Inside scoop

--Compiled by the Daily Pilot staff

It’s not that we can’t sympathize. We’re even sure it’s happened to a

couple of you as well. You’re busy thinking about something else.

Suddenly someone stands there and all you draw is a complete blank.

That’s what must have happened to Newport Beach Mayor Gary Adams at

last week’s City Council meeting, when he and colleagues were discussing

a proposed house expansion.

Someone on the dais asked to see drawings of the house and a man in

the audience got up and approached the podium with large sheets of paper.

“Is this the applicant’s architect?” Adams asked. The mayor then

realized that he had failed to recognize James Campbell, one of the

city’s senior planners, who had worked on the project.

Hey, Mr. Mayor, it happens to the best of us. We’re sure you could

recite the names of all city employees in your sleep if need be.

WASN’T THERE AN ELECTION?

Sure, there’s no need to rush things and forget about retired council

members the minute the new guys get into office.

But as all of you bookworms have undoubtedly noticed, according to the

photos of Newport Beach City Council members at the city’s Central

Library, John Noyes is still mayor and Jan Debay and Tom Thomson also

remain behind the dais.

More than a month after the new members -- Councilmen Steve Bromberg,

John Heffernan and Gary Proctor, in case you haven’t noticed -- were

sworn into office, nothing seems to have changed at the library.

Your Piloteers were planning on getting snippy about this, but then

Patrick Bartolic, who chairs the library’s board of trustees, cleared

things up a little at last week’s council meeting. He invited the whole

gang to come across town and witness the unveiling of new photos at 6

p.m. Jan. 22.

Phew! Aren’t you glad that’s settled? But what we’re really excited

about is that Councilwoman Norma Glover, who has been sporting a fabulous

new hairdo for quite a while now, will get her new look displayed in such

a prominent place as well. It’s about time, guys. We can’t wait to see it

and will get there early to reserve front row seats.