Flier divides Fountain Valley council

Torus Tammer

FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- Fliers criticizing the City Council for failing to

listen to residents or address their concerns found their way onto local

doorsteps over the weekend.

The four-page pamphlets containing open letters from Councilman Chuck

Conlosh and resident Lourdes Peterson were passed out by Concerned

Citizens of Fountain Valley, a new community watchdog group.

Conlosh’s letter accused his fellow council members of failing to

investigate alleged wrongdoing by high-level city officials. He also said

the council has failed to lift the ban on changeable signs favored by

churches, is threatening the freedom of people to park their cars in

their driveways and not their garages, and is denying residents direct

access to council members during meetings by making them address the

council as a whole rather than as individuals.

The letter also said the council meetings are taped on special

recorders at special speeds, “making it impossible for citizens to obtain

copies of tapes to listen to what the council is doing.”

“I want to apologize for my city because we haven’t treated you well,”

Conlosh said at a Concerned Citizens’ meeting Aug. 10. “I’ve watched you

come to our City Council meetings and watched many of you speak, and we

frankly haven’t listened to you.”

Conlosh, who is up for reelection, would not elaborate on the

wrongdoing referred to in his letter, but at the meeting he said he has

asked for an investigation.

Peterson’s letter focused on zoning issues in the city, mostly

parking.

“It seems that our personal choices on what we own is being put to the

test,” the letter states.Other council members said they were bewildered

by their colleague’s comments.

“Conlosh has the right to say anything he wants to, even if the facts

do not support his accusations,” Mayor Guy Carrozzo said. “I don’t feel

that I have to defend the City Council against anyone’s attack on our

integrity. Our record speaks for itself.”

Councilman John Collins said he was disturbed to learn of Conlosh’s

concerns in a flier.

“To me, accusing us of wrongdoing is a flat-out lie,” Collins said.

“If he knows about any wrongdoing, then shame on him for not bringing it

to everyone’s attention sooner. He owes it to the people and to his

fellow council members to do so.”

Councilwoman Laurann Cook said Conlosh has the right to voice his

opinion, but allegations such as the ones made in his letter border on

slander.

“I challenge him to provide evidence supporting his claims,” Cook

said.

About 18,000 fliers were printed by Concerned Citizens of Fountain

Valley, a group that formed about a month ago. The group’s meeting last

week -- its first formal meeting -- was attended by roughly 60 people.

“Our goal as a watchdog group is to have 6,000 registered voters,”

said Peterson, one of the group’s leaders. “If the city doesn’t want to

listen to the citizens’ views, then we will take action by recalling

officials and/or putting points on the ballot for special election.”