City contract with Mayor's daughter triggers concern
In Wednesday's newspaper, a small story will appear in the Sun about Mayor Pat Morris' daughter having a contract with the city to provide youth gymnastics training.
The story states that at the Oct. 15 City Council meeting, 7th Ward Councilwoman Wendy McCammack and then City Attorney James F. Penman publicly questioned the procedure by which Morris' daughter was granted a contract that has paid her $5,248 since September 2005.
We have found no overt impropriety or influence by Morris on the contract received by his 41-year-old daughter, Kathleen Willis ...
But the issue has raised some concerns and already triggered a procedural change. When the issue was brought up, no member of the City Council, nor City Manager Fred Wilson, claimed to have seen or have had any prior knowledge that a contract with an immediate relative of the mayor was in place.
McCammack said she learned of the contract through a newspaper article about Willis' city-subsidized program.
Evidently, the Department of Parks and Recreation - unlike other city departments - grants its supervisors the autonomy to enter into sub-$25,000 contracts with private parties to provide services.
Parks and Rec Director Kevin Hawkins, who came into the job earlier this year, said that indeed the practice has been in place for some time and that several contracts between his department and service providers are in place now, without the direct approval of himself or his boss, City Manager Fred Wilson.
Hawkins is still fairly new in town, so here is a pic of him below:
"I really don't know how many contracts we are talking about," Hawkins said in a telephone interview Tuesday, emphasizing that he didn't have the answer off-hand.
"But we are talking about a way this city has been doing a business for a while. We identify a need and try to fill it" through contracting, Hawkins said.
But Penman says it may be a problem, particularly because of the lack of scrutiny compared to other city contracts. Most city contracts go through a review through his office, Penman said, and the process may be particularly important in the case of paying outside personnel to work with children because of safety and liability concerns.
Further, Penman said that a contract with an immediate family member of the mayor should have had his oversight, and the council's.
The contract came into effect in September of 2005, before Morris was elected but during his campaign, which was endorsed by sitting mayor Judith Valles. It was renewed in September 2006 and 2007, both times without the knowledge of Hawkins, WIlson, Penman or the council.
Willis' 2005 contract states nothing divulging that she is a candidate's relative, nor do the next two contracts say anything about being the mayor's daughter. The 2005 contract does list Sally Morris, her mother and the mayor's wife, as an emergency contact.
This reporter spoke with Willis Tuesday night by phone. She said she was approached by Parks supervisors in July or August 2005 about partnering with the city for the gymnastics program. She said she barely breaks even on the services she provides for the city.
"My name is Katie Willis and I stand on my own two feet," Willis said. "I don't think (parks staff) even knew, even had any idea my father was running for mayor."
Willis said five local children are currently enrolled free of charge thanks to the city's help.
"I see it as just a community service," Willis said.
Still, Wilson acknowledged the lack of oversight over not only Willis contract, but all small contracts given by that department, and said the practice would change to conform with others.
Incredibly, both Wilson - who has been in his position since the late 1990s - and 20-year incumbent Penman both said they had no idea contracts were being entered into by the department without going through normal channels.
"Normally the city attorney reviews all contracts, and that will be put into place here," Wilson said Tuesday. "With the exception of the department of parks and recreation contracts, the city attorney has reviewed all contracts. My guess is that it's always, been this way. I didn't know (the department) was doing that."
Councilman Neil Derry was perplexed. "I don't know how to take this exactly," he said.
Penman said the fact that contracts escaped his and Wilson's scrutiny for so long did not excuse Morris, who knew and chose not to divulge the existence of the contract.
"The normal procedures do not apply when a member of the immediate family of a decision maker is the applicant," Penman said of the contract, adding that the mayor had an "ethical obligation" to inform of the contract and let the council scrutinize its merits.
It should be noted that it is clearly newsworthy that mid-level officials in the parks department have been granting contracts for years without anyone above knowing much about it. The question of Willis' contract is murkier, however, in light of the explosively politicized situation at City Hall. Penman and Morris are engaged in all-out war, and Penman, McCammack and five other elected officials are up for re-election Nov. 6.
Morris responded to the swirling controversy in an email Tuesday night. We will reprint it in the next post.
Comments
Whether a few dollars or a few thousands of dollars..
I see no reason whatsoever to take this out on the Mayor's daughter, none!
And, I do mean none whatsoever.
She was, has and is a business person conducting legal business with the City of San Bernardino, Ca
which started before her Father was elected Mayor.
But, as for the Mayor having been in office as long as he has
and never once divulging that City funds, by contract or otherwise, are
being paid to a family member ... That is just down right despicable!
Regardless of how and mighty the Mayor may think he is.. and simple minded
he might think we the citizens are, financial transaction by contract or otherwise
by the city with a member of Morris' family are not to be knowingly kept secret from us,
let alone all most of City Hall unless divulged by the San Bernardino Sun!
That leads me to believe that there is more to come..
And, could it be the coming attractions to be divulged in the future are.. such as..
goings on over at
*The Mayor's in charge* activities at the
'San Bernardino International Airport'
.. when it comes to family, friends, business associates,
and contributors to elections..
.. and we hear... oh! I didn't think it really mattered either...
guess who is being well compensated or received non-bid contracts...
Dang! Life in this City of San Bernardino could sure be a
lot of laughs
if there wasn't such a deceptive side
to some of the major players..
Posted by: David C. Owens | October 17, 2007 5:28 AM
Mr. Rogers, it is good to see that you are asking some real questions and not taking the bait that Mr. Penman continually provides during his staged performances. I hope that you are starting to see that most of the "issues" he brings up at Council meetings and other public forums are specifically designed with hopes of getting his name in the paper again...and he usually succeeds because the Sun often takes the bait.
I believe that you are a good journalist and will eventually realize how it appears to many of us that you and the Sun are constantly being manipulated by Penman.
Instead of being reactionary to Penman's constant self-absorbed attempts for attention, it is my hope that you will ask some hard and relevant questions that pertain to the way Penman has (and continues)to run the City Attorney's Office. Many issues have been raised regarding the quality and efficiency of legal service provided to the City by Mr. Penman. Isn't that what this election is about? Is it really about parolees or other "straw dogs" that Penman conveniently uses to divert attention from the true issues pertaining to the City Attorney's Office?
At the last Council meeting, Penman (with the help of his sidekick Wendy McCammack) feigned concern over the issuance of minor contracts to class instructors in the Parks Department. How can it be that he has held the office of City Attorney for twenty years and now claims that he wasn't aware of contracts that, from my understanding, are generated on a routine basis in the Parks Department (and many other departments in the City). Mr. Penman infers that these things occurred before he took office, which was twenty years ago. Is it just this observer, or does it seem incredibly inept for the City Attorney to state that something has gone on for twenty years, and now suddenly, three weeks before the election, he has become very concerned? Of course, how else can you say the phrase "...the Mayor's daughter" over and over again while staring into the camera with a smug, self-satisfied grin?
"Silent Observer" and "Deadly Silent" are right on target. Penman knows he blew it by not checking to see if Milligan put her maiden name on her employment application before he stated his ridiculous accusations. Now, in true Penman fashion he is trying to divert attention or scheme to place blame on someone other than himself.
Mr. Rogers, keep up the good work, ask the hard questions, do the research. You will find the truth bears little resemblence to what the City Attorney would have all of us believe.
Posted by: voice of reason | October 17, 2007 7:15 AM
It is my understanding that the Mayor can also enter into ontracts under $25,000 without council consent. For example, when Kurt Wilson was hired in 2006 his contract was renewed every three months to get around the $25k rule. Only after Penman caught on(and raised a ruckus) did it go to council.
Posted by: Candace Merey | October 17, 2007 8:57 AM
Ms. Merey, the FACT is that the first Kurt Wilson contract under $25,000 was entered into without Council consent, BUT once the second one brought the cumulative amount over $25,000 it had to by law go to the Council. Penman had nothing to do with it. I remember hearing rumblings coming from the City Manager's office that McCammack was the one complaining about going around charter-mandated Council authority. The bottom line here is, the Mayor was running for Mayor as endorsed by then Mayor Valles and THAT is when Willis got her contract. Good program or not, the fact is that these contractors are not required to go through background checks for them or their employees. The school district requires everyone working with children to follow that guideline...and for the children's sake, so should the city, Mayor's daughter or not.
Posted by: proud wife and mother | October 17, 2007 4:44 PM
The mayor & council addressed this Monday.
Again, progress is being made.
It is true, Penman didn't have a clue about this until Mayor Morris' administration came into power.
It's just another reason to vote asleep at the wheel from all those long lunches and freebies at the country club Penman out of office.
In TWENTY YEARS Penman couldn't find this flaw? It didn't take Mayor Morris twenty months...
We who care about the children are thrilled Mayor Morris' administration will be initiating the improvements Jim Penman, the "watchdog" that only cared to watch for a freebie from the country club, failed to so much as catch a clue about despite spending over 20 years and almost his entire life, right here, in SB.
Can you think of a sadder commentary on Penman's efficacy as CA? OH! OH! PICK ME! I can think of OODLES! Besides, you have those 10 points to finally comprehend.
Posted by: Susana Atanasova | October 20, 2007 1:00 AM