Retaliation at the West Covina Chamber?

 

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Two top executives on the West Covina Chamber of Commerce were fired last week, but at least one of them who got the pink slip is hoping the15 member board changes its mind on Thursday.

Apparently, a couple of weeks ago there was an incident involving board member Luis Chacon. Executive Director Gary Lawson, left, decided it was best that he and two other chamber staffers file a restraining order against Chacon, who allegedly acted unprofessionally and emotionally toward several staff members when Chacon’s estranged wife was speaking with the staffers. 

Just a day or so later, the board held a special meeting to discuss the restraining order. And what they came out of the meeting with was a decision to fire marketing director Monica Cabrera and Lawson, who has served as executive director for 3 1/2 years.

Board members are so far keeping quiet about the “transistion” over at West Covina Chamber of Commerce. Calls to three board members have gone unanswered, and board member Audrey Lynberg had no comment.

At 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, there will be a board meeting to discuss the firings. But Lawson remains “optimistically confident that the team will continue to work together.” This story will appear in tomorrow’s paper.

FYI: The Chamber has a nearly $500,000 budget. It received $75,000 last year from the city, and that number is expected to be cut in half next year as a result of the economy. Lawson makes $65,000 a year.