Beaumont city officials have agreed to authorize the city attorney to issue legislative subpoenas in the city’s quest to trace how bond money was spent.
The City Council on Tuesday, March 15, voted 5-0 to approve the plan.
According to a staff report, the subpoenas “may” be given to former contract employees Deepak Moorjani, David Dillon, Ernie Egger and others.
The three named in the staff report formerly worked for longtime city consultant Urban Logic. Moorjani filled the role of public works director, Dillon was economic development director and Egger was planning director.
Having so many contract employees is one of the issues that led to investigations by the Riverside County District Attorney’s office and the state Controller’s office into the city’s business practices.
Beaumont’s new leadership has been looking into how bond money was spent and city attorney John Pinkney said the men may have documents or knowledge regarding the issue.
The city used a subpoena to get bond records from Union Bank, which Pinkney said have been collected and should be made public shortly.
“It was very effective in this particular case,” Pinkney said of the subpoena process.
The council also hired an in-house public work director for the first time in recent memory.
Amer Jakher will be the new public works director/city engineer. Jakher, who previously worked in Colton and Victorville, brings more than 20 years of engineering experience to the city.
The position previously was filled by contract employees.
Before Jakher was hired, frequent council critic Judy Bingham questioned his performance in Colton..
Councilman Lloyd White said he looked into Jakher’s past and said the breadth of Jakher’s work makes him a good hire.
“He encountered many of the same issues we’re facing,” White said.
Jakher’s annual salary starts at $158,808, plus benefits.
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