Workers threaten to protest city party

Eron Ben-Yehuda

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- About 400 employees are threatening to picket a

taxpayer-funded holiday party that was planned to boost their morale, and

one councilman has suggested the event be canceled.

The workers belong to the municipal employee association, whose leaders

are negotiating a new labor agreement with city managers. The current

contract expires Dec. 31.

“If we don’t have a decent offer by Dec. 7, we will picket the party,”

union president Tom Hasty said.

The prospect of labor strife further marring an event that many residents

perceive as a waste of tax money prompted City Councilman Ralph Bauer to

demand the party be canceled. The suggestion came during a study session

Monday.

The council decided to proceed with the Dec. 9 celebration at the

Huntington Center mall, despite objections from Bauer and Mayor Peter

Green. Council members Tom Harman and Pam Julien were not present.

Because the council gave public notice of its study session, it could

vote on the issue there rather than waiting for a regular meeting.

Canceling the party now would only save the city about $6,000 of the

$20,000 the event is costing taxpayers, City Administrator Ray Silver

said.

Earlier this month, the price tag for the party was estimated at $10,000.

But the bill has since doubled.

Although the party budget “got out of hand,” Councilman Dave Sullivan

said he didn’t think it should be canceled. If it is, some some might

think the city is caving in to those threatening to picket.

“If that happens, so be it,” he said, referring to the protest.

Meanwhile, the city is left without any good options, City Councilwoman

Shirley Dettloff said.

“We’re damned if we do, and we’re damned if we don’t,” she said.

Even the employees who want to participate in the festivities are

criticizing the city for its handling of the party, said Councilman Dave

Garofalo.

Garofalo said workers have told him that the council “blew this so bad,

heads should roll.’

A major blunder, Bauer said, was using city carpenters, electricians and

painters, among others, to clean up and repair a room in the mall’s

vacant Broadway building for the occasion. Allowing city employees to fix

up private property while earning pay from public funds may be

“technically” legal, but was certainly inappropriate, he said.

The employees spent about 500 hours working at pay rates ranging from $8

to $33 an hour, according to a city memo dated Nov. 15.

With all the controversy, Green wanted to postpone the party until

spring. He lamented the fact that what was meant to be a joyous time for

the city’s 1,000 employees has turned out to be so unpleasant.

“I think that the Grinch stole Christmas,” he said.