The employment contract of City Attorney Helene Leichter was
extended a year, to Sept. 1, 2006, without comment at Wednesday
’s City Council meeting. Mayor Dennis Kennedy said before the
meeting that he intended to open the agenda item for discussion. “I
meant to do that,” Kennedy said, “but I forgot.”
The employment contract of City Attorney Helene Leichter was extended a year, to Sept. 1, 2006, without comment at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.
Mayor Dennis Kennedy said before the meeting that he intended to open the agenda item for discussion.
“I meant to do that,” Kennedy said, “but I forgot.”
Consent calendar items have all been previously discussed in public before or, with employee matters, in closed session.
Council members Greg Sellers, Steve Tate and Larry Carr all said Friday that they would have welcomed discussion but said there really was no need.
Carr said the extension was based on Leichter’s performance in 2003, which was good, and not on that in 2004. Leichter agreed to an out-of-court settlement ($45,000 plus and additional seven weeks’ vacation this year) with the city two weeks ago over the council’s handling of what could be perceived as employee harassment.
She had been accused by Councilwoman Hedy Chang of having an affair with City Manager Ed Tewes, which they deny.
In a story Tuesday, The Times said Leichter is an “at-will employ as is everyone else at City Hall.” Sellers pointed out that only Tewes and Leichter serve at the will of the council.
In other council business, council gave the go-ahead to negotiate at least a 10-month lease with California Youth Soccer Association to use the soccer complex on Condit Road.
CYSA needs to use the fields until new ones are built near Sobrato High School. The city wants to build sports fields at the Condit site.
