County to hire outside law firm to investigate Postmus matter
The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously during a special meeting today to hire an outside law firm to investigate whether the county has enough legal ground to oust disgraced Assessor Bill Postmus from office.
The board will decide which law firm to hire at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, then direct the selected law firm to report to the board on March 3 with an update.
Investigators with the District Attorney's Office arrested Postmus, 37, Jan. 15 at his Rancho Cucamonga home on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The contraband was discovered during the serving of a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged political malfeasance at the Assessor's Office.
The board will decide which law firm to hire at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, then direct the selected law firm to report to the board on March 3 with an update.
Investigators with the District Attorney's Office arrested Postmus, 37, Jan. 15 at his Rancho Cucamonga home on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The contraband was discovered during the serving of a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged political malfeasance at the Assessor's Office.
Following an 11-week medically-related leave of absence from work, Postmus made an unannounced appearance before the board on Jan. 6, where he admitted to having kicked a drug addiction. He didn't disclose which drug or drugs he had been addicted to.
"This alarming progression of events has been characterized by the Assessor's repeated efforts to avoid accountability and an arrogant disregard for his responsibility to demonstrate that he is capable of carrying out the duties of the office to which he was elected," board Chairman Gary Ovitt said. "This entire matter has become a significant distraction to the county."
An ordinance adopted by the county 90 years ago provides the board to remove from office, by a four-fifths vote by the board, any elected county official. In 2002, the ordinance was amended, adding several sections to the existing code establishing clearer standards of conduct for elected officials.
"The removal of an elected county officer is an extraordinary act and should occur in only the most egregious of circumstances and only when the interests of the citizens of the county cannot be reasonably served by any other means. These circumstances include the exposure of the county, or its employees, to irreparable harm," the ordinance reads.
"This alarming progression of events has been characterized by the Assessor's repeated efforts to avoid accountability and an arrogant disregard for his responsibility to demonstrate that he is capable of carrying out the duties of the office to which he was elected," board Chairman Gary Ovitt said. "This entire matter has become a significant distraction to the county."
An ordinance adopted by the county 90 years ago provides the board to remove from office, by a four-fifths vote by the board, any elected county official. In 2002, the ordinance was amended, adding several sections to the existing code establishing clearer standards of conduct for elected officials.
"The removal of an elected county officer is an extraordinary act and should occur in only the most egregious of circumstances and only when the interests of the citizens of the county cannot be reasonably served by any other means. These circumstances include the exposure of the county, or its employees, to irreparable harm," the ordinance reads.
San Bernardino County is the only county in the state that has such an ordinance included in its charter, county spokesman David Wert said.
About $250,000 will be budgeted to begin the process of hiring a law firm and getting the investigation off and running. The county doesn't anticipate paying more than $1 million for the duration of the investigation, Wert said.
The county is hiring an outside law firm to avoid the perception of bias on the county's part and to ensure that an impartial party is investigating the matter, Wert said.
Assistant Assessor Dennis Draeger declined to comment.
joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com
About $250,000 will be budgeted to begin the process of hiring a law firm and getting the investigation off and running. The county doesn't anticipate paying more than $1 million for the duration of the investigation, Wert said.
The county is hiring an outside law firm to avoid the perception of bias on the county's part and to ensure that an impartial party is investigating the matter, Wert said.
Assistant Assessor Dennis Draeger declined to comment.
joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com
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