Friday, May 29, 2009

Berry's Political Side Job Would have Impact in GT

Below is an article about the Loma Linda Measure V Issue that Acting City Manager Steve Berry Campaigned for or Supported for Cash and did not declare the income from his paid political activity in a timely manner. After the income was concluded he asked for a Raise from the City of Grand Terrace to off set the income lost at the conclusion of his moonlighting political activities in Loma Linda.

When asked why he did not declare the income, he responded, it has nothing to do with Grand Terrace, so he didn’t think he needed to get approval for the political activity or the moonlighting demands on his time. Management often has a no moonlighting clause in contracts or employment agreements.

Well He was working against the Measure V which restricts development and requires the City to mitigate Traffic…

Now if it had gone the way of Steve Berry’s Employer, don’t you think you’d hear from him or a council member, a justification for higher density in Grand Terrace …? Because Loma Linda has it. It is CROOKED Logic to say what happens in Loma Linda is not related or an impact on Grand Terrace. Have you driven on Barton Rd lately…. Guess where the traffic is coming from or going to? Yep, that would be LOMA LINDA and Redlands…

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))))))))))

Loma Linda adopts General Plan
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/28/2009 05:24:28 PM PDT

LOMA LINDA - The City Council on Tuesday night narrowly adopted an updated General Plan that significantly reduces the number of housing units that can be built.

The General Plan was revised in response to Measure V, a slow-growth initiative approved by Loma Linda voters in 2006. Measure V has several growth-control elements, including a requirement that homes be built on lots that are at least 7,200 square feet.

The initiative also limits residential building heights to 36 feet and requires developers to do more to relieve traffic impacts caused by their projects.

The General Plan is a conceptual blueprint for the amount and location of homes, businesses, parks, schools and other features.

Mayor Stan Brauer and Councilmen Rhodes Rigsby and Ovidiu Popescu supported the changes. Councilmen Floyd Petersen and Robert Ziprick voted no.

The revisions lower the number of homes, apartments and condos 3,500 units. As a result, when there is no more land available to be developed 20 years from now, the city expects to have about 31,000 residents instead of 38,000.

The large area of open space south of Redlands Boulevard and west of California Street will have less than half the number of residential units that were slated to be built there a few years ago.

"Measure V has vastly improved this General Plan by decreasing the density and amount of housing," Popescu said Wednesday.

The changes to the General Plan reflect the influence of Popescu and Rigsby, who campaigned against high-density development. Both supported adding more commercial and park space to the General Plan.

Petersen said he needed more time to digest the changes and asked his colleagues to delay a vote for two weeks. Ziprick agreed, but the request was denied by the majority.

Petersen criticized the reduction in housing, saying the city needs more places to live for students and employees at Loma Linda University.

-stephen.wall@inlandnewspapers.com, (909) 386-3916

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

City Manager's Income Level...

If you read the data below you can see why the City Manager of Grand Terrace should earn 1/2 of the City Manger of a City like Loma Linda.

We have less community services, We have fewer businesses, and so forth. We have fewer people and homes... and we have much less property and land to take care of.

So I would say in this economy the Offer for the new City Manager should be Capped at 75.000.00 and there should be no raises until all debt and Bonds are paid in full.

Then, the City Staff should get a raise and the lower paid should get a higher percent of income raise than the "Manager".

120 homes are in Foreclosure in Grand Terrace. That is about 300 people and as many as 100 children being removed from our community in part because of the Jump on the Ever Increasing House Prices Band Wagon the City Manager, and Council Supported in the Economic Hype and Lack of Prudent Reasoning of the past 10 years.

All actions attributed negatively to Steve Berry Come home to rest on the Management of Tom Schwab as being his failure to manage as much as Steve Berry...

It is time to rid ourselves of both of them, clean house, and be prudent with the income offered to the next City Manager. If they don't want the job for a reasonable pay, they will get big heads and demand more and more and more and more and we will be back to where we were with the Schwab/Berry Mentality.


Grand Terrace

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 11,626 people, 4,221 households, and 3,051 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,293.6/km² (3,352.3/mi²). There were 4,458 housing units at an average density of 496.0/km² (1,285.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.76% White, 4.62% African American, 0.72% Native American, 5.62% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 9.75% from other races, and 5.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.41% of the population.
There were 4,221 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $53,649, and the median income for a family was $61,068. Males had a median income of $41,417 versus $30,491 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,787. About 4.5% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

NOTE THE INCOME is PRE Economic Crash, and Senior Center Housing to be added... Many folks who "Work" are now getting 1/2 or 2/3 rds of their 2000 income levels.

Loma Linda City Manager New Hire 175.000.00
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 18,681 people, 7,536 households, and 4,498 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,541.7 people per square mile (981.3/km²). There were 8,084 housing units at an average density of 1,099.9/sq mi (424.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.18% White, 7.21% African American, 0.49% Native American, 24.38% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 7.51% from other races, and 6.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.33% of the population.
There were 7,536 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.The median income for a household in the city was $38,204, and the median income for a family was $45,774. Males had a median income of $36,086 versus $35,096 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,189. About 12.9% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over

Schwab Surrenders Post.

Former Grand Terrace city manager to retire
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/27/2009 06:46:02 PM PDT
GRAND TERRACE - Former City Manager Tom Schwab doesn't want his job back after all.
Schwab has decided to retire when his six-month contract as a part-time consultant ends June 30.

Schwab, who became city manager in 1989, suffered a life-threatening brain injury known as a subdural hematoma nearly a year ago. His job is being filled on a temporary basis by acting City Manager Steve Berry, who is also the assistant city manager.

Schwab's decision comes about a month after he made an impassioned plea to the City Council asking for his job back.

The 51-year-old Grand Terrace resident told the council at that time he had fully recovered from his injury and his doctors cleared him to return to work full time.

But the situation changed when the council decided in closed session two weeks ago to begin a recruitment process to pick a new city manager.

The council encouraged Schwab and Berry to apply for the position, which is also open to other candidates. The council is expected to appoint a city manager around Oct. 1.

Schwab is being paid $45,000 to work as a consultant on the 2009-10 budget. He said he has run out of vacation and sick leave and hopes to start receiving his retirement pay by Aug. 1.

"Ultimately, I wanted my job back, but it seemed pretty clear that wasn't going to happen," Schwab said in a phone interview Wednesday. "If they were going to hire me, why would they wait until October?"

Schwab said the controversy over the position is unhealthy for the community.
"There's an awful lot of angry people that support me and there's some people that (support) Steve," Schwab said. "I think it's dividing our community."

On Tuesday, the council met in closed session and agreed to accept Schwab's proposal that would allow him to retire.

The proposal is not public until it is put in writing and signed, which is expected to take about a week, City Attorney John Harper said Wednesday.

Mayor Maryetta Ferre said she delivered a memo to city staff on Wednesday afternoon explaining the council's decision to honor Schwab's request for retirement.

"It is with regret that he is retiring," Ferre said. "I'm pleased we can honor his request."

stephen.wall@inlandnewspapers.com
(909) 386-3916

Note: One hopes the City and Schwab has paid into a Retirement Fund and his retirement is already paid for and it is not a drag on the future budget. He should get no more or less than what has been contracted for in his last employment contract in terms of Retirment Compensation.

There are people who support NEITHER BERRY OR SCHWAB... and they clearly have cause.

Senior Center and Housing Almost Ready

The Current Senior Center's content is being moved to the new location and it is hopped that it will be open and running next Monday.

It is unfortunate that the new Senior Center and Senior Housing is not place closer to the retail and hospitality shops on Barton Road where the General Plan had originally placed it. It is unfortunate that the Folks living at The Terrace will still require transportation to the Senior Center as it is not in walking distance. It is unfortunate that Barton Rd and Mt. Vernon have a 45mph Speed limit so the Seniors and GT Citizens can't use Light Electric Vehicles to run errands in town.

It is unfortunate that the contract was negotiated behind closed doors, and the full details were not and may still not be known to the Citizens and City Council regarding the long term total cost to the city. In addition it is unfortunate that the Citizens Voices of concern about the Noise, and High Density Housing and lack of a Real Environmental Impact Study, including traffic around a school were not received and required a Court Decision as a result of Citizens taking the City to Court to have a fair hearing of the issues and resolutions to their concerns, including the design of the Complex being fewer apartments, and 2 stories and not 3 as the Original Back Room Deal was pushed through the Council.

But, now that it is almost complete there are a few things to note. The PARK is PUBLIC and any part of it should be PUBLIC without discrimination to AGE or CLASS or don't call it a PARK. This is important because the California Development Regulation requires Green Space and PUBLIC PARK to be part of the Planned Use of Redevelopment Funds and to LIE or Falsify the report and call a Park PUBLIC when it is not PUBLIC is a violation.

In addition, it is about time that the Citizens and City Council recognize that some of our youth may want to grow things in a Community Garden, or have a farm animal or chicken as a 4H project... Providing them a place to have this activity is just as important as a "Park" for Seniors to contemplate their turnips. A community garden is a great way to bond youth with seniors. Your about to mess up an opportunity to build a meaningful relationship that may be a great mentoring situation.

When the City Council does one thing for Seniors they should counter it with something for youth and in particular the 12 to 18 year olds who have been neglected in this community.

Nationally we spend $6.00 on Seniors for every $1.00 spent on Children, and a fraction of that goes to the most neglected age group... 12 to 18 year olds. When they need the most the get the least... How has that been working for you is the Dr Phill question... that the City and Community needs to ask.


The struggle behind the building of the Senior Center and Housing is a direct result of the lack of good managment practices of Open Bidding, sticking to a General Plan applying the same codes and standards to all developments, hearing and adjusting to Citizens Concerns. These failings are on the feet of Tom Schwab. Including prolonging the law suits and appealing the judges decision rather than to yeild and comply there was contined effort to reverse the judges determination. This all increasing legal costs to the city and developer.

This is only a phase in the Senior Housing and Center's Epoc...
But, for now, welcome the new neighbors, and enjoy the Center and eventually the park.

The Citizens will be paying for it for a long long time.... Paying off DEBT BONDS will be in part the task of the City of GRAND TERRACE...

Friday, May 22, 2009

Sustainable City?

Grand Terrace Foreclosures and Foreclosure Listings (CA) - 120 listings found

Remember the Pride the Council Took with Ever Increasing Property Values...

How many of them make money when they sell homes?

Citizens, 120 of your neighbors are having their lives put upside down... in part because of the Tune the City Council was playing as they represent a small section in the Debt is Good, RDA Think, and the Yeah for High Home Prices.... Mentality that got us to where we are now...

Sustainability is more than keeping the lights on ....

GT DAYS... Email InBox...

Paww,

Your note on discontinuance of G.T. days explains things then.

I associate with another old car owner here in G.T. ..... Only talk to one another for two minutes, twice per year.

But, last time was about back in late March. "Got your note in the mail from City on the Old Car Show?" Nope.... Now, know why we never received it.

It was never sent.

Gee, wish we would have known earlier, for summer is about here and time to do something else then.

Sometimes bad news or poor thoughts take a long time to get around.

The promoters always have a reason for who is to blame, but not themselves.

"Those evil...."
Paw's Reply:
Evil... well that may be a stronger word than I would use... However, I would think the mailing list is available to be used by a Citizens Group who would like to have a Grand Terrace Size Event along with the Fire House Pancakes... a car show would be a great way to walk off some cakes...

Grand Terrace City News Reviews. From Email InBox

Paww..

The City Manager's Job is on a Contract and the Contract Ends and it is NORMAL to have a open hire or application after the end of each Contract Period. UNFORTUNATELY Tom Schwab and the Citizens of Grand Terrace have not had Good, Normal Management Practices for the prior contract renewal periods. The city should have taken applications from others in the past. Perhaps, the city could have gotten a better qualified person who would work for less money and perks.

A contract ends, and taking applications is Good Management Practices. Simple as that. It may be cost effective to let both Schwab and Berry Go... Simple as that no need for the drama to be added to the decision making process. Nor is there a need for "Loyalty" to be an issue, a contract is a contract, and it is time the City Council think of what is best for the City and Citizens, including Cost of the Contract, not what is right or loyal to Tom or Steve...

So get over the Loyalty Crud, and get the Best Lowest Cost City Manager you can hire and be done with it.

Pawww...

Apparently Steve Berry threatened to expose the fact that the Millers were surprised by there being an issue that the City News received funds for Adds placed by the City in the Grand Terrace City News was a violation of the 1090 rules, prohibiting a Council Member from benefiting from City Business. The City News Group is owned by Marge Miller, her husband does not Own the Paper... and most know there is little income a result of running a local paper. Any way this is under investigation and the practice was stopped when it came to light.
Prior to letting the Contract or placing the Add should not the City Management Know that to place the add in the City News Groups Paper would put the Millers in a Questionable Position at a minimum, and in violation of 1090? Isn't it a Lack of Professional City Management that put the Millers in this situation. A Council Member is just an elected joe citizen... whereas the City Manager, should be aware of the Regulations and Procedures required for contracting services.

So, then Steve Berry also defended himself about a wine purchase from the City...
When did the city get a ABC License to sell wine?
Why was city surplus offered for sale only to City Employees? This is not the Proper Practice for the Disposal of City or Government Surplus.
This speaks to the professional ethics of the Management of the City.

Then Steve defends him self on the Window Tinting on his car... with a claim he has receipts, and there is a different color. This is interesting, if the receipts are dated in the same time as the Report by the Sheriff's Investigation or after the investigation, a cover up of the cover up... a do over of the tint job after getting caught or not... who knows we were not allowed to know the events at the time.... nor do we know now.

Steve Berry offered no reply to the more serious charge of Falsifying Government Records, and Contracting with an individual to tint the windows of the City in a manner in violation of Fair Business Practices and Proper City Management. Again, this was not done with out the consent or knowledge of Tom Schwab. There is no doubt that Steve Berry did not act alone in coming to be in the situation that a Convicted Violator serving Court Ordered Community Service was diverted to get a " Good Deal on a Tint Job for the City" and "Day Care Center"... in violation of the terms and conditions of the Court Ordered Community Service. Short cutting Contracting Practices and Proper Business Management Practices was not done in isolation, Checks had to be approved to purchase materials, and the designation of a work order or charge off account for the task had to involve at a minimum the GT Finance Dept, and Possibly the City Manager's Approval, and the Consent of the City Council when they approved the Checks that were written that month.

No he offered no answer to that part of the SBCS Report. No real reply has been offered by any of his co-conspirators who also were in violation of several government codes and regulations, when it comes to running a proper government purchasing and contracting.

PAWWW....

Gene Carlstrom who is the owner of Terra Loma Real Estate is the employer/associate of one of the City Council Members. So is any City Business provided to Gene Carlstrom a violation of the 1090 Regulations?

Paww... folks who suggest that IF Tom Schwab is not hired back the Citizens will vote out the council.... have missed the point ..... The Citizens Don't Support either Tom or Steve...

More and more they are looking like Pinkie and The Brain Cartoon... and the Citizens are the ones paying for their folly.

It is time REAL Contract Negotiations Take Place, and REAL APPLICATIONS for OPEN POSITIONS are CONSIDERED... not just be "LOYAL" to the Same old Dictator contact after contract...

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Grand Terrace Day Cut...

City cancels Grand Terrace Days
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/18/2009 03:50:40 PM PDT

GRAND TERRACE - The city's signature community event has been canceled this year, a casualty of the economic crisis.
Grand Terrace Days parade and festival had been held every June since 1984.
But the corporate sponsorships the city relies on to put on the event dried up this year, officials said.
"If this was subsidized by the city, we could still have gone forward with it," said acting City Manager Steve Berry.
"Unfortunately, it was not something that was funded in the budget."
The city has an events committee made up of service groups and community leaders that decided to cut back on major events because of the economy.
"This is a one-time thing, we hope," Mayor Maryetta Ferre said.
"Hopefully when the economy picks up, we can do it again."
Grand Terrace Days, which celebrated the city's 30th anniversary, cost about $40,000 last year, Berry said.
While the city doesn't budget any money for the event, employees who work that day get overtime pay, Berry said.
He said the city is working with community groups to put on a smaller-scale event Sept. 12 at Richard Rollins Community Park.
Officials are planning a pancake breakfast, car show, concert in the park and possibly a parade that day.


Dear Paww:
The above article does not suggest a possibility that the Corporation for Better Housing, AES and Doug Jacobsen and their ilk no longer need to pay for the City Council's Favor... Deals have been all made and projects done if there was financing to push them forward...

Or perhaps the Businesses are a bit shy of doing business with either Schwab and Berry with the lack of accountability for their past contributions and the apparent conflict of interest that could cause embarrassment or worse.

Sure the cost of doing business and incomes are down...

It is right that Grand Terrace Days should be for and by Grand Terrace Area and Citizens anyway.

The Fire House Pancake Breakfast could be done out of the Rollings Park Snack Bar, Combine the Breakfast with Local Display of Crafts and invite all those who participate in Market Night to bring their displays for a Free Market Night. or a City Wide Yard Sale... with free space designated at the park for each seller... in the park and on Mt Vernon along the side walk. Grand Terraces Longest Sale... say from Mt Vernon and Barton Rd to the Pocket park and up to the park if the CJUSD does not want to participate with fund raising booths at Terrace Hills ... PTA for Terrace View or Terrace Hills and Grand Terrace Elm could have What Not Sales... of donated What Nots...

The city would provide a big dumpster at the end of day for any unsold item, after a charity truck got first pick of the left overs that no one wants to take back home.

This could bring income to clubs and teams and clean out our garages at the same time.

Breakfast, Breakfast Music... NOT POP YOUR EAR AMPLIFICATION PLEASE... and it would not cost much... if anything. Dumpsters from Burtec... I think they will donate this non cash contribution.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Another DUHA for Grand Terrace

Paww...
The article below demonstrates that either the City Council and City Management doesn't care or is just unable to ask intellegent questions. Such as, an agreement to Share the Play Fields as part of the sales agreement should have been more specific as to what Share Means Prior to the sale.

The Little League not haveing a place to play was part of the deal. Duha... or didn't they ask the intellegent question, what are you building and when and how can the community Share in the use of those assets?

Well, it is clear that the fields at the Elementary Schools are used and the restroom facilities and snack bar is not available. for use at the Rollens Park. Fields need to rest between sports.

This is yet another fine mess created by putting a high school in an industrial zone and selling a park to help sweeten the deal. With the security concerns at a high school campus and the after school sports there will be no or extreamly limited use of the "Park" land that is supposed to be "Shared"... do not be fooled... soon you will see a fence and no entry posted on this land, simular to the prison compound like facility at Colton High School, and even Terrace View.

This Park Land deal was to offset the land that was and is a Brown Field where the old plating plant was located at Michigan and Main, where soil samples may not be safe for a school.


Grand Terrace Little League loses fields
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/17/2009 07:05:03 AM PDT

GRAND TERRACE - The city is working to help Grand Terrace Little League build its field of dreams.
League officials are scrambling for places to play because the Colton Joint Unified School District is taking two of their three fields at Pico Park to build a new high school.
The fields are on a L-shaped parcel that the city sold to the district in 2006 for the high school.
The 67-acre campus, called Grand Terrace High School at the Ray Abril Jr. Educational Complex, is slated to open in fall 2011 at the corner of Pico and Taylor streets.
District officials told the league they need to start moving dirt next week in preparation for construction of the school.
"They are fencing us off on Tuesday," said Russ Sulzmann, the league's softball representative. "We knew we were going to lose the fields, but we didn't know we would lose them halfway through our season."
The league's season ends in mid-June, he said.
Jaime Ayala, the district's assistant superintendent for business services, said the district let the league hang on to the fields as long as possible.
"It's an unfortunate situation," Ayala said. "I can imagine how those poor kids feel. But construction has to happen like clockwork or we're going to lose our two-year building schedule." The league, which serves about 350 boys and girls ages 6 and 14, moved some of its games to Loma Linda because of the field situation.
The older boys division is also traveling to Rialto, Colton and other cities for games.
City officials are working with the league to find a solution.
The city owns adjacent vacant property north of the park that it could let the league use on a temporary basis, officials said. The city is hoping to eventually use the land for part of the so-called Grand Crossings retail and residential project.
Acting City Manager Steve Berry said the city has park funds that could be used to help the league put in grass, an irrigation system and backstops on the property.
"We're working diligently with the Little League to help them out on this," Mayor Maryetta Ferre said. "It's a problem that needs to be solved."
The city has a joint-use agreement with the district to share field space once the high school opens.
But Ayala said playing fields for high school baseball have different dimensions than Little League fields.
"If there's anything we can do to assist in that area, we will," Ayala said. "To say the district will provide Little League fields, I don't see that happening."
Sulzmann said he is worried that many parents will drop out of the league next year if there aren't enough fields.
"It will be a sad thing," Sulzmann said. "We don't want to see Grand Terrace Little League go bye-bye."

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Grand Terrace recruits for city manager
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/16/2009 07:03:53 AM PDT

GRAND TERRACE - The City Council has decided to begin a recruitment process to pick a new city manager.

The position has been vacant since last summer. In June, former City Manager Tom Schwab suffered a subdural hematoma, a life-threatening brain injury that hospitalized him for more than two months.

Acting City Manager Steve Berry, also the assistant city manager, has been running the city in the meantime.


Both men say they want the city manager job.

Council members said the decision to recruit for the position is not a negative reflection on Berry or Schwab and encouraged both of them to apply.


"The council is trying to make it an equal playing field and do what is best for the city as well as be sensitive to the individuals and players involved," Mayor Maryetta Ferre said.

The city will advertise for the position in Western Cities Magazine, a publication of the League of California Cities. The ad will run in June and July and cost about $2,000.


The deadline for applications is Aug. 17. The council is expected to interview candidates and make a decision around Oct. 1.

The council hired Schwab, 51, as a part-time consultant in December to work on the 2009-2010 budget. His $45,000 contract runs through June.


Between his consulting work and his sick leave and vacation pay, Schwab is earning the equivalent of his $178,800 annual salary.

Schwab said he has fully recovered from his injury and has been cleared by his doctors to return to work full-time.

Berry, 46, got a temporary 10-percent pay raise in October because of his added workload as acting city manager. He now earns nearly $135,000 a year.

Schwab, who became city manager in 1989, hired Berry as assistant city manager in 2001.


From the Email InBox:

PAWW.... 313.000.00 paid for management of 3 contracts, fire, trash, and police.. is a bit high in this economy, and this City Council has allowed this expense to continue for how many years?

Come on... the the Payers, the City of Grand Terrace, the Citizens of Grand Terrace can not afford this cost. This cost does not include the Indirect Costs of Cars, House Payments, Insurance on Cars, Life and Medical Co Payments made by the City not the Individual. Sure both men want the job... it pays well, has little accountability and they are worshiped like a mini god by the City Council..

Now many cities are laying off and not filling positions. I suggest the idea that the Poseidon be left unfilled, give the Secretary and Clerk added income to their "Woman's Pay" and have them run the city's business.

It is time to run down or close off the Speculation and Debt Playing of the Redevelopment Agency and City. Redevelopment funds should only be for current existing homes and businesses, it should not be used for "New Development". We do not need more stores and retail. We need to add to the sustainability of our community not promote the continued drain of resources and income to the purchase of goods and services which are not sustainable from within Grand Terrace. A return to a balance of land use, including some farming and groves would be at least a safety net from starvation for the community.

Anyway, get rid of them both and don't go back to the same place and get a replacement that is going to be more of the same... High Expense, and a Dictator, and not understanding the concept of sustainable development and city management.

Again the city's Mayor Ferre has used words as a citizen I am offended. City Management should not be made up of "Players". It has been in the past and clearly it is time the "Players", should get out, and not be rehired. We have had enough of the "Players" and those attracted by the placement of the Add in the "Players Magazine" does not bode well for the selection pool.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Read Between the Lines...

Everyone should read the Grand Terrace City News and the article about the Bully in City Hall who use the phrase, "you had better not"... and then went on to threaten the owner of the Grand Terrace City News in some way. The article did not identify who uttered the threat... you have to read between the lines to guess that it was at least one of the City Managers either Schwab or Berry.

It can be said as part of the record the phrase was also said in public at the Support Tom Schwab meeting also called Public Speaking at the City Council Meeting last month when Schwab asked for his job back, a supporter said.... or else... to the Council, as if that single action would cause that person to take action sufficient to remove the council during the next election.

So the effort to get a job or keep a job has progressed to bully tactics by the two "Managers" or their supporters.

Wasn't it Steve Berry who didn't want the Embezzlement and Falsifying Government Records Investigation questioned because it would "Embarrass the City of Grand Terrace"... Well as mentioned in prior posts. That single issue is sufficient for both Schwab and Berry to be shown the exit. Both knew of the investigation and did not disclose it to the public, and possibly the Council did not disclose it to the proper authority after it was erroneously refereed to them. Now if they pick one or the other, some one will bring out the "Or Else" on the Council, or has that already been tried and that is why neither will be offered the job... they both have said "Or Else".. and the City Council has no option the Bandini has been launched and either choice it will hit the fan so to speak.

Who is an Embarrassment to Grand Terrace? The suspect or the man who hired and covered for him?

PE MacDuff Backs Schwab for City Manager..

10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, May 12, 2009
CASSIE MACDUFF

Three neighboring San Bernardino County cities, in an uncanny coincidence, are grappling with how to appoint their next permanent city managers.

Two will shortly have vacancies, as their longtime city managers just announced their departures.

The third has an acting city manager who wants his former boss's job permanently.
Colton's longtime city manager, Daryl Parrish, surprised his council late Thursday by announcing that he'll leave May 28 to take the city manager post in Covina.
Loma Linda's longtime city manager, Dennis Halloway, had hinted for some time that he wanted to retire. Last week, he made it official: He leaves in July.

Grand Terrace's longtime city manager, Tom Schwab, who's been recovering from a brain injury for the past year, announced he's ready to come back.
But his understudy -- shades of "All about Eve" -- wants the permanent appointment.
Steve Berry, who was hired by Schwab as assistant city manager, has been filling in since Schwab suffered a leaking blood vessel in his brain last June and underwent emergency surgery to relieve life-threatening swelling.


All three city councils had scheduled closed-door meetings Tuesday night to decide how to proceed.
For Loma Linda and Colton, it was a matter of deciding whether to appoint an acting city manager from inside City Hall while conducting an executive search for a permanent replacement, or hire an interim city manager from outside.
The League of California Cities has a stable of former city managers who are willing to take temporary posts when vacancies suddenly arise.
I browsed the Web site -- http://www.cacities.org/ -- and found several familiar names: former Redlands and Hemet city manager John Davidson, former Moreno Valley city manager Gene Rogers and former Inland Valley Development Agency chief Bill Bopf.
Cites take different approaches to hiring new managers. When Yucaipa's longtime manager John Tooker left in October; the council promoted from within, appointing the public works director.
When San Bernardino's longtime manager Fred Wilson left last summer, the council brought in an interim manager from outside while an executive search was done. On June 1, Reno manager Charles McNeely takes the helm.
Long tenures for city managers are the exception, although Parrish and Halloway lasted eight years in Colton and Loma Linda respectively (a miracle in Colton, given the city's constant turmoil).


Schwab's tenure in Grand Terrace was even longer: 20 years as city manager, four years in finance.
You'd think that would buy him some loyalty from the City Council after he suffered a subdural hematoma -- the same kind of brain bleeding and swelling that killed actress Natasha Richardson.
But when Schwab's medical leave of absence ended in February, the City Council brought him back on a short-term contract to help put together the city's budget for the coming fiscal year. The contract ends June 30.
Schwab said he lost 45 pounds during his recuperation and is in better health than before the brain injury. He's confident he can resume his old job at the same performance level. "I know what the job demands," he said.
I spent an hour with him on Thursday morning and found him as sharp, articulate and well-versed in city government as ever.
Mayor Maryetta Ferre said the council would give a "great deal of sensitive thought" to the decision.
I hope they do the right thing. If not, I know a couple of cities that are looking for a good manager.
Cassie MacDuff can be reached at 951-368-9470 or
cmacduff@PE.com

From the Email InBox:

Paww Suggests Cassie MacDuff's comment about Grand Terrace City Council being Loyal to Tom Schwab makes me want to toss my Miguel's Tacos.

The City Council is supposed to be of service to the Citizens of Grand Terrace not the Command or Convenience of Tom Schwab. The City Council has repeatedly been "Loyal" by hiding transgressions, errors, and perhaps even criminal activity by either Tom Schwab or the Person He hired to groom as his replacement Steve Berry. This suggests that his judgement is less than in service to the Citizens of Grand Terrace than to his own self interest.

Each of these men, consistently asked everyone else to give up income, some loosing their jobs entirely, while they consistently got raises, and contract extended, a home, and a car... and so fort...

Cassie Grand Terrace cant afford either of them. Tom's contract could have been terminated at the time he was unable to come to work when he had his kidney transplant. His contract could have been terminated when he had the brain injury. Now that Steve has an eye on the job, there seems to be a dribble of allegations of wrong doing by Steve that the Council and Schwab were aware of while all along hiding this information from the public, increasing their incomes and extending their employment.

The MOB and Street Gangs make you do something illegal as a test of Loyalty and to have something to hold over your heads. It is beginning to look like IF Schwab or Berry stays as City Managers in Grand Terrace they have something on the City Council Members and the Old Political Guard of Grand Terrace that they are afraid of having exposed to the sunlight of truth and public disclosure.

Not retaining a person after their contract expires is not disloyal. Cutting Steve Berry from the budget is ECONOMICS... Not re-contracting with Tom Schwab is both ECONOMICS and PRUDENT MANAGEMENT.

To retain either of these men in Grand Terrace will make Grand Terrace look like a bunch of IDIOTS and RUBES. They mayor saying after a meeting on the subject " I have no idea" does not help with the public impression of the Mayor.

The right answer Ms Mayor would have been, "I can't comment on Personnel Matters", "We hope to have an Open Application Process and Attract to Grand Terrace the City Manager needed by Grand Terrace. or. "The Brown Act allows the City Council to hide behind closed doors anytime the discussion could remotely be related to a possible legal action. However, when such meetings result in a decision that decision not the reason for the decision needs by law to be made public. The decision of the Council was to Open the Position for Applications, prior to deciding upon a person to contract with.

Now it is up to Citizens to make sure the Council hasn't just pretended to take applications to stop Tom and Steve from tossing mud at each other... Kind of like asking what to call High School #3, when the CJUSB had their own name pre selected. Perhaps this action is to stop further investigation into the Council Members actions relating to covering up internal criminal activity? Time will tell..


Work Shop to Make Cuts in Proposed Budget

10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 13, 2009
GRAND TERRACE
Council workshop on budget scheduled

The City Council has scheduled a workshop May 26 to discuss the city's budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Grand Terrace Mayor Maryetta Ferre said the budget is $179,000 out of balance and that the council is hoping to make enough cuts to avoid dipping deeply into the city's reserve fund.

The meeting will be at 4 p.m. in the council chambers at the Grand Terrace Civic Center, 22795 Barton Road.
--Darrell R. Santschi
dsantschi@PE.com

From Email Inbox: Mayor of GT: "I don't know"...

Paww you didn't comment on the statement of Marry Farre quoted as saying she said "I have no idea" to the question why the City Council is seeking outside applications rather than just doing what they have done in the past and extended Tom's Contract without taking even a single application.

"I have no idea"... was she in the meeting... YES..

"I have no idea" .... was she awake in the meeting? Who knows oh the other 4 Council Members would not the public...

"I have no idea".... did she not understand what transpired in meeting Behind Closed Doors?

"I have no idea" Should not be the answer of an elected official who just participated in a meeting and made a decision that affects those they represent... the Citizens of Grand Terrace.

Was she waiting for Tom Schwab or Steve Berry or some one else, to tell her what to say or think what just happened?

"I have no idea" should not be an acceptable answer to the Citizens of Grand Terrace. Citizens all over the Country, State, County, and yes right in Grand Terrace are fed up with Behind Closed Doors, and "I don't know" kind of elected officials.

"I have no idea" perhaps it is time for the Mayor and any other City Council Member that Doesn't KNOW... to go out the same door that Tom and Steve do and..... I have an idea, don't let it hit their behind as it closes behind them.

AT LAST there is an open hire call... THAT is a CITY FIRST... in YEARS.... Perhaps the Good O Boy cronyism can be rooted out of GT as it is being done in other cities in California.

Some Said It Would'nt Ever Be Thought Of..

Grand Terrace accepting applications for city manager post document.write

10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 13, 2009
By DARRELL R. SANTSCHIThe Press-Enterprise

GRAND TERRACE - With two employees who have done the job waiting in the wings, the Grand Terrace City Council has opted to include outside recruits in its search for a permanent city manager.


The council met in closed session Tuesday night to discuss the job, which pays $178,000 a year, an amount nearly equal to the cuts the city is looking to make in its upcoming budget.

After the private session, City Clerk Brenda Mesa said, the council announced that it was directing the city attorney to begin recruiting a city manager.

As to what that means for the status of Acting City Manager Steve Berry, she said, "At this point, my guess would be nothing."


Berry was the assistant city manager in June 2008, when then-City Manager Tom Schwab was hospitalized with a subdural hematoma, or bleeding in the brain. Berry was appointed acting city manager and Schwab was placed on medical leave.

Schwab's contract expired in February 2009, Mayor Maryette Ferre said. He was hired back as a consultant on a part-time basis through June 30 to help the city prepare its 2009-10 budget, which takes effect July 1.

Now Schwab says he is healthy enough to return full-time and wants his city manager job back.
Story continues below

Asked Wednesday why neither Berry nor Schwab were chosen Tuesday night, Ferre said, "I have no idea. I am one of five (council members). The consensus of the group was to go about it in this manner in great hopes that both Steve and Tom will apply, which I think they will."
Neither Schwab nor Berry could not be reached for comment Wednesday.


Ferre said the city will seek help from the League of California Cities to recruit applicants.

"We expect to close the recruitment in mid- to late August," she said.

The city manager could be chosen as early as September.

"This, of course, is no reflection on the acting city manager, Steve Berry, or Tom Schwab," Ferre said.


Reach Darrell R. Santschi at 951-368-9484 or dsantschi@PE.com

Paww adds.

Now Folks of Grand Terrace is the time for all the activists to get out there and make sure that it is known that Neither Tom or Steve, should be hired or retained. It is now possible to ballance the budget AND have a Change in City Management in ONE CLEAN Action.

I hope Brenda Applies for the Job, she is more qualified than Steve any day of the week, and she has been working for Woman's Pay and manages to budget her own personal finances sufficiently to suggest that the City Would be better off under an administration lead by her than two fellows that have repeatedly asked for increases in income because in part "They Needed It".

WANTED IN GRAND TERRACE CITY MANAGER>>> SMALL TOWN... Less than 3 Major Contracts to Negotiate. Contracted Fire and Police and Utilities.... Small City Staff and Crew.

Submit applications to the City of Grand Terrace, 22795 Barton Rd, Grand Terrace, CA 92313

Come to the table with an income demand under $90,000.00/year and for budgetary reasons alone you may get the job.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

BUDGET DEFICET... In Grand Terrace.... NO WAY

Grand Terrace grapples with budget deficit
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/12/2009 06:57:20 PM PDT

GRAND TERRACE - The vast majority of cities and states are feeling the effects of the recession and must deal with budget deficits.

Grand Terrace is no different.

"The overall budget situation is very tenuous," Finance Director Bernie Simon wrote in a budget message to the City Council. "Almost all sources of revenue are either decreasing or remaining the same, while costs have increased."

The council had a workshop Tuesday afternoon to talk about the 2009-2010 budget. Less than an hour before the meeting, acting City Manager Steve Berry said he found out the budget picture is bleaker than he thought.

The city was counting on getting a federal economic stimulus grant that would provide money to keep one sheriff's deputy.

But Berry said he was told the chances of getting the grant are slim because thousands of local agencies applied for it.

If the city doesn't get the grant and wants to keep the deputy, the city would have to take the $216,000 expense out of the General Fund, he said.

City staffers previously proposed spending cuts that resulted in a $53,000 surplus, leaving the city with the choice of making additional reductions or dipping into reserves to eliminate the $163,000 deficit. The city has $3.7 million in General Fund reserves.

The projected shortfall grew to $179,500 when the council expressed opposition to a staff recommendation to eliminate contracts for weekend graffiti removal, weed-abatement services and other programs.

The council unanimously voted against a recommendation to suspend the city-run Blue Waves summer swim program.

A majority of council members said they opposed eliminating the deputy.

"I'm adamant against cutting any safety officers," said Mayor Maryetta Ferre. "Safety should be our first priority."

Instead, Ferre suggested cutting out travel and conference expenses and eliminating the car allowance for city officials, saving about $45,000.

Staffers already had factored in cutting employee benefits and freezing pay raises for the budget year starting July 1.

Officials also proposed cuts in equipment and facility maintenance spending, consulting, training and other costs.

The council directed staffers to come back in two weeks with recommendations for additional cuts and cost savings to balance the budget.

Gramps Suggests:

Many of the Citizens of Grand Terrace have been forced to reduce their incomes or not have a job, or layed off entirely. We have 2 count them 2 City Managers who have boasted about the financial strength of the city's finances. Well, the truth is the "Reserves" is in fact unspent funds obtained by DEBT BONDS... if GT Paid Off its DEBT there would not be a "Reserve".

So, what is the answer. Well Termination of the 2 City Managers would result in a savings of nearly 500,000.00 in Wages and Perks. In addition it may be possible to terminate with cause or at end of contract and the result would be the City would not have to pay for post employment contracted costs.

Grand Terrace is a fraction of the size of Colton, and does not run its own Police Force and so forth. Perhaps the Cost of a City Manager should be a Fraction of the Cost that is spent by Colton... say 75,000.00 per year with housing offered by Tony Petta a little apartment on Preston Perhaps at a monthly rate of 300.00 per month for housing. If Tony's Place costs more than that perhaps it would be good if the next City Manager lived in the Mobile Home Park, and experienced the "Other Side of Grand Terrace's Economy". That would still be an income above the Average in Grand Terrace Household Income.

This would leave the funds available for the Sheriff and other Public Services that were offered up as ways to trim the budget.

Yes, end travel, cut the Council Compensation for Travel and Gas Reimbursements, Perhaps End the Private Party Grand Terrace Gala.

Saturday, May 09, 2009

Now Read it here.

For those of you who do not have readers for pdf files...

Reported In:

The San Bernardino County Sentinel, Friday May 1, 2009 A Fortinado Publication in conjunction with Countywide News Services 10808 Foothill Blvd Suite 160-446 Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730, Call (909) 904-3896 or SBCsentinel@yahoo.com

Embezzlement Accusations Against Berry Surface:

GRAND TERRACE— Stephen Berry, Grand Terrace’s acting city manager since last June and a leading candidate to assume the mantle of permanent city manager, engaged in two acts of what has been characterized as embezzlement while in the employ of the city, according to former city employees and a recently unearthed sheriff’s department report.

Berry this week strongly contested those accusations, asserting he was the victim of rumor, hearsay and vituperative disgruntled employees and sloppy investigative work. He insisted he has not stolen or embezzled from the city of Grand Terrace.
The first incident of alleged embezzlement occurred in 2002; roughly a year after Berry had been hired to fill the role of assistant city manager. A 129-page compendium of reports, witness statements, memos, receipts, time cards and computer read-outs compiled by the San Bernardino County sheriff’s department and obtained by the Sentinel documents the case put together against Berry and John Carranza, a work release inmate who had been assigned to the city of Grand Terrace by the county probation department.

Carranza was one of scores of county jail inmates deemed “low risk” by the county probation department who under a court approved arrangement are permitted to leave custody and engage in community service work at several locations around the county, including being assigned to work crews with various cities. For the most part, those crews are given basic maintenance and repair assignments or participate in menial tasks such as landscape work. Occasionally, if an inmate has a particular skill that would allow him to undertake an assignment which the county, a city or agency has a particular or pressing need, the inmate can be detailed to specialized assignments, including construction or technical work.

According to a report by San Bernardino County sheriff’s detective Robert Morris, “A court order directed Carranza to serve weekends in the custody of the San Bernardino County sheriff’s department. Subsequently, he was assigned to the city of Grand Terrace as a work-release inmate. He failed to show up at the job site as required. It was learned that he entered into an agreement with assistant city manager Berry to tint windows in some of the city government facilities; and …. “Berry apparently relaxed Carranza’s work-release commitment by allowing him to show up for work at random times and unsupervised. Carranza sometimes failed to show, and Berry falsely verified that Carranza had shown.”

Carranza had been given assignments in Grand Terrace that included assisting in maintenance and repair work at the senior citizen center and at the city’s day care facility. Carranza owned a window tinting business known as Commercial Window Tinting. At some point after Carranza was working in the city, according to detective Morris, “Carranza and Berry formed an agreement wherein Carranza would tint the windows of specified city government buildings in Grand Terrace. It appeared that no bidding process had taken place prior to Berry authorizing the purchase of materials for this project, and it appeared that no bidding process had taken place prior to Berry authorizing Carranza to do the work.”

In 2002, Tanya Cahill worked in the capacity of the city of Grand Terrace community service officer, which was essentially the sheriff’s department liaison with the city. According to Morris, on or just before November 5, 2002, “Tanya Cahill had reported that she’d received information that San Bernardino County work-release inmate John Carranza had possibly profited from his work-release efforts in Grand Terrace.

Allegedly, Carranza had received payment for his work in Grand Terrace via assistant city manager Steve Berry. It was alleged that Carranza had also performed work on Berry’s personal property. Furthermore, it was alleged that when Carranza failed to show up at his assigned work-release job site, Berry had falsified and forwarded documents to show that Carranza had been present.”

Morris’s report continues, “Cahill provided me with a copy of a jail information management system work crew sheet dated 10/15/02. The form indicated that Carranza had been present for his work assignment on this day, and Carranza’s attendance appeared to have been verified by Steve Berry. Cahill informed me that Carranza had been a no show on this day.”

Morris then contacted Deputy R. Lons at the Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center, from which inmate work-release assignments were made. “At my request, deputy Lons conducted a crew check at the city of Grand Terrace on 11/06/02. He subsequently informed me that Carranza was a no show but documentation showed that he had been checked off as being there.”

Morris then spoke with Ruben Montano, a maintenance worker with the city of Grand Terrace. “On 11/12/02, I contacted Ruben Montano at the Grand Terrace Child Care Center, 22400 Barton Road. Montano stated that Carranza had frequently not shown up as assigned per his work-release program agreement,” according to Morris. “Montano refused to document that Carranza had been showing up for work when he hadn’t, and he expressed this to Steve Berry. Berry then falsely documented that Carranza had been showing up for work on the days and times specified in Carranza’s work-release agreement.”

Later that day, Morris contacted Mike Mullins, another maintenance worker with the city of Grand Terrace. In his report, Morris noted, “Mullins had sometimes supervised the work release inmates in Grand Terrace. For the past six to eight weeks, Steve Berry had assumed the responsibility of docu-menting the inmates’ attendance. When Mullins informed Berry that Carranza had been a no show, Berry had told Mullins to leave Carranza alone. Berry had documented that Carranza had showed up when he had not, Mullins said.”

Also on November 12, 2002, Morris interviewed Sandi Ah Sue, then the director of child services for the city of Grand Terrace. Ah Sue told Morris that on three occasions in September and October, Carranza had failed to show up for work at the child care center. She also said that Carranza told her he had tinted the windows on Berry’s vehicle.

The next day, November 13, 2002, Carranza did not show up for his scheduled work-release assignment in Grand Terrace and Morris contacted him by phone. Morris arranged to interview Carranza later that day at the sheriff’s department’s central station. Initially, according to Morris, “Carranza said that he had nothing to do with the tinting of Berry’s vehicle,” saying that the job had been done by one of his employees named Ben. He later acknowledged to Morris that he was present when the work on Berry’s vehicle was ongoing. Carranza also admitted to Morris that Berry had filled out time cards indicating he had showed up for his scheduled work days in Grand Terrace when he had not, but said that in doing so Berry “was crediting the time that Carranza had showed up on other days,” according to Morris’s report.

One issue investigated by Morris related to the actual purchase of the tint film used at City Hall and on Berry’s vehicle.

Anaheim-based Bekaert Specialty Films, which is also known as Solar Gard Window Films, sold the city of Grand Terrace 3,600 square feet of window tinting film and window tinting tools. According to Morris’s report, an unsuccessful effort was made by Carranza to use city money to buy the tinting film for his company.

“On 11/13/02, I contacted Eric Flores at Bekaert Specialty Films in Anaheim,” Morris’s report states. “Flores explained that he had handled the account with the city of Grand Terrace. Carranza had come to the business in person and had wanted to establish an account in his (Carranza’s) name. He had told Flores that he needed to buy window-tinting supplies for projects in Grand Terrace. Carranza did not have a business license, and as a result Flores refused to set up an account in Carranza’s name. Instead, an account was set up in the name of Grand Terrace wherein purchase orders would be used.”

Early in the interview, Carranza said that the tinting applied to Berry’s car windows had been supplied by his employee, Ben. Later, however, he acknowledged that the tinting used both at the city’s facilities and on Berry’s vehicle had been purchased by the city.
Morris interviewed Berry on January 7, 2003. “He informed me that Carranza had initiated the offer to tint windows for the city of Grand Terrace; and Berry had told him that the city did not have the budget for such a project,” Morris’s re-port states. “Carranza convinced him that the city would only incur the cost of the materials, not the labor. No total cost for tinting the windows had ever been determined, Berry said.”

Morris’s report continues: “Carranza also offered to tint the windows of Berry’s privately-owned vehicle. Berry agreed to let him do this. Berry explained that as a direct result of the work being done to tint his vehicle’s windows, an internal part of one window broke and had to be repaired. Berry paid cash for the cost of the window repair, and in turn, Caranza had cancelled the cost of tinting the windows. Berry denied that he had known that the city of Grand Terrace had incurred the expense of buying the window tint film for his vehicle.”

In the interview with Morris, Berry admitted that the arrangement with Carranza was an extraordinary one.

“Berry stated that he had never given a contractor or outside worker the authority to make purchases on behalf of the city of Grand Terrace, and he stated that he had never had business arrangements with other contractors as he had with Carranza,” Morris’s report states.

In his investigation, Morris delved into a public representation Berry made, which was not accurate, that another company owned by a person named Brandon Crowley had actually done the window tinting at the civic center. Crowley had trained as an apprentice in the window tinting trade under Carranza, including doing work at Grand Terrace City Hall.

“Berry confirmed that in an article in the Blue Mountain Outlook he had identified Cutting Edge Tinting Technology of Temecula (CETTT) as the company tinting the windows in Grand Terrace,” Morris’s report states. “I informed him that it seemed unreasonable that a window-tinting business would tint windows for free, and I informed him that according to Brandon Crowley, CETTT had not existed until after he had stopped working in Grand Terrace. I further explained that Brandon Crowley had said that Carranza had employed him, and he had expected to get paid by Carranza for his work in Grand Terrace.

“Berry responded,” Morris’s report continues, “by telling me that he had believed Carranza and Brandon Crowley’s CETTT business had been working jointly to tint the windows, and he had believed that the free labor was the result of Carranza being ‘generous.’ He said that he had not made the ‘connection’ that the business CETTT was not doing the work.”

Berry denied that there was a deal between him and Carranza by which Berry’s car windows were tinted in exchange for his fraudulently signing off on Carranza’s work-release time cards and allowing Carranza’s company to use tint film purchased by the city, though Berry acknowledged that Carranza still had a quantity of the city-purchased tint film in his possession well after the work at the civic center had been completed.


“Berry stated that he had not made any arrangements with Carranza to credit him work-time for no-show periods pertaining to his work-release commitment in Grand Terrace,” Morris’s report states. “Berry believed that Carranza possessed the excess window-tint film that was outstanding. He denied having knowledge of the windows in Carranza’s personal residence being tinted by Brandon Crowley and other workers, using window-tint film purchased by the city of Grand Terrace.”

This matter, involving the assistant city manager in a city that contracts with the sheriff’s department for law enforcement services, presented a dilemma for the sheriff’s department. Normal procedure would have entailed forwarding the entire report and the back-up documentation Morris had accumulated during the course of the investigation to the district attorney’s office for a determination as to the filing of charges. The filing of criminal charges against one of the Blue Mountain City’s highest ranking city officials, however, would have been an awkward development that the department hoped to avoid. Consequently, a break in protocol was made. Rather than providing the report and its supporting materials in their entirety to the district attorney’s office, a sanitized version of the events, with both the names of the suspects and the city redacted, was provided not to the district attorney’s central office, which oversees Grand Terrace, but to a deputy prosecutor in the district attorney’s High Desert office.

That deputy district attorney was Gary Bailey, who reviewed the case in the abstract, without knowledge of who, exactly, had perpetrated the alleged crimes and which city had been victimized. Bailey knew only that the incidents involved an assistant city manager, a work-release inmate and one of the county’s 24 incorporated cities.

Despite the somewhat unconventional nature of the request, Bailey returned a finding that multiple prosecutable crimes had been committed.

In an interoffice memo dated January 15, 2003 from Morris to lieutenant Hector Guerra, Morris wrote “During the investigation I contacted deputy district attorney Gary Bailey with the San Bernardino County district attorney office in Victorville. Without identifying the suspects, I provided him with enough details of the case so that he could assist me in determining what crimes, if any, had been committed by the suspects. With the understanding that he had not reviewed the report, he determined the following:
“Suspect #1 (Carranza) appeared to have violated PC 496 (receiving stolen property) respective to Suspect #2 (Berry) providing him with the property after it had been embezzled from the city government,” the memo continues. “Depending on the circumstances, he (Carranza) may be in violation of PC 503 (embezzlement) or PC 487 (grand theft).”

Turning to Berry, Morris’s memo to Guerra continues, “Suspect #2 (Berry) violated PC 503 (embezzlement) by using city funds to purchase materials that were then given to Suspect #1 (Carranza). Further support of this violation resulted when window-tint film purchased by the city was applied to Berry’s personal vehicle and allegedly to Carranza’s residence.
“Suspect #2 (Berry) also violated PC 115 (offering false instrument for record),” the memo continues. “He committed this act when he falsely reported by documentation that Suspect #1 (Carranza) had reported for his work-release assignment when in fact he had not.”

The interoffice memo concludes with Morris’s report to Guerra that “Furthermore, Suspect #2 (Berry) violated PC 470(d) (corruption of record) when he signed a work-release document to falsely verify that Carranza had shown for his work-release assignment when he had not.”

Ultimately with regard to this matter, however, the sheriff’s department did not forward the report and its supporting materials to the district attorney’s office. Instead, Morris’s notation shows that the case against Berry was “cleared by exceptional means.”

This meant that it was left up to the city of Grand Terrace to deal with the matter and Berry administratively.

The Sentinel sent emails to mayor Maryetta Ferré and council members Bea Cortes, Lee Ann Garcia and Jim Miller, seeking to determine their level of awareness about the incident involving Berry and Carranza and the sheriff’s department report, what action with regard to Berry had been taken following the conclusion of Morris’s investigation and the closing out of the case by exceptional means in 2003, whether some level of discipline had been meted out to Berry, and whether they were aware of any mitigating information pertaining to the matter. In 2003, Ferré, Cortes and Garcia were members of the council. Miller was not, having first been elected to the council post in 2004. All four were on the council last year, when Berry was elevated to the acting city manager’s position. None responded to those emails.

Councilman Walt Stanckiewitz, who was first elected last November and did not join the council until December, said he was not aware of the sheriff’s department report and appeared genuinely surprised when he was provided with copies of several witness and suspect interviews taken from the report.

In a written response to questions about the information contained in Morris’s report, Berry asserted, “[i]n regards to the allegation that I improperly benefited from having my car windows tinted by a person working on city property using tinting material paid for by the city, this allegation is completely without merit. Had you bothered to contact me directly, I could have told you that I have a credit card statement that clearly shows where I paid a company in San Bernardino to tint the windows on that vehicle. Even a cursory examination of the facts would have shown this allegation to be false because the tinting on the city buildings is copper in color, while the tinting on my vehicle was black.”

Berry further responded that “you also referenced a 129-page sheriff’s department investigation into this alleged incident, which you say occurred in 2002. As you know, no charges were ever brought as a result of this investigation.”
Berry took exception with the phraseology Morris had used in saying the case was “cleared by exceptional means.” He quibbled with the interpretation of exceptional means as a reference to the sheriff’s department’s way of avoiding an official report of the matter to the district attorney’s office as a courtesy to the city to prevent the city from being subjected to the embarrassment of having one of its officials criminally charged.
”I want to be certain that you understand that such allegations are not based in fact,” Berry wrote. “I am concerned that by reporting such hearsay and innuendo, you may damage my reputation in the city of Grand Terrace and beyond. For your information, I never was so much as even verbally reprimanded in connection with the tinting of my car windows, which I paid for with my own money, so any indication that the city dealt with this situation privately is patently false. There was nothing with which to deal.”

Berry referenced questions that were emailed to the members of the city council relating to the suggestion that the exceptional means mentioned in Morris’s report implied that the matter was to be dealt with administratively by means of Berry’s termination.
“[Y]ou state that I was to be quietly terminated as a result of this ‘incident’ seven years ago, then question why I remain employed with the city,” Berry wrote. “Did it occur to you that I am acting city manager because the allegation was found to be without merit?”

Berry did not address the charges of offering false instrument for record and corruption of record specified by detective Morris and deputy district attorney Bailey.

A second allegation of embezzlement that has surfaced against Berry consists of accusations that he absconded with wine the city had purchased for use during the city’s thirtieth anniversary celebration last year.

At least two cases of the wine were obtained for the festivities. After the celebration a case or more of the libation was left over. City officials put it into cold storage shortly after the celebration, but later, it went missing.

According to Mike Mullins, a former city maintenance worker who was with the city at that time, the wine was last known to be in Berry’s custody before it disappeared.
“The wine was bought for the thirtieth anniversary party,” Mullins said. He was unable to quantify how much was purchased. “I don’t know how many cases, exactly,” he said. “There was quite a bit.”

After the anniversary celebration, Mullins said, “There was a lot of it left. It was stored up in the refrigerator at the workshop. It stayed there for a while and one day Steve told me to bring it down to his office.”

Mullins said he was not told what use Berry had in store for the wine. “All I know was I was told to bring it down to Steve’s office and set it on the floor. It sat on the floor for two days and then it was gone. I don’t know where it went from there.”

Mullins shot down the suggestion that the wine was served at the Christmas party held for city employees.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “The employee Christmas party was held in the middle of the day. We shut down City Hall for lunch, basically for the party. There was no alcohol served. After the party everyone had to go back to work.”

When he was pressed about a report that the wine had been served at a Christmas party put on by Steve Berry, Mullins reluctantly referenced a Christmas party that had been held at Berry’s Riverside home, where several members of the Grand Terrace city council as well as members of the Riverside city council were in atten-dance. Word had gotten back to him that the wine was served there, Mullins said, but he could not say for certain. “That’s what I heard through the grapevine,” Mullins said. “I wasn’t invited to that party. I wasn’t there.”

In emails sent to members of the city council, all of whom were in attendance at the party at Berry’s residence, an inquiry was made about whether they witnessed the wine being consumed that evening. None of the council members responded to those emails.
Berry denied that he had stolen the wine, asserting that he had purchased it.

“The second allegation involves, as you described, “alleged theft” of wine purchased by the city,” Berry wrote. “Again, the facts of the matter are diametrically opposed to the allegations you are pursuing. The city never purchased wine for that occasion; it was donated by one of our council members. And, most importantly, I purchased wine that was left over after the event, and I have a receipt for that purchase. Had you bothered to contact me directly, I could have saved you the time wasted with reporting this non-story by showing you this receipt. If anything, the city made a profit from my purchase of wine that was donated free of charge!”

Berry expressed dismay, impatience and disgust with the focus on his action and the allegations that they constituted criminality.

He suggested the Sentinel’s pursuit of the story demonstrated a lack of professionalism.
“I am writing today to inform you of these facts in the hope that you will see that such a line of inquiry is baseless and amounts to little more than repeating a false rumor or rumors,” Barry wrote, adding “the line of questioning you have been pursuing falls dramatically short of the standards for responsible reporting.”

Moreover, Berry suggested, others, including city employees and detective Morris, whom he did not mention by name, had acted unprofessionally or negligently while relying upon unsubstantiated rumor or hearsay evidence in maligning his good name.
“As I am sure you are aware, embezzlement is a serious allegation, and by raising it, you already are running the risk of damaging my reputation and that of the city of Grand Terrace. I am concerned that you would pursue such a line of reporting based on what appears to be hearsay and rumor. Who has characterized these episodes as embezzlement? Is it a “former city employee,” as you mention in your email? Responsible reporting is not built around the citing of anonymous and possibly disgruntled sources, and I am disappointed you chose to base your line of questioning on such grounds. Printing anything based on such hearsay and rumor would only compound the damage.”

Worse, Berry charged, the Sentinel and others are elevating rumors and false accusations to the status of unchallenged assertions of fact.

“At this point, you are not asking questions about an allegation, albeit a false allegation,” Berry asserted. “Instead, you are accepting the allegation as fact and asking questions based on that perceived fact. In doing so, you stated that I have ‘been demonstrated to have engaged in embezzlement,’ which is patently false. If anything, the complete lack of charges or administrative discipline in either incident indicates the opposite of your statement. I am quite concerned that in your reporting you have made a leap from raising an allegation to stating it as fact, then asking questions about this newly-established ‘fact,’ which is in truth baseless. Again, I am concerned that your reckless reporting is damaging my reputation in the process and creating an impression that I have done something improper when nothing could be further from the truth.”
Berry declined to discuss specifics contained in Morris’s report.

AND THEN IN THE SAME ISSUE OF THE PAPER

Old Guard in Grand Terrace Endorse Schwab

Tom Schwab
On Tuesday, April 28, the Old Guard in Grand Terrace turned out en masse to advocate on be-half of their favorite son and the man the Avant-Garde sees as a vestige of the old regime.

The stage was set by the competition that has been brewing for months between acting city man-ager Steve Berry and Tom Schwab, Berry’s mentor who was city manager from 1989 until he was felled by a subdural cranial hematoma last June.
Since that time, Schwab has substantially recovered and is itching to get back into place as city manager. The city council, however, has been reluctant to reestablish Schwab into his former position as the city’s top administrator, taking the half-step last December of giving him the limited assignment of devising the city’s budget for upcoming fiscal year 2009-10. Schwab’s contract to perform that task expires on June 30 and it is anticipated that at that time or slightly before, the council will make a decision on whether to allow Schwab to reassume his previous post or show him the door and allow Berry to settle into the city manager’s office on a permanent basis.

The council appears to be divided on the issue, with councilwomen Bea Cortes and Lee Ann Garcia heavily favoring Berry and Mayor Maryetta Ferré and Councilman Jim Miller siding with Schwab. The council’s newest member, Walt Stanckiewitz appears to be leaning in favor of Berry.

The council was scheduled to discuss the issue of settling on the appointment of the city manager in closed session Tuesday night. The prospect of Berry’s ascendancy brought out a bevy of Schwab partisans.

Francis Carter told the council, “I firmly believe Tom Schwab should be given the opportunity to return. He has been a great manager for Grand Terrace. He has done a great job.”

Byron Matteson, a former Grand Terrace mayor, advised the council to “keep Tom in office. Walt [Stanckiewitz] was saying we should do everything for the people. Tom has had an improvement in health. He’s got his back to work release from his doctor.”
He said Schwab had demonstrated his physical recovery by his performance coordinating and working as server during the Lions Club pancake breakfast. Matteson said Tom’s readiness to get back into the saddle is apparent to the community at large but that “it takes a little more time for the city council to go along with that.”

Betty Trimble said “I want to show my support of Tom coming back as city manager. He had a life threatening illness but he has made a miraculous recovery.” Trimble, who worked as Schwab’s executive secretary, said that “He is responsible for many of the services we enjoy. While working for him I saw him as man who cares for his city. Some people,” Trimble said, fixing Berry with a hard stare, “are saying his mind and memory have not returned. There have been a lot of negative comments along the way that have had people thinking he has not recovered. His health has returned. His health is back. He is too young to retire. I’m not the only one who wants him back. Tom researches things before he says he can do something. Tom believes in second chances. He has given them.”

Tony Petta, the city’s first mayor, said that it was “Seth Armstead, the architect of Grand Terrace and the first city manager” who brought Tom to Grand Terrace. “Seth knew someday he would retire and his goals was to make sure our city was left in good hands. He carefully selected and groomed the best candidate to continue the program of excellence. Tom Schwab was selected because of his superior skills in finance and administration.. Under Tom our city prospered, main-tained adequate financial reserves, maintained adequate law enforcement. During our 30th anniver-sary Grand Terrace made the list of the 100 best cities in the country in which to live. Tom paid his dues. He is ready to come back. In these tough economic times we need tom back.”
Pauline Grant said of Schwab, I think he is in good health now and is quite capable of doing his job.”

Grant said that under Schwab’s leadership the city had avoided the political scandals that had rocked the county government. “He did not promote the interests of others. If you should vote to deny Tom Schwab of his position, you will be in trouble. Elections are coming up.”

Thelma Winkler Beach said, “I am here to express my opinion that under the circumstances we should be welcoming Tom back to his position and be rejoicing. Tom is capable. Tom should return to his job and be given the chance to prove to you he can perform his duties or prove to himself that he cannot. See your duty clearly and welcome Tom Schwab back as city manager of Grand Terrace. It is the right thing to do.
There’s nothing wrong with his mind and memory.

Roy Nix, a former Grand Terrace city councilman said, “I had the pleasure of being on the city council when Tom Schwab came to work for the city. He had a fine performance in the job of finance director.”

Schwab grew into the role of city manager and “ community pride grew under Tom’s leadership.” He commended Schwab for creating or improving community institutions such as Grand Terrace Days and the Halloween Haunt by inspiring volunteerism. “I am somewhat concerned that those things have tended to go more commercial” under Berry’s guidance.

“I’d like to see us return to where we were under Tom’s leadership,” Nix said. “I know he is re-gaining his strength. He is more active with his family. He wants to return to the city.”

R.P. Bidney, once a member of the planning commission, said, “The professional attitude of Tom Schwab is undeniable. I got straight answers from him. It is nice to work with an honorable man with integrity. He has served 25 years with the city and has a proven record to be honorable and honest.” Under his leadership, Bidney said, “There were no bribes or other illegal dealings under the table. Grand Terrace, to my knowledge, has no corruption and is fortunate to have a city manager who is straightforward and does his job. If it’s not broken, please don’t fix it.”

Schwab addressed the city council, telling its members, “As I look around the room, the pictures hanging on the walls are of every city council member elected since incorporation. It has been my pleasure in the past 24 years as finance director and city manager to work with every one of the members except Jack Allen who was on the original council and Walt [Stanckiewitz], who was elected in November of last year. Grand Terrace is not just a job for me. Since 1984, I have lived, worked, and attended church here. It is my family’s home and I hope to live here for the rest of my life. I’ve heard some stories and I would like to set the record straight. I do want to be reinstated as the city manager of Grand Terrace. I suffered a serious injury in June of last year and it has taken me nearly a year to fully recover. Having been your city manager for the last 20 years, I understand the demands of the job. All of my doctors have cleared me to return to work full time and I no longer have doctor appointments or therapies related to this medical condition. Grand Terrace is at a critical juncture in its history. Our ability to survive is directly related to the previous Councils that saved money in the good years and we now have $7 million in reserves and fund balance to sustain us through the bad years. In preparing the 2009-10 fiscal year budgets with finance director, Bernie Simon, we can present a balanced budget to the council but we must cut unnecessary items to maintain the programs the citizens expect we provide. This year is critical and next year will be worse. The revenues are trending downward and expenses continue to increase. When Grand Terrace High School opens we will need to fund at least one deputy to be assigned exclusively to the school. Our challenge ahead is to allow Grand Terrace to survive this recession and return to the days of surpluses. I feel I am uniquely qualified to lead the city through this difficult time and would like to be reinstated to my position as Grand Terrace city manager. I would like to thank the council for listening to me and I hope to join you soon on the dais.”

Following his presentation, Schwab was given a standing ovation.

That night, Grand Terrace’s Old Guard held sway. But no final decision was made, and the Avant-Garde, represented by Berry, is waiting in the wings.
Gramps Adds: We should test the statements above by both men and their supporters and detractors.
Schwab Hired and Retained Berry..The Holloween Haunt was all but cancled by Schwab and the GT Woman's Club took over the hosting duty from the city so it could continue, and Berry took it over from them and turned it into a Political and Commercial Event with Candy and lots of unaccounted for and documented donations and expences. Schwab was his manager and allowed this. Schwab also allowed the expansion of donations and outside expences for Grand Terrace Days which are not fully accounted for or in some cases within reason. Schwab was Berry's manager when all this happened, neither can be knighted or cannonized. Every finger pointed at Berry is justified, but remember when you point a finger 3 are pointing back at you. In this case pointing right back to Schwab and the Council Members and "Friends of Council" that suport him, and those supporting Berry fall to the same fate.


To suggest the above article is not quoting the sources by name is not a true statement. The Authorship is clearly the Editor of the Paper... or at least that is where accountability is. So it is not some faceless blogger... Names are named and quoted.

From the Email Inbox...

Gramps,

If these allegations are substantiated I'll be sitting right next to you on the "fire them all" train. Don't you agree though, just a little bit, that when these types of accusations are made against anybody, they carry less weight when there is no name attached to them? The Sentinel publishes articles with no byline or author attached. Doesn't that raise your suspicion at all?

I know you want this government gone, but let's be fair here. Anybody can write anything about anybody at any time with absolutely no fear of consequence or libel charge just by remaining "anonymous."

You're repeating these charges as though they are facts. I can pick a name from the phone book at random and send an anonymous letter to you or to the sentinal claiming anything I want to claim. "Sources tell me that John Johnson has a long history of abusing children and beating his wife. He's not fit to be a councilman." Absolutely no basis in fact or proof...I just said it, with no name attached.

Can you see how damaging that can be to fair and balanced journalism; even a little bit. Any reputable news organization requires...REQUIRES that a name be attached to any accusation or negative charge so that the accused can answer the charge and the readers can assess any possible agenda of his accuser when forming an opinion. I don't know that you carry that burden as a blogger but the Sentinal certainly does. There is no fear of retaliation, legal or otherwise, if what is claimed is true...if its not true, it shouldn't be written in a newspaper. If unsubstantiated, it shouldn't be written until it is.

I AM NOT defending Steve Berry here. I just need more than an anonymous accusation to throw anybody under the bus. I think if it was you being accused or possibly libeled/slandered, that you would expect the same. Give me a name...who wrote this and what are his sources. If it pans out, then we can "fire them all."

Thank you for entertaining an opposing point of view and posting this e-mail. Brian