question he was very explicit in his answers, not only to me, but to others whether the recipient was a voter, a resident, whether he was in his office or sitting next to the city attorney,” the former councilman confirmed. “Joe is the type of guy when asked 'What time is it?’ he might tell you how to build a watch.”
Comments
If they are going to let
If they are going to let anyone go it should be David Chase who has behaved like a bully to many vendors and workers. This kind of behavior should not have to be tolerated by anyone!
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