The Thousand Oaks City Council seat that will be left open by Councilman Dennis Gillette's March 1 resignation will be filled by appointment to serve out the remainder of his term that ends in November 2014, the council decided at its meeting Tuesday night.
The council voted 3-1 to proceed with an appointment process that will begin with applications available starting today, followed by interviews before the council before it makes a decision. Councilwoman Claudia Bill-de la Peña cast the dissenting vote.
It is the same process that was used seven years ago to fill the seat left vacant when Ed Masry resigned from the council shortly before he passed away in December 2005.
Gillette, 72, announced his plans to retire from the council earlier this month to focus on his health and family.
The council's second-longest-serving member has been hospitalized off and on since early last year due to complications related to diabetes. Since January 2011, Gillette has missed more than one-third of the council's 28Â meetings.
Gillette, who was re-elected to the council in November 2010, narrowly beating challenger Al Adam, encouraged his colleagues to appoint a replacement for his seat "in short order."
Along with appointment, the council could have opted to keep the seat vacant and hold a special election in November, or it could have adopted an ordinance to appoint someone and then hold the special election in November. It is estimated that a special election would cost an estimated $8,000 on top of the estimated $60,000 it will cost to hold the regular election for two seats, City Clerk Linda Lawrence said.
A number of speakers told the council if it was going to appoint someone, it should be Adam, a former planning commissioner who ran on a slate with Bill-de la Peña in the 2010 race and lost by 146 votes.
Former Mayor Dick Hus was among them. He said Adam deserved to be appointed and if the council was not inclined to do so, it should leave the seat open and call for a special election.
Kathleen Doran said not much time had gone by since the election and that appointing the next in line in the election was the most logical decision and the one "most visibly aligned with the constituency."
Russ Goodenough urged the council to appoint someone with a similar philosophy as Gillette to carry out his term and carry along projects he was shepherding, such as the widening of the Highway 101/23Â interchange.
Rick Lemmo said the majority of citizens elected the council to make decisions like this.
"However, you go about this, there needs to be complete transparency," said resident Ron Siegel, who called the decision surrounding Masry's vacant seat a "great travesty" and said "many of the electorate felt disenfranchised and distrust."
Bill-de la Peña, who was mayor in 2005, called the way Masry's seat was filled an ugly precedent.
"I feel a vacancy needs to be filled by the vote of the people," she said.
Councilman Andy Fox countered that the appointment process is one the city has used a number of times in the last 20Â years.
The council also voted 3 to 1, with Bill-de la Peña dissenting on an appointment process.
Applications for the seat on the Thousand Oaks City Council are available on the city's website, http://www.toaks.org.
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Comments » 28
anyonecansee writes:
Shameless. This council opted for the worst possible option available to them.
nickeq writes:
No incumbents in 2012!!! They are nuts Meeting was such a farce C Attorney annointed for $300K yr with 5 weeks off + city paying HUGE amounts for her retirement ++
The tax payers CANNOT support such a dysfunctional system
We cannot compete with China with a crooked govt like this!!
READ the secretive Attorney contract: WEEP!!
http://www.toaks.org/civica/filebank/...
opi writes:
BROKE DOWN, DISGRACED AND TWICE DEMOTED FIREMAN ANDY FOX to ANOINT RICK LEMMON to THOUSAND OAKS CITY COUNCIl!
In an act of epic bad faith and pure hatred against the residents he was elected to represent, the vindictive and spiteful FOX has ordered his NEW COUNCIL ORDER to certify, appoint and consecrate Big City Billionaire Developer Rick Caruso's Boy Friday Rick Lemmon to the Council.
The prearranged and fixed appointment will make FOX'S NEW COUNCIL ORDER whole, complete and unified once again.
The NEW EXTREME REGIME of FOX-LEMMON-GLANCY-IRWIN and now pena will not tolerate dissent, discussion or input of any kind by residents.
Just like Hitler's Nacht der langen Messer or Night of the Long Knives, FOX'S purge is complete, irreversible and permanent. FOX"S move against Thousand Oaks residents is both ingenious and diabolical.
Why do you allow it?
When you think of The NEW EXTREME REGIME of FOX-LEMMON-GLANCY-IRWIN and now pena think of the City of Bell.......... and when you think of the City of Bell think of The NEW EXTREME REGIME of FOX-LEMMON-GLANCY-IRWIN and now pena.
1TOguy writes:
OPI - How do you know they are going to pick Rick Lemmo?? How do you even know he is going to submit an application?
You have, time and time again, proven yourself to be an anti-government extreemest who looses more and more creditability with every post.
nickeq writes:
1TOGuy Agree Lemon tree NOT very pretty and the fruit of the lemon is NOT sweet
Must admit I luv OPIs writing style!!!
The OTHER gross things were the C Atty UGLY contract & NO change to PRO Incumbency election ord. Irwin blurped that statements will be on web They REFUSED in 2010 & Denny squeeked in!!
nickeq writes:
CONSENT Calender:
02-21-2012 TOCC Consent Calendar ELECTION Campaign $$$$
Only reason brought back as small part requires ratification:
What is missing is that this PRO INCUMBANCY Ord. is NOT being changed
NOT allow signs in public space like Westlake, Agoura, Ventura
RIDICULOUS Selectively enforced approval requirement
Candidate STATEMENTS / forum info on web site
Committees FREE to play havoc with $$$$
===========================================
Feb 13th 2012 RE: TOCC hearing 02/21/2012 Denny Gillette RESIGNATION
Council enough of the bickering and one mans ship: We request:
An election should be held in the Primary if possible or in Nov. California primary is on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
June election means 5 open meetings left Nov. means about 17 meetings. Mr. Gillette has missed about 15 meetings?? Been too ill to participate since Jan 2010
So no great harm would be done if seat left open till November and have 3 seats on the council.
IF an appointment is made it should be APOLITICAL:
Appointing the runner up from Nov 2008 makes no sense as that election was over The dynamics of that have changed There were 13 running Most of them have no interest in the council today.
The division on the council has changed? With CM. Pena jumping ship and joining the majority so as to earn the MPT spot.
This is NOT rolyalty that Cm. Gillette can recommend some one like minded to replace him for the balance of the term; guess we will never know if he was too ill to run! However he BARELY won the election, so there is NO mandate to run a clone.
If necessary an apolitical statesperson who will NOT run in the next election should be appointed (Larry Horner, Ed Jones, Judy Lazar, Laura Lee Custodio, Frank Schillo among others may be considered.
Appointee will NOT nominate any replacement commissioners, comm.. members!
We have had staged elections in many countries. we have elections in Iran, Afghanistan, even Iraq now. But are they free and fair? I hope we in Thousand Oaks will rise up beyond the partisan bickering.
opi writes:
http://articles.latimes.com/2007/feb/...
http://mobile.firehouse.com/news/1061...
opi writes:
Dear 1TOguy,
Thank you for supporting me in my campaign against extremism by local elected officials.
When Andy Fox ordered the seat left vacant by Ed Masry's resignation with the waxlike Thomas Glancy...... that is EXTREMISM.
When ANDY FOX ordered Bill Adams to be removed from the planning commission for daring to come within a few votes of displacing his helper Dennis Gillette... that is EXTREMISM.
When ANDY FOX ordered Billionaire Big City Developer Rick Caruso's Boy Friday Rick Lemmon to be appointed to the NEW COUNCIL ORDER.......... that is EXTREMISM.
Yes 1TOguy, I am a against extremist, bad faith, self serving, greedy and incompetent local elected officials, thanks again for pointing that out.
Regarding Rick Lemmon's prearranged appointment to the Council.... we shall soon see my friend.
WiggleRoom writes:
"I feel a vacancy needs to be filled by the vote of the people," she said.
Absolutely. Appointment smacks of cronyism.
bubbabubba writes:
Perhaps it is time for a recall. This has got to be one of the most corrupt governments West of Chicago.
Strawdog writes:
Disgraceful, blatant good ole boy politics. It's obvious that this plan of sucession was decided before the last election. Can anyone say Grand Jury? Rick Lemmo may not be appointed, but you can be sure whoever is will be hand picked by him. BTW does or has Lemmo served on the Traffic Commission? Any conflict of interest there?
wowza writes:
The previous article on this matter tipped off this reader that the council's pick is going to be Joel Price. Price is Glancy's appointee to the planning commission. Glancy was Gillette's appointee to the planning commission; Glancy was appointed to a seat on the council when councilman Ed Masry died.
It's wrong. Plain and simple.
Adam_1 writes:
Just make sure that whoever is appointed is in favor of angled parking. The economic viability of Thousand Oaks depends on it!
nickeq writes:
Adam_1: Remember that EVERY Business gives the prime parking rightly for disabled NOT So Lemmon and Ricky: NOT one not even for THEIR rubber stamp Comm. Daryl!!
Have a RECALL for foxy so that a NEW MAJORITY can be instituted come Nov.
OPI: Can you run SCOOTER for the seat?? Need a dummy voter as a prop to submit app.
The interview would be hilarious!!
nowaste_council writes:
Council members do not have authority to appoint any one. They are elected meaning that any council member should be elected by the people of TO.
nickeq writes:
No_Waste: This is SHEER Wa$te sorry ABUSE of the process Star Editorial laid it out so well
Billy Martin even said he would serve and NOT run this year
Candidate Todd Press tried to start a foxy recall on Facebook here is link
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Andy-F...
CLICK like to send a message!!
nickeq writes:
well here it is You have to hand deliver app NO faxes or mail
OPI: Can you dig out Scooter this ONE time?? My stomach feels like I got hit by Mohammed Ali after the gross hearing Jacqui READ staff prepared statement to ok semi secret CA Noonan SWEET contract with benis galore 5 weeks vacation, 11 holidays + furlough days not even mentioned $30k for car + $400 pm!! car allowance ++++ READ!!
Link post above Well here it is: READ & WEEP!!
http://www.toaks.org/civica/filebank/...
apply here:
http://www.toaks.org/civica/filebank/...
daninthevines#770772 writes:
Why don't you submit an application? This way they can officially turn you down.
starryeyed writes:
Wonder what chances Adams has to take the seat now -- slim, fat, and none? Ya gotta hand it to those 1% folks. They sure know how to control power.
nickeq writes:
Diaper Dan why don't you stay in SLO where you lost for Supe after great job of stabbing Linda Janet here This is LOCAL pols and you were kicked outa Conejo!!
Strawdog writes:
At what point does dirty politics become election fraud?
opi writes:
The purges complete and his consolidation of power a fact the vindictive and spiteful despotic ruler of the Conejo ANDY FOX stands alone atop the hideous, absurd and unwanted Civic Arts Plaza surveying the wreckage of his obsession with power.
The vehemently anti-American, anti-democratic and anti-Conejo resident ANDY FOX pulls a pack of non filtered Camel cigarettes from his rolled up sleeve, packs them a few times against his open hand then pull one out and places it between his lips, he strikes a match from a matchbook that has a silhouette of a naked lady and "Snookies" in red letters on the front, puts the flame to his Camel then takes a long and deep drag. ANDY FOX the twice demoted and disgraced broke down Fireman alone atop the Arts Center thinks to himself "where do I go from here?" Finishes his smoke and flicks it out into the filthy cement pond in front of the Lakes glorified strip mall and mutters to himself "where do I go from here?"
We know where the ANDY FOX is going, the question is where do you. the average Conejo resident or struggling business owner want Thousand Oaks to go?
Do you want more of the same horrible, tragic and long lasting bad decisions that have ruined the Conejo over the last two decades that ANDY FOX has been in power?
You don't have to put up with it, there is absolutely no reason why any member of the present city council should remain, they have proven their incompetence and hatred for you with one epic failure after epic failure.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Andy-Fo...
wowza writes:
opi - if I "like" your facebook page, do you get to see me?
Traditional writes:
It is possible for two strong challengers to defeat Glancy and Irwin this fall -- especially after this. However, there must be only two challengers to make this happen.
All of the folks who could muster only 4000-5000 votes must put their egos away and NOT RUN.
Do not dilute the vote!
carthomas7 writes:
Nick tried to get some to withdraw Some would not even consider it Those that came together wanted the OTHER to drop off
Watch Bill Martin brag about getting the most votes per dollar as if that is what matters!!!
Also a lot of us are not that happy with Adam NOT the most likeable person NOT like Farris!!! who is conceited but still is a people person!!
daninthevines#770772 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
nickeq writes:
This forum is so bad good comments are removed but others are not If this is not below the belt i do NOT know what is not Using a last name, talking about dieing /killing
when will this do dos comment be removed??
carthomas7 writes:
how low can the Star get?? If this is not a personal attack pray tell me what is??
It's a global world, Mr Kid Way. Someday I will attend a city memorial for you, wait,there won't be one. It will be civic improvement.
Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/feb/2...#ixzz1nFIn0bwJ
- vcstar.com
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