Visit Your Hometown Website www.thepress.net
ward Winning News al A pa
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 11, No. 41
Manager’s mortgage deal dropped by Samie Hartley Staff Writer
Responding to public outcry over a deal forgiving a $500,000 mortgage loan for City Manager Bryan Montgomery, Mayor Jim Frazier Tuesday issued an apology and asked the City Council to rescind the deal, which he called a “mistake.” “Making mistakes is human,” Frazier said in a statement read at the beginning of Tuesday’s council meeting. “Admitting your mistakes and decisively rectifying them is what makes us good leaders. I take full responsibility for this error and hope the citizens of Oakley will accept my sincere apology.” Under the deal, approved Sept. 27 on a 4-1 vote (Councilman Randy Pope dissenting), the council forgave the remainder of the loan provided at 2.5percent interest in 2005 as an
MONTGOMERY incentive for Montgomery to move to Oakley from Nevada to become Oakley’s city manager. The agreement had been modified in 2009, when the council agreed to allow Montgomery to defer payments on the loan – about $2,000 per month – because the value of his Brooks Court house had plummeted to $311,000 from the original loan amount of $685,000. The
deferred payments were called a bonus, meaning Montgomery was required to pay income tax on the amount. The new agreement also called for the city to receive half-interest in the property, and guaranteed that Montgomery would receive $170,000 upon the sale of the 3,300-squarefoot house. When the public learned of the amendment though a newspaper story, residents took to the Internet to marshal opposition to the arrangement and call for change. Messages cropped up on forums, blogs and Twitter, and the Facebook group Take Back Taxpayer Dollars From Oakley CA City Manager Bryan Montgomery was formed on Monday. On Tuesday, Montgomery sent a letter to the council stating he would not finalize the new agreement, which he
referred to as “a significant and courageous action” that had received “the most negative light possible.” “I’m sorry for the controversy that was caused, but that was not the intent,” Montgomery said at Tuesday’s council meeting. “This was well intentioned. There are clear logical and legal reasons for justification of the agreement, but in this climate in the negative spin it’s been given – there is no way to explain those (reasons).” In his statement, Frazier also defended the original intent of the deal. “When we approved this agreement, our intentions were sincere in providing an incentive for the city manager to stay in Oakley,” Frazier said. “Not only had he taken on the responsibilities of three other department heads who had see Deal page 22A
rs
Na t
pe
ion
October 14, 2011
Installed in the Hall
Their uniforms are out of style, but these athletes’ accomplishments are the stuff of immortality. Page 1B
Weighing the box Brentwood officials will discuss the pros and cons of allowing a big-box store to set up shop in town. Page 3A
Worthy of note
Oakley to open all-abilities playground by Samie Hartley Staff Writer
Mayor Jim Frazier has been campaigning to bring an allabilities playground to Oakley since he joined the City Council in 2008. Soon, his vision will become reality. This week the council approved to purchase playground equipment from Santa Rosabased Ross Recreation Equipment. The new playground, which will be set up in Crockett Park, 4150 Richards Way, will feature slides, climbers, bridges and ramps, and interactive panels all easily accessed by special-needs children. The equipment will cost $106,899.55. The removal of the existing play structures and installation of the new equipment,
“ The vision is for this (the playground) to be a destination for all families.
”
Oakley Mayor Jim Frazier which includes the addition of a rubberized play surface, will cost the city $130,281. The city can draw from $250,000 in park impact fees paid by developers to upgrade the playground. “These designs look great,” said Councilman Randy Pope at a recent council meeting. “I can’t wait to go play … I mean, take my kids to go play.” Initially, the Oakley council hoped to build the playground next to the Delta Family YMCA on O’Hara Avenue, but when the
Y declared bankruptcy and vacated, the property no longer seemed the ideal location, and the project was placed on the back burner. At the city’s annual strategic planning meeting, City Manager Bryan Montgomery informed the council that the Crockett Park playground equipment would need to be replaced soon. The play equipment at Crockett, one of the city’s oldest parks, has been showing wear and tear after serving residents for nearly 20 years. Since the equipment needed to be
Legal lift
go to news/WebExtras!
visit thepress.net
like us on facebook
follow us on twitter
Scan QR code with your mobile device to access these websites.
An agency’s new Antioch office provides low-cost legal immigration services.
replaced anyway and there was money in the budget to do so, Frazier thought Crockett would be the ideal location for the allabilities playground. Frazier met with families of special-needs children to get their input on what they’d like to see in the new playground, and their feedback was considered when selecting the final design. “The vision is for this (the playground) to be a destination for all families,” Frazier said at last month’s council meeting. “It’s really here. It’s coming, and I can’t wait.” Crockett Park also features a barbecue area, benches and picnic tables, tennis and basketball courts and a large grass field. To comment, visit www. thepress.net.
Our BVAL Notebook brings you up to speed on high school tennis, cheer and wrestling. Page 20A Business ............................. 12B Calendar ............................ 19B Classifieds ......................... 14B Cop Logs ............................15A East County Life ................ 1B Entertainment ................... 9B Food .................................... 10B Health & Beauty ................ 6B Milestones .......................... 8B Opinion ..............................14A Sports .................................17A FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Blaze blocking
Recruit-O-Rama
Fire Prevention Week urges homeowners to take simple precautions.
Scouts made The Streets a fun hunting ground for new members.
go to news/press releases
go to multimedia/videos