CC - Item 5B - Request from Council Member Taylor•
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ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OLIVER C. CHI, CITY MANAGER
DATE: OCTOBER 9, 2007
SUBJECT: REQUEST FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TAYLOR
SUMMARY
On October 2, 2007, Council Member Taylor submitted a written correspondence to the
Rosemead City Council (Attachment A). In that letter, Council Member Taylor requests
that the City Council vote on whether or not to engage the services of Special Investigator
Tess Elconin to complete a more in depth investigative report as it relates to a pending
personnel matter.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council provide staff with additional direction.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process.
Attachment A: Council Member Taylor Request Letter (October 2, 2007)
APPROVED FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: 0.
0 0
Gary A. Taylor
October 2. 2007
OCT 0 2007
Rosemead City Councilmembers
8838 E. Valley Blvd. CITY CLERK `S OFFICE
Rosemead, CA 91770 BY
Dear Councilmembers,
On September 25, 2007, Mayor Tran and Councilmembers Margaret Clark and Polly
Low were able to read the investigation report provided by Ms. Tess Elconin who conducted the
sexual harassment investigation against Councilmember John Nunez. That report was based
only on the claim filed by Ms. Valerie Mazone. The main investigation involved Ms. Elconin
talking to twenty-two employees of the City of Rosemead. After Ms. Elconin completed her
investigation she stated she was more concerned about the statements made by five or six other
Rosemead employees. She also stated that employees were afraid to say anything out of fear of
being fired.
It has been six months since the investigation was completed regarding Ms. Mazone and
Councilmember Nunez. There is still an unknown reason why the complete report is not being
given to the City Council. As five elected City officials we have a legal responsibility to protect
the employees of the City of Rosemead.
As I stated in my letter of September 4, 2007,1 believe the entire City Council is guilty of
misfeasance by not taking actions to protect the Rosemead employees. As elected City
Councilmembers all five of us took an oath to protect the Constitution of the United States and
the Constitution of the state of California. The oath taken means we will defend the rights of the
people and the employees of the City of Rosemead.
I am requesting the City Council authorize Ms. Elconin to complete the report that
involves her three-week investigation in which many of the twenty-two employees gave
information of a hostile work environment. The truth is going to come out now or later. If the
City Council agrees to completing the report it will protect your integrity and honesty. If the
City council agrees to a cover-up of the report, that will be a personal choice.
Respectfully,
Gary A. Taylor
Rosemead Councilmember
cc: Nina Castruita, Rosemead City Clerk
Oliver Chi. Rosemead City Manager
Bonifacio Garcia. Rosemead City Attorney