The Altadena Town Council’s ethics committee voted last night to recommend to the entire body that councilman Herbert Simmons be ousted from office.
Simmons’ website, altadenans, prints a letter he received from the committee, which reads:
The committee charged with hearing the issues regarding your alleged violations of Altadena Town Council Bylaws and Ethics standards convened on [11/5/09] and voted in majority for your removal from the Altadena Town Council.
Of eight designated members there were six in attendance constituting a quorum.
Discussion and voting consumed two hours and forty three minutes commencing at 6pm. The committee meeting incorporated and weighed Roberts Rules of Order, Bylaws of ATC and ATC ethical standards.
This vote is an advisory to the Town Council and not a finality of the matter.
A two thirds quorum of Town Council members must now convene in a closed session hearing as to final disposition of this matter at a date and time to be determined by the Executive Committee. Your attendance is requested so that you may offer your rebuttal to these charges.
Respectfully,
Jamie Bissner
On his website, Simmons fired back with: “It is now time for the community to step up, let your voices be heard, and demand answers.”
The ethics committee — which has not until now even said publicly that it is investigating Simmons — was convened to look into charges that Simmons was misrepresenting that the town council was participating in his private Student and Teacher of the Month awards. Simmons has said that it was a misunderstanding, altho’ we have spoken to several business owners solicited by Simmons who said he made his membership on the council very clear and that that it was their understanding that it was a town council award. Simmons has previously admitted in an email that he was reprimanded by county supervisor Michael Antonovich’s office for misrepresenting that the supervisor was also sponsoring his awards.
The next step is for the council as a whole to consider the committee’s recommendations, probably at its Nov. 17 regular meeting.
In an email confirming the letter on Simmons’ website, councilmember Alice Wessen said:
The Altadena Town Council’s ethics committee voted last night to recommend to the entire body that councilman Herbert Simmons be ousted from office.
Simmons’ website, altadenans, prints a letter he received from the committee, which reads:
On his website, Simmons fired back with: “It is now time for the community to step up, let your voices be heard, and demand answers.”
The ethics committee — which has not until now even said publicly that it is investigating Simmons — was convened to look into charges that Simmons was misrepresenting that the town council was participating in his private Student and Teacher of the Month awards. Simmons has said that it was a misunderstanding, altho’ we have spoken to several business owners solicited by Simmons who said he made his membership on the council very clear and that that it was their understanding that it was a town council award. Simmons has previously admitted in an email that he was reprimanded by county supervisor Michael Antonovich’s office for misrepresenting that the supervisor was also sponsoring his awards.
The next step is for the council as a whole to consider the committee’s recommendations, probably at its Nov. 17 regular meeting.
In an email confirming the letter on Simmons’ website, councilmember Alice Wessen said: