Voice of the People: Meetings

At the Sept. 16 Colton council meeting, during public comment, I was dismayed to hear some disparaging news about one of our council members. Colton’s representative at the Omni-Trans and IVDA meetings is Councilman Frank Gonzales. It was reported that the councilman was late in attending the last 12 of the 12 Omni-Trans meetings, being so late at one, that the meeting was adjourned as he arrived on July 10. Checking the minutes of the last 12 meeting showed his being late was recorded, as required by the Brown Act. Receiving a $125 stipend for each meeting does not seem earned. His attendance records at the IVDA meetings are almost as bad. Four occasions he was on time but was late five times and was absent three times. In my opinion, this is an embarrassment to the city of Colton. He is supposed to represent the interests of Colton but can’t make it to meetings on time and in some cases not show at all. Councilman Gonzales should have been replaced, as our representative, a long time ago, by a councilmember who has more of an interest in his ancillary duties for the city.