Public Safety Commission must re-do awkward election of chair, vice chair

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The Public Safety Commission will have to re-live a particularly uncomfortable moment from their last meeting after the City Clerk’s Office discovered that their new chairperson and vice chairperson were wrongly elected.

Public Safety Director Kristin Cook emailed commissioners on Tuesday to tell them that when they tallied the votes, they mistakenly included two abstentions in the totals.

Tensions arose two weeks ago when outgoing Chairperson Amanda Laflen unexpectedly nominated Commissioner Tod Hallman as her replacement. The surprise move caused some friction, as Commissioner Tory Berger was higher in seniority. The motion to nominate Hallman was ultimately voted down, and Berger was elected chairperson.

But according to city bylaws, if two commissioners out of seven abstain in a vote, the new majority is three out of five (instead of four out of seven) — meaning Laflen’s nomination of Hallman should have passed. Also, procedure dictates that voting should follow a calling for all nominations — not a motion for one nomination, and a vote.

Cook recommended that the commission start fresh with an entirely new vote in their August meeting. City Clerk Melissa Crowder will be present to oversee the new election.

READ MORE: Public Safety Commissioner Balbone takes lead in standing up for process at awkward Public Safety election. Chair Laflen, a Lindsey Horvath appointee, uses her exit speech to attempt to thwart Vice-Chair Berger, a Meister appointee from becoming the next Chair.

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Alan Strasburg
Alan Strasburg
3 years ago

Grow up children. The lack of comity has roots in the titular mayor’s chair who I have no doubt orchestrated this latest shot against Meister. Mark my words, she will attempt to deny the sitting mayor pro tem the traditional rotation to mayor. The Three Stooges continue to make a mockery of civility. Their agenda are not the people’s agenda.

Jimmy Palmieri
Jimmy Palmieri
3 years ago

Laflens vote should NOT have carried, as it was illegally forced. There needed to be calls for other nominations. So no, her nomination was not only unethical, but did not follow Robert’s Rules. This is a mess for more than one reason. Good luck to Tory who deserves FULLY to be chair.
I do agree with Laflen in one area. It would be nice to have more minoirty members in leadership roles, and would applaud her in giving up her seat to help with that.

Steve Martin
Steve Martin
3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Palmieri

Amen.

Michael Grace
Michael Grace
3 years ago

West Hollywood is becoming a punch line!

Amateurs
Amateurs
3 years ago

Amateurs, too many of them.