BOS Purges Bullock
Cantrall New Chair
In a scene bordering on the Kafkaesque the Modoc County Board of Supervisors Wednesday purged Jeff Bullock of his chairmanship and effectively stripped him of all powers.
In a special session before a standing room only audience of mostly pro-Bullock supporters the board voted 4 to 1 to remove him as its chair without specifying their complaints against him other than a vague expression from fellow supervisor Dave Allan of “conduct unbecoming.”
In California politics removing a chairman from the leadership of a county board of supervisors is virtually unheard of.
“This is not very common,” said a spokesperson for the California State Association of Counties in Sacramento. “I do not know the specifics regarding Modoc’s practice, but with several boards, the chair rotates on an annual basis among the five supervisors, thus removal is rare since they will rotate out within a few months.”
The board’s action, led by Supervisor Patricia Cantrall and Allan and supported by Geri Byrne and Loren “Shorty“ Crabtree, left the audience with a vacant sense of bewilderment and bitterness.
Ironically, coming to Bullock’s defense largely on grounds that the politically conservative board was violating his rights under the First Amendment were members of the ultra-conservative Modoc County Tea Party.
There were charges from speakers of a “cabal,” and a lack of transparency or openness. Audience members stood and said they refused to accept the nebulous charge of “conduct unbecoming.”
“The Board of Supervisors has not shown any reason for removing Bullock from the chair,” said an unidentified speaker. “You want to shut his voice down, you want to shut his power down. You are violating the First Amendment of the Constitution. What has he done in the 30 days he’s been chair? You know there is a power grab on this board.”
Bullock had few words to say in his defense other than he had the right to make appointments to board sub-committees, a reference to what he apparently thought were the board’s complaints against him.
But Cantrall, after being elected on a 4 to 1 vote to replace Bullock, tipped off her reasons for purging Bullock when she came to the defense of Chief Administrative Office Chester Robertson -- who at that point had not been brought into the heated argument between the board and the public.
Apparently addressing a member of the audience, Cantrall said, “You, sir, have called the CAO everything but a white man.”
In the turmoil of a riled audience, Cantrall gavelled the meeting to an end.
22 comments:
and the comedy continues in Modoc! Headline for the future........."Board Chair Cantrall unable to gavel down the crowd, starts firing her fun wildly into the crowd"
Correction to 4:44 pm. That would be "gun" which would definitely NOT be "fun" Sorry1
I just read the Modoc Record and David Allen's letter to the editor. He states that "To expect, or even to hope for perfect harmony at any level of governance would be awfully naive to say the least. So consequently during last week’s Board meeting it came as no great shock to witness a scripted floor show, and a real fine example of reckless allegations that are so far from the truth, they’re truly pathetic."
I would say that his statement could most effectively be applied to the actions of the BOS on the 22nd. When he speaks of "reckless allegations", what exactly is that in reference to? The same could be said of him in regards to Bullock.
It is all quite apparent that it's just the opposite of what he said by the actions of the BOS on the 22nd. If ever they wanted to validate the letters that the Sheriff and the Auditor wrote, they need only listen to the audio feed from the meeting on the 22nd.
There was a room packed with voters who were opposing the process of removing Bullock as Chairman of the Board. The Board did not listen, nor did they care. They are voted in to represent the people. The people spoke, and they ignored them.
Good for the board to have the fortitude to make this change in light of some ridicule. Mob rule in the board room doesn’t make a majority of opinion out here. This board shapes the news…so make sure you print all comments that are civil…not just the ones you like...seems like some just don't get added...so sad...kind of like the rest of the lamestreet media.
It is amazing how smart some people become as soon as they acquire a public office. How stupid the public suddenly becomes.
Now that Cantrall is chair of the BOS the other supervisors can stay home. Cantrall won't want them around anyway except to aprove whatever she decides to do to us all. We can forget about even hoping for any transparency in Modoc government. Since she's not running for reelection I expect her to get very agressive against anyone who ever disagreed with her. I would not want to be the sheriff or auditor right now because they are in her sights. We can expect to see their budgets slashed at the first oportunity.
Thank you Gerri Byrne, Shorty Crabtree, Dave Allan. You took the easy way out. What a bunch of cowards we have on the BOS. You voted support for a person who often publicly advocates violence and disrespect for the law by her actions and words. You brought back a dinosaur just when the county is struggling to catch up to the twent first century. You three have made a terrible mistake.
Dave Allan spelled out the problem quite well in his letter in the Modoc Record. In it, Allan notes that he "can’t stand unproductive mind numbing arguments, as they generally gain nothing other than more ill will and discontent." Does he actually think that what he has now is less discontent and more good will?
Apparently, he hasn't caught on that what he is describing is his and the other board members dysfunctional method of public deliberation: which means to say, no deliberation at all.
I challenge any citizen to find any BOS meeting where Allan, in particular, or the BOS as a whole have actually spent more the just a minute or two debating each other on any subject within their jurisdiction.
But you may as well not waste your time, because you will not find any. Allan and his unqualified and sanctimonious companions on the board can do only one thing: make single sentence, illogical declarations about any topic at hand (if they express any comments at all) thus beginning and ending the discussion in one fell swoop.
Dave Allan goes on to rationalize this lazy thinking and poor governance by claiming that “people with exceptionally dominating personalities” are to blame for this pickle we are all in – completely ignoring the fact that because he and the other BOS members are controlling the information that the public and some of its elected officials are allowed to get, that it is their domination of the debate (by not having any debate at all) that makes finding an equitable resolution to this mess much more difficult for all of us.
“We've seen the hubris. And now we're seeing the scandals.
- David R. Gergen
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-24/california-s-stockton-said-to-plan-default-bankruptcy-vote.html
If Bullock was asked by a BOS member to resign before the meeting and chose not to, then it is obvious that Crabtree and the other board members then discussed it (together or one to another, it doesn't matter) and reached a consensus that the BOS needed to be "re-organized."
This back-door dealing clearly violates the "serial meeting" rules of the Brown Act.
Byrne, Allan, Cantrall, and Crabtree should be called on this blatant flaunting of our rights as taxpayers to have all of these discussions held in open meetings - and not decided before they all arrive at the scene of the crime.
Hopefully one of those brave Modoc Tea Party members that weren't afraid to tell it like it is to Cantrall and her cronies will take the time to follow through and help protect all of our First Amendment Rights, because some of us aren't in a position to speak up without losing our jobs.
Here is the contact information for the non-profit First Amendment Coalition in California:
First Amendment Coalition
534 4th Street, Suite B
San Rafael, CA 94901
Ph: (415) 460-5060
Their website:
http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/
"Defending Your Freedom of Speech and Your Right to Know"
Anytime someone asks questions about government in Modoc and insists on straight answers Cantrall gets upset. It seems the BOS has decreed that Mr. Robertson can do no wrong and no questions allowed. "Trust me, I know what's best for you" is the theme and the beat goes on. Bullock stepped over the line by asking too many questions about Robertson’s actions and methods. Can’t question God or Chester. Public input allowed as long as Cantrall agrees with you, otherwise you will hear “I’ll blow his head off” or “ I’ll blow cigarette smoke in his face until he dies”. Great way to encourage public participation, but wait, they don’t want public participation except to agree with them.
A recall needs to be started with Allan and Byrne the subjects. By placing Cantrall in the Chairman position they have voted for corruption and threats of violent death as the chosen method of county governance. One need only listen to a few BOS meeting recordings to hear those types of threats made in public by Cantrall. I often ask myself “Why is that woman still allowed to carry a gun?” She has publicly and proudly threatened to kill endangered, protected animals and people who disagree with her and federal agents. She has a long list of persons she hates for the high crimes of disagreeing with her or asking too many questions. It was a shameful thing the four of them did Wednesday.
I'll bet Allan wishes he hadn't placed that comment in the Record. It truly sounds as if he is critisizing himself, Cantrall and Byrne if one listens to the recording of the meeting on the 22nd before reading the newspaper letter. The letter clearly shows how out of touch with reality Mr. Allan is. Is there time to get a recall election on the next ballot?
"Local legislative bodies - are created in recognition of the fact that several minds are better than one, and that through debate and discussion, the best ideas will emerge."
CAL. GOV. CODE § 54950 : California Code - Section 54950
In enacting this chapter, the Legislature finds and declares that the public commissions, boards and councils and the other public agencies in this State exist to aid in the conduct of the people's business. It is the intent of the law that their actions be taken openly and that their deliberations be conducted openly.
The people of this State do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created.
Has anyone seen the agenda for this week's BOS meeting? Cantrall wants to take away our fire protection. She's still upset because "her" fire district along with others in Modoc County have been told they must account, publicly and acurately, for where their money goes. There seems no rational explanation for this to be on the agenda of the BOS. By the wording of the item it is clear that she wishes no discussion of if this should be done but rather how it can be done. This is the way a dictator adresses problems: "This is what I have decided we will do, now we will decide together how to do it".
Thank you Supervisors Byrne, Crabtree and Allan for installing this idiot as chair. The one that promotes killing anyone or anything that she disagrees with or "blowing cigarette smoke in his face until he dies". Now she would let our homes burn because she has such a twisted sense of reality.
Open letter to Modoc County supervisors.
Nowhere except Modoc County can an elected official openly advocate death by torture of a private citizen for doing nothing more than attending meetings and making suggestions. I have never asked any county official to do anything more than be honest and allow questions. It seems that this is not allowed in Modoc County any longer. You that voted to install Cantrall as chairperson voted for absolute corruption if the statement by her at the end of the special meeting is a forcast of the way things will be run. You have shamed this county by your actions Wednesday to support this woman's style of government based on intimidation and threats. Possibly one of you will respond to me as to why I deserve this kind of treatment. What terrible thing have I done? I have asked too many questions about questionable practices in this county. By your actions you have created a huge divide between yourselves and the citizens. It is a truly sad day in Modoc when a private citizen cannot attend an open meeting without receiving threats of death by torture from a county supervisor.
You can talk all you want on this blog but it does nothing to resolve the problem of the renegade BOS. Recall is the answer, a legal means by which you can get rid of these people. Someone, anyone up there, take the bull by the horns and do the proper filing to get things moving! If it costs money, I'm sure there are enough dissatisfied citizens that you could get donations.
Ron if you read carefully that is listed as DISCUSSION/INFORMATION (sorry for the caps thats how it is on the agenda). That means Pat just wants to here her self babble! Maybe someone can suggest that she chase CalFire out with her peashooter S/W.38!
The Cantrall and Solomon agenda item for fire districts is:
c. CONSIDERATION/ACTION: Request to have the County agree to pay for the Volunteer Fire Department’s State required audits. (Jeff Solomon/Pat Cantrall)
3:28 PM that is a separate item NOT the CalFire item number 13 on the agenda.
Doug Knox should be outraged at how he was treated during the public comment section at this last BOS meeting.
Why? Because he was treated as a second class citizen when compared to former BOS board Chairman Dan Macsay, who spoke first during the public comment section of the Feb. 28 meeting, presided over by the newly, and some would say illegally installed board chairman, Pat Cantrall.
While Mr. Knox waited patiently for the overlong (more than 20 minutes, well past the three minutes that the BOS has been inflicting on the rest of the taxpayers during public comments) yet informative presentation (it should have rightfully been an agenda item - honestly, Board Clerk Wellemeyer - how can folks know about this stuff and come to the meeting to hear and ask questions about it unless it is noticed properly?), Mr. Macsay was afforded as much time as he needed, was thanked for his public comment, and was offered the opportunity by Chairman Cantrall to respond to questions from the board members and the audience after he was through talking.
Mr. Knox, on the other hand, was within the allotted 3 minutes, received no courteous “thank you” after his public comment, thanked the audience on the boards’ behalf, and politely asked if there were any questions or comments from the public or the board members, as was offered to former BOS board Chairman Dan Macsay.
Here is the kicker, and what really shows how Cantrall has schizophrenically applied what she considers “good public policy” during her 20 years as a public servant:
After Mr. Knox asked for questions or comments from the public or the board (Cantrall didn’t offer Knox the same courtesy as she did Macsay), Cantrall piped up immediately to shut the conversation down, saying “No questions are taken under public comment.
The largest take-away from this is that no matter what Pat Cantrall says, she will do everything in her power to “shut you up” or “shut you out” of the political debate process if she thinks that your ideas are in conflict with her own.
In order to move forward as a County with new ideas that all of us can take part in, this autocratic and contradictory style of governance must end, as should Cantrall’s chairmanship of the BOS.
Hopefully Mr. Knox will call the First Amendment Coalition to seek support from them regarding Cantrall’s’ domineering and crony-friendly style of “leadership” – and bring as many supporters of his position with him to the next board meeting to ensure that his and others First Amendment rights aren’t trampled on by Cantrall yet again.
Yeah, my jaw dropped when I heard Cantrall trying to say that there aren't questions during public comment, not only because she gave Macsay the go-ahead right then and there to take questions or listen to comments, but also because the board has allowed questions and comments from the board members and the audience in the past.
Cantrall wasted no time letting everybody know how things will be: The Cantrall way or shut up. My, how we are progressing as a democracy in a tailspin with a crazy woman with a gun at the stick.
Is county supervisor mail being censored by the clerk? I have delivered correspondence to the BOS by way of the clerk of the board and never received an answer from the BOS but received an answer from the county lawyer. Where did the clerk get authority to decide which correspondence should be referred to the lawyer? Why did I not receive any indication that any BOS member even saw the letter? In the letter from the attorney, he advises that committees are not created by the BOS and the clerk has authority to make changes to committee designations without BOS approval. If the clerk can decide which mail supervisors can see and can change what five supervisors vote on, who’s running the county? My point is: Maybe our elected officials are not getting all of the information. The letter was regarding the apparent secret change to the budget committee from standing to ad hoc. It is still listed as standing on the BOS web page but treated as ad hoc.
Ron, the taxpayers can bemoan the budget meeting status until the cows come home, but in the end, unless an unlikely shift in public transparency prevails, the BOS can call a committee whatever it wants and get away with it.
So until we can get at least one person or entity (a local newspaper, perhaps) to enlist the help of the First Amendment Coalition (or a similar advocates' attorney) and file and follow through on a Brown Act violation on this, we will continue to be shafted by our BOS.
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