Hawaiian Gardens Approves New Contracts for City Administrator and City Attorney

By Jerry Bernstein

The Hawaiian Gardens City Council approved new three-year contracts with its City Administrator Ernesto Marquez and City Attorney John Cavanugh at its Aug. 25 meeting.
Opponents of the contracts criticized the council for its approval. Citing the current economic condition, this was not the time to approve new three-year contracts for the City Administrator and City Attorney that include salary increases. They also felt with an election in November that could see a new council majority the contracts could have been postponed until after the election. Criticized was Marquez’s new base salary of $169,941 a year. They also noted that Marquez did not have a Masters Degree in Public Administration, which they said is normally required.
Also noted was the Aug. 11 approval of a new five-year contract with the Los Angeles Sheriff Department. “It seems you are approving the contracts to tie the hands of the new council,” stated one resident.
Dr. William Mathis, of the Mathis Group who earlier this year conducted an extensive review of the performance by the City Administrator and City Attorney as requested by the City Council said they found that John Cavanaugh Associates have kept the City very well protected. “The Council had asked us to look at different strategies where the city could save costs.” He said the Cavanaugh Group received a high rating. He also noted there is a 60-day exit clause. He explained when new councilmember’s are elected, they have to wait 90 days before they can use the exit clause. This gives them time to weigh the pro and cons and sees for themselves how the City Attorney is doing before making a decision. He said the new contract is $125,000 less than the previous one.
Turning to the City Administrator’s contract, he said there is also an exit clause. Looking back on recent city history he said it appears every other year there has been a change in the City Administrator, which has harmed the city. “Often,” he said, “it appears that previous City Administrators have been fired on the whim of a single council member. This contract says if the individual does something dishonest there is no compensation when terminated.
The raise in the new contract is the same as the city workers, which is three percent. He said Mr. Marquez did not ask for a raise. This was an evaluation conducted by the City Council. He said a survey of the 30 cities in Los Angeles County reviewed revealed Hawaiian Gardens is rated third from the bottom as far as the City Administrator’s salary is concerned. “For city managers in the area, it’s in the bottom end.” Dr. Mathis sai, there is also an incentive in the contract for Mr. Marquez to get his Master’s Degree.
He said there is also a clause in the contract that basically states it is the City Administrator who works with the different departments in the city and sets the evaluations. The city council’s job is to set policy and work with the City Administrator and City Attorney
A Play on Words
After the salary debate, Barry Bruce, Pastor at the Way Out Ministries in Hawaiian Gardens accused the Council of forcing out low-income families in favor of middle class families. He said the council was following a policy of gentrification, which he said the dictionary defined as moving from a working class community to a middle class community. “I think this is what we all aspire for, to better our lives,” he stated.
He accused the Mayor of not reading the entire meaning of the word at the Aug. 11 Council meeting He said the American Heritage Dictionary defines it as a restoration and upgrading of deteriorating urban property by middle class and/or affluent people often resulting in the displacement of low-income people. He said the Mayor left out the part about the displacement of the poor, adding that according to the last Census report the average person in Hawaiian Gardens earns $13,765 a year compared to the California average of $28,678. He said 19.8 percent of these people were below the American poverty line, many of which are 65 years or older. He asked what would happen to these people when the city upgrades their neighborhoods?
He also accused the city of giving up to 80 percent free grants to businesses on Carson and Norwalk Boulevard but next to nothing to residents who desire to fix up their
homes.
Former Mayor Kathy Navejas asked the Council what they received from the city for there services, accusing them of getting $35,000 a year.
Councilman John Heckerman said that would be nice, but they only receive $40 a month. “Furthermore, the council unanimously voted not to take a cost of living increase this year. Referring to the City Administrator’s salary, he said Marquez did not ask for an increase. The Council thought it was time to give him one. “He’s earned it,” he stated.
Heckerman said he is getting tired listening to people coming before the Council and saying things that are not true and taken out of context. He said he has been a working man all of his life – a blue collar working man. “I identify with the people in Hawaiian Gardens. We are not going to throw anyone out of their homes. That’s the last thing I would do.”
“It’s not true that the city is not providing money to the people who want to improve their homes,” he asserted. “We have grants. That is what they are for. All they have to do is apply and if they qualify they get the help.”