By: Libi Uremovic, July 15, 2014| Original Article at Patch.com
eaumont City Council Agenda Item 1.b: Recognizing Retirement of City Attorney Joe Aklufi. The Law Firm of Aklufi and Wysocki has assumed the Duties and Title of Beaumont City Attorney on March 1, 1992. Joe Aklufi holds the title of City Attorney and David Wysocki stated at the February 4, 2014 Beaumont City Council Meeting that he holds the title of Deputy City Attorney.
Aklufi and Wysocki are listed on the very first Bond the City acquired in 1993. It was an $8,500,000 Sewer Bond to be used for the Construction of the Wastewater Treatment Plant the State expects to be completed in June 2015. The Law Firm of Aklufi and Wysocki are listed on every bond the City has acquired.
At the November 6, 2007 Beaumont City Council Meeting Aklufi was questioned about Urban Logic’s Conflict of Interest violations and Aklufi stated on the record that there was no conflict of interest.
On the same Agenda was Item 3.e: Acceptance of TUMF Public Improvement & Exoneration of the Maintenance Bond for Portions of Oak Valley Parkway, Viele Ave, 1st St, Desert Lawn Dr, and Highland Springs; and 3.h: Approval of TUMF Credit Agreement Assignment for the Mannors/Tuscany Villas for Construction of TUMF Facilities.
In December 2013 the City awarded Urban Logic a contract for all contracts with no bid and the use of ‘Job Cards’ which violates California State Law. Aklufi presented the no-bid Urban Logic contract at the Council Meeting. The Law Firm of Aklufi and Wysocki never did background checks or verified the educational requirements needed from every employee of Urban Logic before the application could be considered.
There have been numerous cases of improperly awarded contracts by City of Beaumont for the past 20 years. In 2011, on the advise of the City Attorney Joe Aklufi, Alan Kapanicas was hired as Beaumont City Manager without advertising or accepting any applications – not even an application from Kapranicas himself was submitted. The City Attorney never did a background check or verified the education and employment history of Mr. Kapanicas.
The position of City Attorney is to provide legal advise in the best interest of the City. There is an expectation that the Attorney’s advice is based on knowledge of the law. Aklufi has spoke on record at many Council Meetings, but has never demonstrated any knowledge of the law.
It doesn’t matter if Aklufi retires if Wysocki simply takes his place and continues to protect the corrupt elected and appointed officials instead of providing proper legal counsel to the City. It’s time for the City to learn how to properly advertise and accept bids for a new City Attorney; preferably one that knows State Law.