Small California city divided after mayor censured amid investigation

A small California city referred to as the “Apricot capital of the world” has been engulfed in civil conflict — unrelated to its famed fruit.

The city’s metropolis council lately handed a draft movement to censure its mayor, Michael Clauzel, weeks after a councilmember stepped down resulting from issues in regards to the metropolis’s route.

Councilmembers alleged it concerned “alleged verbal and written interactions involving Mayor Michael Clauzel, metropolis workers, and public officers,” although they didn’t specify the precise conduct.

An impartial third-party investigator has been retained by the council to “overview” the allegations, and the “metropolis won’t remark additional on the deserves of the allegations.”

Three of the small city’s 4 metropolis council members — Gabriela Hernandez, Carlos Roque and Kendra Mora — voted to censure Clauzel whereas one member, Chinyere Jack, abstained.

The assembly, held on August 21, noticed the draft measure go, the Guidelines Committee staffed and the mayor notified. A censure has no actual consequence for Clauzel exterior of the general public shaming.

Former councilmember Jessica Romero stepped down in June resulting from issues in regards to the route of the council.

She mentioned a “sample of division head adjustments” raised “critical questions on course of integrity, qualification requirements, and the affect of particular person council members on personnel choices that fall exterior the correct scope of council authority.”

Romero didn’t point out Clauzel in her causes for stepping down from the council. She concluded her letter by saying the council itself continually dismissed her issues.

Clauzel mentioned he was “deeply saddened by the resignation of Councilmember Jessica Romero.”

“From the time we first ran for workplace collectively, and all through our whole tenure on the council, Jessica and I’ve labored carefully facet by facet in service to this neighborhood,” Clauzel mentioned.

“Her integrity, work ethic, and dedication to moral governance have by no means wavered. She has my full and unequivocal help as she navigates this troublesome second.”

The city has scheduled a particular metropolis council assembly Wednesday night to “focus on necessary matters impacting Patterson.”

The council beforehand mentioned in its assertion launched Tuesday that Clauzel “may have a possibility to reply to the allegations, current oral or written info, and handle the Metropolis Council earlier than it considers whether or not to undertake a censure decision.”

The California Publish reached out to Romero for remark.

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