HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-03-2017 Item 3, AyralPECEIVED
(XJ1',:CIL MEETING._
TL /l NO.: -- -- - ; 1 JAN 0 3 2017
From: On Behalf Of Odile Ayral
Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2017 11:55 AM
To: E-mail Council Website <mailcounciE slocit .or >
Subject: Item 3: Selection of Sub -committee Members
Dear Mayor Harmon and Council Members,
I had sent the following letter to the Council on December 2nd, but it was a transition time, and my letter never
appeared in the correspondance. I am therefore including this letter below to support the other residents who
were disquieted by what happened at the November 15th Council Meeting. No one in the City Council ought to
retaliate against a resident for using his first amendment right, and when a council member behaves like this, he
or she ought to be reprimanded, not rewarded. Certainly, this council member should not be appointed to
several important sub -committees. Here is the letter I had sent on December 2nd:
was not able to attend the Council Meeting of November 15th, but I watched the video, and I was
disturbed by what I saw. A retired administrative law judge for the state of California had been
recommended to be part of the ARC by a committee consisting of council members John Ashbaugh
and Dan Rivoire, and the ARC representative. She had come to the meeting with her husband,
daughter and grandchild to be formally appointed, and to celebrate this occasion. Instead, she was
publicly humiliated by Mayor Marx and Council member Christianson, who jointly opposed her
appointment. Why? She had said or written something they did not like in the past. Mayor Marx
even added that she was not qualified for the job because she was a lawyer and had no background
in architecture, which is disingenuous considering that the ARC member she would have replaced
was also a lawyer with no background in architecture. Since it is unprecedented for council members
to oppose the recommendation of a selecting committee they appointed, this appears to be a case of
prejudice against an intelligent, educated person who loves her city and wishes to serve it. The vote
was a tie, therefore the position will be reconsidered by the new council, and I trust that this council
will behave in an honorable manner. The retired judge may not wish to be reconsidered for the
position considering the way she was treated, but in case she does, I urge the new council to do the
right thing and to confirm her appointment. Thank you.
Odile Ayral