La Verne commissioner targets Whittier
![mckee[1].jpg](http://www.insidesocal.com/sgvgov/mckee%5B1%5D.jpg)
La Verne Planning Commissioner Rich McKee, who is also the past president of the government watchdog group, Californians Aware, is at it again, only this time he is targeting Whittier:
Council to open stance on items Flap over removal of trees spurring change at City Hall By Mike Sprague, Staff Writer Article Launched: 02/18/2008 09:53:15 PM PST
WHITTIER - The City Council agenda should provide more information on some of its closed-session items, said City Attorney Dick Jones.
Jones’ comments came after open-government activist Richard McKee threatened a lawsuit in response to the Whittier City Council meeting in secret in January while deciding to cut down three ficus trees on Bright Avenue at Broadway Street.
The trees were at the home of a 3-year-old boy whose father, Peter Lennihan, said they posed a danger to his son’s health.
McKee also had criticized the city for not letting the public know about the issue in advance, including the location of the home in the 6200 block of Bright Avenue.
The Jan. 22 agenda stated the council would discuss a case of potential litigation, but didn’t identify the location or facts, saying “it would jeopardize the city’s position.”
“We probably have used that language much too liberally,” Jones said at last week’s City Council meeting. “We need more full disclosure of these items.”
Jones said the decision on what to put on the agenda should be discussed by the city manager and city attorney.
The law allows city councils not to disclose what they’re going to discuss if there might be litigation and the facts and circumstances are not yet known to the other party.
McKee, past president of Californians Aware, a government watchdog group, said the city is moving in the right direction.
“If they’re trying to tell the public they’re not going to use this unless they’re absolutely sure it’s correct, then I am pleased,” McKee said. Read more.
Why did it go to council in the first place? Tree causes allergy in resident, resident asks city to remove tree, tree not protected, city removes and replaces trees, sharing or passing on cost to resident...too complicated?
And, Happy belated Valentine's Day Jen...the boo article brought a laugh!
I think the issue of whether to cut the trees down should have been debated in open session.
This may be an impolite question, but here goes: How does the dad know for certain that these 3 ficus trees are the specific cause of the child's medical problems?