The Antioch City Council voted 4-0 to approve a policy that “encourages” elected officials within the City to pay back salary, car allowance, and communication allowance if they are absent for more than a month.
The policy appeared to have been aimed at city clerk Arne Simonsen who has been absent since October 28, 2013 while he was in Europe tending to a family manner.
It was stated that Simonsen has agreed to pay back his monthly salary of $941.20 for his 10-week absence, however, at this time, he is unwilling to pay back his car allowance because he uses those funds to attend League of California Cities meetings and trainings throughout the year due to the limited budget for the City Clerk’s Office. The City Clerk does not receive a communications allowance.
Councilwoman Mary Rocha stated she wanted a policy for Antioch, not to aim it at any one person such as the City Clerk. She mentioned that when her son died she missed a meeting and you have a councilman who is dealing with health issues right now.
“It’s for all of us,” said Rocha. “We might not have the same situation, but the rules affect all of us. We are aware of how this affects this council.”
Antioch resident Karl Dietzel thanked Mary Rocha for bringing up this issue but stated it also brings up the issue that elected officials salaries and benefits are inflated. He suggested that elected officials provide an itemized expense report reach month.
Dietzel also encouraged Mr. Simonsen to pay back all the funds paid while he was absent. He then suggested that he resign from his post instead of a recall occurring.
“I want to ask you to give every dime for the city clerk back. I am so upset about it, it’s unacceptable. The pay, benefits packages, mileage, pay for whoever had to do his job, you have to be tough on this,” said Dietzel. “Elected officials cannot disappear for months and get paid from taxpayer. My problem is the repaying of the money will not make the issue go away at all, we are compared to pleasant hill and that is bad for Antioch. I suggest he resigns. My suggestion is he resigns.”
Councilmembers Rocha and Tony Tiscareno asked legal counsel why they used the term “encourage” and if there was a reason not to just state they will pay the money back.
Legal Counsel explained that this policy is for what the council “would like” to occur but it not binding. Counsel stated that something to be binding, it would have to come back to affect future councils/elected officials.
Rocha requested that the council discuss that in the near future and requested staff to create a policy to bring before the council.
12 comments
I stand with Karl Dietzel on this topic. Arne Simonsen should resign if he does not pay back all the money. $350 for car allowance is a bit overkill for any given month, but to be paid that while in Europe? What a crook!
I too agrre with Mr. Dietzel. The salaries are very much inflated. With the ideas I have seen come out of that council you would think they were making minimum wage in there. no tax on rental properties? are you kidding me?! that is the larges buisiness existing in Antioch!
But more on point I also agree with what Mr. Tiscarino was hinting at… “encouraging” is not the same legally binding and the rule should sbosultely apply to future members as well as the current.
Recall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why are you the only one reporting this crook? Arne Simonsen has been given a pass in the Contra Costa Times because he writes for them. The Taxpayer Association and him are friendly. Thank you for calling it down the middle when it comes to local issues. Shame on other media for playing favorites and ignoring this and sweeping it under the rug. Thank you Mary Rocha for looking out for the taxpayers.
I support the comments above me, pay it back or resign or a recall should begin.
This would technically be a misuse of a “recall”. Nothing illegal was done. A law was not broken that anyone can find. I understand everyone’s feelings but we cannot rule on feelings.
@julio
Tell the people in Discovery Bay not to rule on feelings. They recalled Brian Dawson for no reason other than they didn’t like him. The same logic used there can be used in Antioch or anywhere else in the County.
@ disco pete,
Great point. However Mr. Dawson was not recalled. He resigned due to pressure put on him by a few disco bay antagonists (some of which, lurk here on this website). They initiated a recall but never really had the numbers to execute it.
http://www.discoverypopups.com/deltasuntimes/2011_october/page9.pdf
However the real story can be found here;
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19904134
and here;
https://burkforoakley.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/discovery-bay-poll-on-brian-dawson-recall/
@Pete. Brian Dawson was not recalled, he resigned before a recall could occur.
Thanks for providing clarification(s) East County Today. So many people run their mouths these days it is often difficult to separate the fact from the fools. From what I see, the fools use the blogs to spread false information. It has become their last refuge.
here is what the cct had to say about this:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/contra-costa-times/ci_24917615/antioch-defines-rules-elected-officials-not-be-paid
Karl… its a shame your comments were not used in their article.
ECT has reported this behavior in the past with specials districts in Oakley and Discovery Bay.
Paying back is not enough.There should be some sort of penalty. Election time will produce a reaction if people are watching.
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