Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/16/2012 06:05:43 AM PST
Updated: 12/16/2012 05:23:08 PM PST
UPLAND – Mayor Ray Musser’s first action as mayor already has one council member questioning his decisions.
Musser was elected to the mayoral seat in November and made his appointments to city committees, which was approved by the council last week with the exception of Councilman Gino Filippi.
“First of all I think appointments bring forward a nuance of dictatorship and disrespect,” Filippi said. “I think that’s similar to what mayor accused the former mayor of doing.”
Filippi was opposed to Musser’s selection of Councilwoman Debbie Stone for mayor pro tem and his appointments to the Police and Fire Committee and the Upland Community Housing, Inc. Committee.
Filippi was taken off the Police and Fire Committee. Newly elected Councilman Glenn Bozar and Stone were selected.
Musser said he removed Filippi from the Police and Fire Committee in order to keep the city abiding by their ethics code.
In Filippi accepted a $2,000 campaign donation from the Upland Firefighters Association and soon after voted to approve their employment contract, which violated the city’s ethics ordinance.
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Wait until the County lawyers get Musser on the stand for the trial for Colonies flood control matters. This fool will stumble and bumble his way as only he can. Upland is in a time capsule. Thank Filippi for having the stones to challenge this fool.
I think it is fair to say Musser and Filippi are not having a good relationship.
Sounds like Musser has it out for Filippi.
Upland Councilwoman Debbie Stone will serve as an excellent Mayor Pro-Tem claims Musser. The question of the day? If Musser’s health prevents him from serving out the four year term, and the city council decides to appoint a new mayor, will Stone copycat Musser and vote to appoint herself? Hmmmmm…
Upland Police cost per capita is the lowest of any local city. No matter how you slice it, Upland residents receive police services at bargain prices. Upland staffing is down over 25% over the past few years and contrary to what Musser says, Upland Police do NOT have lifetime medical coverage. In fact all of our local cities do have substancial lifetime medical benefits for the employees. As an example, on day one of employement Ontario pays all Police employees $750. per month that goes into a retiree health savings account (that’s approx 250k), Upland provides zero. That is an approx savings of over 630k per year.
Musser is a bitter old man. He may not be criminally dirty like JP and Q but his tactics are the same. Brandt got screwed, he is the only one up there that has a clue. Bozar seems to know what’s going on too.
My comment about Bozar was meant to be positive. He seems to have a clue.
Really: Your observations deserve merit. Brandt and Filippi support Upland PD and Fire. Musser and Stone want them to burn in hell. Bozar could be the swing vote in Musser’s quest to bury Upland’s Police and Fire Departments.
Musser is an honest man. Filippi is not.
darryl, Your friend Musser aka Barney is a moron. A hypocrite who hides behind the church. Ask City Staff about their mayor. Barney was there approving all the contracts of the past while Upland inched toward bankruptcy yet he does not take responsibility. Who are you trying to kid? Please respond darryl.
Musser means well. In the past, not always the brightest bulb on the tree. But on the Filipi issue, sounds like he’s right on.
Peter Drucker, Musser (aka Barney) is not only ignorant, but also completely self-serving and a control freak. City employees know well about his behind the scenes tactics.