By Sandra Emerson
Created: 08/09/2012 05:10:43 PM PDT
UPLAND — Although former Mayor John Pomierski has pleaded guilty and been sentenced for accepting a bribe from an Upland business owner, he is still entitled to lifetime medical benefits through the city.
Pomierski became eligible for the benefit when he resigned in February 2011, He can receive up to $810 in medical care monthly.
The city is still researching how the benefit can be used while he is in prison.
“We’re going down a road, and I don’t know what is right and what is fair,” said Mayor Ray Musser.
“We have to go down that road and whatever it is we have to follow through on. Does make sense that we pay this and federal government taking care of him? That’s wrong. That’s double dipping.”
Pomierski pleaded guilty in April to one count of federal bribery, admitting to accepting a $5,000 bribe from the owner of Chronic Cantina restaurant in Upland.
The City Council eliminated lifetime medical for the council and department heads in September 2011.
Musser said eliminating the benefit is saving the city money.
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Unbelievable!
March last year: Pomierski surrendered to authorities after being named in an 11-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Riverside. The indictment accused Pomierski of conspiracy, extortion and bribery offenses in a scheme that led the owners of two businesses to pay $45,000 in bribes. A federal grand jury indicted Pomierski and the mayor’s appointee to a municipal board – John Hennes – on federal corruption charges that outline an extortion scheme targeting the two Upland businesses.
This benefit is not new news…people and reporters have been aware of it for years. Funny how it only becomes an issue when someone is convicted of a crime. The police and firefighters don’t even get this kind of a benefit! Only all of the administrators, department heads and council members do? When is the last time you have heard about any of them risking their lives to help a citizen? That’s where the money problem is, with big entitlement government!