HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/7/2020 Item 08, Czech
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Genevieve Czech <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Dr.James Papp, C8 JUly 7th City Council Meeting
Honorable Lady Mayoress Harmon and Council Members,
re. Item C8 for July 7th, 2020, City Council Meeting
We are very disappointed to learn of your consideration of removing Dr. James Papp from his position as head of the
CHC. We have witnessed his worthy contributions over these past several years to preserving the historical character of
San Luis Obispo. Further, he has been re-elected to his role and given much time and effort to fulfill this role. It appears
that rather than citing failure to fulfill his duties, there are objections to his individual personality, without due dialogue
and clarification. At the June 2nd City Council Meeting, which was viewed by the Public, there were direct attacks by
Council members on his contributions, using terms like ¨divisive¨, and ¨not liking conversations with him¨. These came
across as a personal attack, rather than detached consideration of the concrete points that had been offered by Dr.
Papp.
They further gave a hostile impression that did not serve to further the discussion in a detached and discreet manner.
These comments will have been recorded by the Clerk. To subsequently recommend Dr. Papp´s removal from the CHC
because of disagreement with his valid contributions is not justifiable, and creates a precedent for future removals. It
furthermore does not give the Public encouragement to volunteer for advisory bodies, if disagreement becomes a
reason to dismiss an individual. The purpose of an advisory body is to raise matters that could represent problems,
particularly with reference to authentic arguments based on one´s professional experience that the City Council could
not be expected to have on their own.
We recommend that you remove Item C8 from your agenda, and resolve these personal issues with Dr. Papp in a more
professional manner, perhaps with mediation. He has every right to continue his term as head of CHC until its
termination. It is our hope that you have the grace to choose this outcome.
Respectfully,
Genevieve Czech
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