Quincey
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 08/01/2012 03:53:25 PM PDT
UPLAND – The City Council’s decision in May 2011 to fire City Manager Robb Quincey has been upheld by an arbitration judge.
Judge Sam Cianchetti found that Quincey violated the city’s ethics rules and broke his employment contract by intentionally concealing his settlement of a claim brought by an Upland police officer who investigated a July 2008 domestic incident involving Quincey and his girlfriend.
“I think that the city is pleased that a very well-respected retired judge, Sam Cianchetti, has upheld the council’s decision to terminate Quincey,” said Timothy Owen, the city’s attorney.
Following arbitration proceedings in June, Cianchetti upheld the termination two weeks ago.
City officials kept the decision under wraps on their attorney’s advice until Wednesday, after they received permission from the judge to make it public.
“I’m just thrilled that it’s behind us,” Mayor Ray Musser said.
Quincey sued the city in November alleging his firing was without cause and sought $7.8 million in damages.
Quincey’s lawsuit also accused Mayor Ray Musser and Councilman Ken Willis of defamation and placing Quincey in a false light, which was thrown out by the judge prior to the week-long arbitration proceedings, Owens said.
It is still to be decided whether Quincey is owed compensation for unused leave and 30 days of wages.
“The city’s position is that Quincey is not owed anything, but the judge is going to want some additional information on that,” Owens said.
A final decision in the arbitration could be expected by the end of the month, he said.
City officials rejected Quincey’s claim in January, which triggered an arbitration clause in his employment contract.
Following the finalization of arbitration, the winning party will ask a Superior Court judge to award judgment and confirm Cianchetti’s decision, Owens said.
The City Council placed Quincey on paid leave in January 2011 following reports that he settled two claims in January 2010 involving Upland police for $50,000, which at the time surpassed the amount he was allowed to settle.
According to Quincey’s claim, the two claims were settled separately for $25,000 each, which was within his authority.
The council terminated Quincey in May for violating his employment contract and failing to follow specific direction, but did not specify the violations that resulted in the termination.
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Who pays Upland’s legal fees on this one?
What happens to the FBI/DA’s investigations of Quincey, Adams, et all?
Is that sign post ahead “Bankruptcy”?
He is still going to recieved $300,000+ per year in pension for life! I will switch positions with him anytime.
@ RBO – Yeah, that’s one way to look at it! He is lucky in one sense… he is avoiding CampFed like the Upland Mayor.
ooops… I meant “unlike” the Upland mayor!
If pension-spiking were an Olympic event, Quincey would be standing atop the podium right now, with gold around his neck and taxpayers’ green stuffing his pockets. Some of his contract amendments – “giveaways” would be a more accurate term – called for the city to buy him eight years of CalPERS service credit in addition to the six years he worked there, and for the city to turn his $95,000-plus of final-year benefits into salary, solely for the purpose of boosting his retirement check to an obscene level.
Quincey fleeced Upland’s taxpayers in so many ways, with the aid of resigned Mayor John Pomierski and under the noses of the council members during his tenure as city manager. He started out with a ridiculously generous contract – with, for example, four weeks each of personal and administrative time off (in addition to vacation and sick time) – that was made even more preposterous with each amendment, like the one that allowed him to accumulate all that leave without limit and cash it out whenever he wanted.
Each of nine amendments was presented to city council one at at time. Council never saw entire package. This was done to prevent questions. If this isn’t fraud, how should I describe it? His entire package should be voided or at least cut. If not, put him on a podium and “give him the Gold Medal”!
Rancho Business Owner – Are you suggesting that the Upland City Council was tricked?