Council Adopts Most Budget Items

After prolonged and sometimes heated discussion, the San Fernando City Council Monday approved most of the city’s 1997-98 budget while holding over some controversial decisions for further review.

San Fernando residents crowded the usually quiet council chambers for the four-hour meeting, with several voicing disapproval of what they said was the secretive process through which some of the recommended budget changes were adopted.

Of particular concern to residents was an ad hoc committee composed of Councilmen Jose Hernandez and Silverio Robledo that met last week to consider the possible merger of the city’s personnel and finance departments and elimination of a department head position.

Newly elected members Hernandez and Robledo, along with Mayor Raul Godinez, are considered to represent the new power bloc on the five-person council.

A discussion of the ad hoc committee’s findings was postponed until the next council meeting but other significant changes were approved Monday for the $32.5-million budget, including the addition of two police patrol officers and a full-time building inspector.

Prior to the budget vote, several residents spoke passionately against proposed changes in the structure of the Police Department. Some council members had earlier suggested eliminating a vacant lieutenant position, but under a compromise reached with Police Chief Dominick Rivetti that position will be filled and a sergeant position will be eliminated instead.

Rivetti said he was satisfied with the budget, but others were more critical.

Former Mayor Mike Majers said the personnel changes reflected the eagerness of Godinez, Hernandez and Robledo to flex their political muscle.

“It’s a power grab pure and simple. But what it does is hurt the morale of the Police Department and the other departments that are affected,” Majers said.

Robledo said he and the other councilmen were making an effort to improve direct services to city residents. Putting more patrol officers on the street was their top priority, he said.