The slim majority of the city council, led by Councilmember Dean Hachamovitch, who attempted a coup by voting to eliminate the City Administrator position, is back at it again! Hachamovitch, Lisa Slivka, and Brad Andonian are working together to obtain a super-majority (increase the council to seven) to override Mayor Friedman’s veto decisions. If you missed what has happened, you can find the details in our last article here.
Council has scheduled another last-minute “special” city council meeting for Tuesday, February 25, at 6:00 PM and excluded Councilmember Ryan Olson due to the last-minute scheduling. The agenda includes attempting to reverse Mayor Friedman’s veto and a letter from Hachamovitch that blames the city’s budget issues on the City Administrator. The budget is the council’s responsibility, and council approval is required for every city expense. Eliminating the City Administrator position, which only makes up about 2% of 2024 expenses, is seen as disingenuous and conflict-ridden. The continued targeted attacks by this trio towards the city staff needs immediate resolution.
Please take action to support Mayor Friedman’s veto of the three council members’ drastic action to try to force the firing of the City Administrator. Request that the council stop the overreach and refocus their efforts on the responsibilities of their role, and let the mayor do his, which includes hiring and firing city staff. Residents voted in 2022 to maintain a Mayor-Council form of government to preserve the separation of power and maintain checks and balances.
- Email Mayor Friedman at [email protected] in support of his veto and to add your comments to the agenda packet (due Monday by 2:00 PM).
- Show up at Tuesday’s council meeting at 6:00 PM (or log in remotely) and make a public comment. Tell the council to work to address the budget in meaningful ways, while maintaining expected services and standards in our community. Advise them to stop trying to shift blame for the budget and stop attempting to interfere with the mayor’s responsibilities. If you would like to login remotely to make a comment, click here.
Residents are anxious, nervously awaiting the next surprise tactics in this coup’s plan. What are their next hidden moves? Dean Hachamovitch, Lisa Slivka, and Brad Andonian are up for reelection in November of this year.
Your voice needs to be heard. Please forward this to your friends and neighbors.