UPDATE on today's events, Monday, August 27, 2012, Quartzsite, Arizona
This morning Town Council met and adjourned every item on the agenda until a Special Meeting or another meeting. The 2012-2013 Budget was not approved today. Council member Mark Orgeron explained the town could work off of last year's budget until it is approved.
Orgeron also announced three council members had asked for a Special meeting to be held on Saturday, but that didn't happen due to objections of the Town administration, so he and two other council members are scheduling a Special Meeting for Tuesday, August 28th for 3pm.
TOMORROW'S UNUSUAL MEETING NOTICE & AGENDA
Tomorrow's agenda was posted online with many additional statements from Town Attorney Martin Brannan, who did not "approve" of the agenda. The Town Clerk also "refused to sign" the agenda. SEE BELOW:
Council.Agenda.8-28-12
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER PLACED UPON COUNCIL MEMBERS
BY QUARTZSITE TOWN ATTORNEY
In an attempt to stop tomorrow's meeting for occurring, Brannan filed a Motion for Temporary Restraining Order this afternoon against Quartzsite Town Council Members in La Paz County Superior Court.
Some council members were given, not officially served, a copy of a Motion for Temporary Restraining Order without Notice from Town Attorney Martin Brannan. One council member received a copy via fax, however there is no signature of any judge nor the Town Attorney.
Brannan is seeking to block council from terminating Town Manager Alex Taft EXCEPT without cause and without discussion unless and until she is given a precise statement of the allegations constituting cause for her termination.
Item 1 on the tomorrow's agenda is "Discussion and possible action on the services regarding Alexandra Taft". The injunction asks that any and all persons in active concert or participation with council be restrained on all actions as well.
Brannan is seeking the court to stop the removal or suspension of Asst. Town Manager Al Johnson, as well as not allowing the council to reinstate Quartzsite Police Chief Jeff Gilbert and Sgt. Fabiola Garcia.
Brannan states every reasonable effort has been made to notify defendants of this motion, including by telephone. He also states defendants are not known to be represented by counsel.
DPS TO INVESTIGATE CHIEF GILBERT
Late this afternoon the Town of Quartzsite issued a short Press Release stating DPS will be investigating the reason Chief of Police Jeff Gilbert and Sgt. Fabiola Garcia were placed on Administrative Leave last week.
"Today the Town of Quartzsite has given the evidence to DPS in the matter of the investigation into Sgt. Garcia and Police Chief Jeff Gilbert. DPS will be investigating this matter rather than another law enforcement agency as suggested in the August 27, 2012 Council Meeting."
