City Council Minutes
April 5, 2023
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF APRIL 5, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor White called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor White, Mayor Pro-tem Untalon and Councilmembers Ortiz and Rodriguez ABSENT: Councilmember Martinez
STAFF: City Manager Wood, Community Development Director Mugan, Captain Mixer, IT Director Espinosa, City Attorney Thompson, City Clerk Rathbun GUESTS: Andrew Tipton, Jessica Lopez, Carmen Serrato, Adrian, Lupe, Gabby Serrato
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
All recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA REVIEW
No changes made.
CONSIDERATION OF FINDINGS OF INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MARTINEZ MISUSED HER POSITION AS A CITY COUNCILMEMBER AND WHETHER THE CITY
COUNCIL WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION
Staff report was given by City Attorney Thompson.
Andrew Tipton stated that based upon the allegations that have been proven that if the Council decided to move forward without any sanctions, that each and everyone of the Councilmembers were complicit with Councilmember Martinez’s actions. He asked if this was the kind of behavior that the Council wanted to encourage by the Council to our public.
Jessica Lopez stated that on March 3rd Councilmember Martinez was found guilty and needed to pay $10,000 for not paying her rent. She stated that the investigation before the Council was an extension of Councilmember Martinez’s views and she respectfully asked that the full report be released in order to give the public complete transparency.
Carmen Serrato gave her condolences to the Martinez family. She stated that the court has proven that Councilmember Martinez owes the money but was she willing to pay the money back. She stated that this proved that she was an honor person and was not lying. She stated that she would like to see the report so that the public could also know the truth.
Adrian stated that Councilmember Martinez did take advantage of her position and every action should be taken. He stated that he believed that this was the time for the Council to prove to the City of Greenfield that if anyone violates or actions against other individuals would bring consequences for their actions.
Lupe asked that all actions be taken against Councilmember Martinez in order to get justice for Mrs. Serrato.
She stated that a message needed to be sent so that it would not happen again and there should be full disclosure of the report.
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April 5, 2023
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Gabby Serrato thanked the Council for the investigation and asked that there be full disclosure of the report.
She asked that the Council take all the actions that were available against Councilmember Martinez.
Galilea Silva stated that she wanted everyone to know that the City Council could not remove Councilmember Martinez and she could only be removed by a recall election.
Beatriz Diaz stated that she disagreed with the comments that have been made against Councilmember Martinez. She stated that people want transparency but where was the money that was paid for rent; was it reported to the IRS. She stated that the City had not done anything about the complaints that were filed on the property owned by Mrs. Serrato. She stated that Councilmember Martinez had not abused her power.
Mayor Pro-tem Untalon stated that this was a complicated situation and that she personally did not feel it was done maliciously. She stated that she did not know how to proceed with this.
Councilmember Ortiz stated that she was not on Council when this started and she did realize that this was a very difficult issue to address; however, the Council needed to do what was right. She also stated that the investigation was paid for with City funds and believed that anyone should be able to see the report. She stated that she did not know Councilmember Martinez personally; however, they needed to hold each other accountable and show people that they could trust the Council.
Mayor White stated that the Council needed to do some kind of sanction. He stated that the report was ordered and completed by an independent person and this behavior could not be acceptable.
Councilmember Rodriguez stated that she did not know Councilmember Martinez personally; however, the Council had to put that aside. She stated that the Council was here only for the abuse of Councilmember Martinez’s title and this did not have anything to do with the rent. She also stated that something needed to be done.
City Council discussed the sanctions.
A MOTION by Councilmember Ortiz to impose the following sanctions on Councilmember Martinez (1) reprimand, (2) censure which was a formal statement of disapproval; (3) loss of committee or liaison assignments; (4) removal from an appointed committee, commission or board; and (5) apologize to the Serrato family.
Motion died due to amendment and lack of second.
A MOTION by Councilmember Ortiz, seconded by Councilmember Rodriguez to impose the following sanctions on Councilmember Martinez (1) reprimand, (2) censure which was a formal statement of disapproval; (3) loss of committee or liaison assignments; and (4) removal from an appointed committee, commission or board. ROLL CALL VOTE: Councilmember Rodriguez – Yes; Councilmember Ortiz – Yes; Mayor Pro-tem Untalon – Yes. Mayor White – Yes. ABSENT: Councilmember Martinez. Motion carried.
City Attorney Thompson stated that she would draft a formal resolution and bring it back to the next City Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 6:39 p.m.
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Mayor of the City of Greenfield
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City Clerk of the City of Greenfield
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