No suit, but plenty of bad blood

Councilman Wayne Baglin has made a great decision: He won’t be suing

the city. Whatever his reason, he can now get back to doing what he

has been so good at for so many years. Whether you agree with his

political beliefs and council votes, he seems always to strive for

what’s best for Laguna.

Whether he’s fighting to keep the corporation yard out of ACT V or

the Pottery Shack from being changed to the what he argues is the

detriment of the neighborhood, he tends to act in what he sees as the

best interest of the city.

After a court battle, Baglin was vindicated when the jury found he

did not violate a state government code when he accepted commission

on the sale of a Third Street property to the city.

Baglin came under investigation after he accepted a $36,000

commission as the exclusive agent for Dorothy and Edgar Hatfield, who

sold two lots on Third Street to the city. He was indicted by a

county grand jury.

His defense was that he thought the city was going to use eminent

domain to acquire property on Third Street, which would have made it

legal for him to accept commission.

He said he believed the city would use eminent domain based on

what he was told by city officials and that he received bad advice

from them. It is this belief that led to the consideration of a

lawsuit.

City Atty. Phil Kohn and City Manager Ken Frank testified at the

trial that they had never advised him of immunity from the state law.

Now Baglin says he and his wife, Faye, have put this episode

behind them, a move that’s great for them and for the city.

But there is still a problem. With the threat of a suit no longer

in the wings, it seems hostilities are coming out elsewhere. Council

members are not expected to be angels, just professional.

When a vote or discussion is not going their way, we expect that

they will still treat administrators, staff and the public with

respect. Not only to keep a semblance of civility for the city’s

sake, but for their own, because their thoughts can easily get lost

in the midst of the chiding comments.