SPARKS FLY OVER FORUM MAYOR SEEKS TOONE MEETING.Byline: Jim Skeen Do you mean:
PALMDALE Palmdale, city (1990 pop. 68,842), Los Angeles co., S Calif., in the irrigated Antelope Valley; a growing residential suburb of Los Angeles near Little Rock Creek where it forms Lake Palmdale Reservoir, inc. 1962. - Mayor Jim Ledford is calling for a community forum to let residents be heard on whether Bob Toone Toone can refer to: People
In particular, Ledford wants to see the forum address Toone's contract as city manager, which expires at the end of the year, and a proposal to have each council member appoint a representative to the planning commission Noun 1. planning commission - a commission delegated to propose plans for future activities and developments commission, committee - a special group delegated to consider some matter; "a committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours" - Milton Berle . ``The public needs an opportunity to let their council members know how they feel,'' Ledford said. ``These are city-defining issues that will have a significant impact on the way we're we're Contraction of we are. we're we are doing business.'' Councilman Rick Norris criticized Ledford's proposal, saying the only reason why the mayor was bringing it up was to try to overturn decisions made by the majority of the council. Norris said if such a forum were held, Ledford would pack the meeting with people who agree with his points of view to badger the council majority. ``The only reason he is bringing this up is because he didn't did·n't Contraction of did not. didn't did not didn't do like the way the vote went,'' Norris said. ``We're doing what the people elected us to do: make the hard decisions. Ledford will make his pitch for the forum at Wednesday Wednesday: see week. night's council meeting. Ledford contends it makes no sense to let Toone go considering the job he has performed and the successes that the city has enjoyed. In February February: see month. , Ledford tried unsuccessfully to get a three-year extension for Toone, who has been the city manager since 1986. Ledford contends Lancaster political leaders are working to get rid of Toone because they feel threatened by Palmdale's successes. Ledford contends council members Norris, Mike Dispenza and Richard Loa are being pressured to ``dismantle'' the city. ``Every time we do something he doesn't like we're 'dismantling the city,''' Norris said. ``That's bs then, that's bs now and that's bs in the future when he brings it up again.'' Ledford is also critical of a proposal by Norris to have each council member appoint one person to the planning commission. Currently, the City Council interviews and votes on prospective commission members. Ledford said an appointment process would politicize po·lit·i·cize v. po·lit·i·cized, po·lit·i·ciz·ing, po·lit·i·ciz·es v.intr. To engage in or discuss politics. v.tr. the planning commission, making commissioners loyal to the council member who appointed them rather than to the city and its general plan. Norris said he is bringing the appointment proposal forward because of a lack of communication now between the commissioners and the City Council. Norris said the residents elected council members because they agree with their vision for the future of the city, but the existing process for selecting planning commissioners does not give council members a voice in shaping planning decisions. CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) LEDFORD (2 -- color) TOONE (3) NORRIS |
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