City Managers are Selected by Council in Open Meetings, Not by the City Attorney Behind Closed Doors.
After 20 years of lying, cheating, and stealing from the Taxpayers of Beaumont, former City Manager Alan Kapanicas was allowed to slither out the door on his own terms on May 29, 2016.
Beaumont City Council unanimously Approved to continue to pay Kapaniacs until November, 2016. City Attorney Pinkney negotiated the payoff based on a forged Invoice from Kapanicas’ personal company, General Government Management Services, for work on bonds that do not exists.
Instead of advertising publicly for another city manager as required by State Law and demanded by the Citizens the Beaumont City Council gifted Elizabeth Gibbs-Urtiaga the position of Beaumont City Manager.
The excuse was that they were not allowed to hire another city manager or Kapanicas could sue. The excuse was a lie.
On January 19, 2016 the Beaumont City Council hired Avery Associates to recruit a city manager. Avery Associates closed their search on May 31, 2016, but has never made a public report to Council.
On May 17, 2016, Richard Warne is gifted the position of Beaumont City Manager.
Instead of Council choosing the City Manager, Pinkney has taken over the process. The August 16, 2016 Council Meeting City Attorney Report Item 4 City Manager Search: http://www.ci.beaumont.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/28035
The Report states: “The candidate materials are kept confidential because candidates are often currently employed. Disclosing the identities of candidates could adversely impact a candidate’s existing employment.”
Once again; the excuse is a lie.
Their current employer must be contacted to check references. The hiring of government employees for major positions are done in public forums, not behind closed doors and not by the attorney.
Pinkney and his Law Firm need to be fired for multiple violations of State and Federal Laws. It is a horrendous mistake to allow Pinkney to hand-select the city manger. Pinkney has made it clear that he is motivated by greed and not by the the Beaumont Citizens’ best interest or the rule of law.
Now, as in the past, Beaumont City Council are allowing outsiders to control the City.
From the State Controllers’ Investigative Report dated November 3, 2016:
“After former Finance Director and City Manager separated from the City, there was a severe lapse in City’s administrative and financial operations due to a lack of qualified successors. Due to poor succession planning and inadequate training, new staff were not adequately prepared to take over these critical functions.”
“Former City Manager and Former Finance Director had too much authority and responsibility. The City also lacked a detailed organizational chart.”
“There was a lack of segregation of duties in key functions.”