Town of Quartzsite's Public Defender not fired

Quartzsite, Arizona - According to a Press Release issued January 27th by Quartzsite Town Manager, Alex Taft, the town did not fire attorney Michael Frame as public defender, as previously reported online.  [Editor's note: this press release was not reported on by Desert Messenger earlier, due to time constraints and deadlines. I apologize for the lateness.] The following is the press release:  
TOWN OF QUARTZSITE

PRESS RELEASE
January 27, 2012

"The Town of Quartzsite has not “fired” Michael Frame as its public defender. Michael Frame was not a Town employee and had no long-term contract to serve as the Town’s public defender. Although the Town submitted a Request for Qualifications in the Spring of 2011, no one, including Michael Frame, submitted qualifications for consideration for a long-term contract with the Town.

Because Michael Frame’s contract with the Town had lapsed, the Town believed that it was in an implied month-to-month contract with Frame. When Frame increased his rates without giving a month’s notice to the Town, the Town realized that either its belief that it had a month-to-month agreement with Frame was erroneous or that Frame was intentionally breaching the month-to-month agreement by raising his rates without providing proper notice. In either event, the Town elected to follow the June 28, 2011 guidance from the Council and cease using Michael Frame as an exclusive public defender and to make appointments using the Superior Court’s appointment list while the town continued searching for a qualified public defender in search of a long-term agreement.

The decision by the Town Council to use the Superior Court’s rotation list was made by a unanimous vote of the Town Council, including then-mayor Ed Foster, and preceded the hiring of Martin Brannan as the Town Attorney and was not influenced by Brannan in any way. The decision to cease its perceived month-to-month contract, which was either perceived in error or breached by Michael Frame, was made solely by the Town Manager and was not influenced, in any way, by Brannan."

False reports of State of Emergency in Quartzsite!

Quartzsite Town Council met in an emergency meeting earlier today to handle the recent throngs of death threats made to council members and QPD officers. Mayor Ed Foster claimed to media around the state that the Council declared a State of Emergency and Martial law. According to AZ Central he is now back-peddling that claim.
According to many reliable sources, there is no State of Emergency in Quartzsite, Arizona!! There will be an announcement within 24 hours of the council's decisions.

Please stay calm everyone and get the facts straight before sending fear out into the public!!!

Quartzsite Budget Meeting

Quartzsite Town Council members discussed the proposed Budget for 2010-2011 during a Work Session on Friday, June 18, 2010. For the first time in many council sessions, the meeting was uneventful with no outbursts from the public.

There were questions raised about tracking RV sales tax license, how money was being used to offset water/sewer expenses. Barbara Cowell arrived late, and announced power had been out to 97 homes, but power has been been restored. Mayor Ed Foster asked for explanation of the codes used in the financial statements. Finance Director, Heidi Turner explained the process. Other questions raised were about the Gateway signage project grant matching funds and the Hi Jolly signage expenses. Vendor license fees were also questioned. Turner explained vendor license fees are still $50, but are only $25 for the Q.I.A Pow Wow.  Town Manager, Alex Taft, reported that attorney fees have doubled over the past year. She explained that the increase was not due to increase of their hourly rate, but the increase of hours used.

Quartzsite Police Chief Jeff Gilbert said he wanted to clear up some misunderstanding about the new police car, "It was not purchased for $50,000....A grant purchased the vehicle and equipment for (approx.) $39,000." Gilbert explained revenues for impounded vehicles declined over the past year, as changes were made by former Mayor Steve Bennett. He suggested the council revisit that policy. There is a new law that may require a 30 impound on some infractions, so revenues may increase. Questions were raised about overtime exceeding the budget by $7,000, however Council Member Jose Lizarraga said he is used to seeing much higher figures in his job of being a fire fighter.

Gilbert announced Officer Jim Shultz is back in town and expects to return to duty Mid July. Major James Schultz was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army on Nov. 9.  Schultz was serving a tour in the United States Army in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Space Operations Officer for the 3rd Army at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. LTC James "Jim" Schultz has been a police officer for the Quartzsite Police Department for the past 14 years.

Magistrate Terry Frausto reported only about 40% of the funds from citations are kept locally, with each infraction having a base line. She reported criminal charges and expenses have increased by 50% over last year. She went on to say that officers spend more time processing criminal offenses than simple traffic citations. More time spent by officers, clerks, pretrial paperwork, etc.

Editor's note: I was personally glad to see the Quartzsite Town Council work as a team, and speaking with respect. However, Mayor Foster did not follow the agenda: there was no Roll Call nor Reports & Announcements. The Communications/Petitions & Citizens Comments were not officially called for either. Town Attorney, Pam Walsma is on vacation and attorney Stephen Shadle was present, but was not introduced to the public.

I urge all attendees to turn off their cell phones during all public meetings, as Mayor Foster's phone rang at least twice, disrupting the speakers. As one blogger states, Cell phones users need their own rules of etiquette, or we'll descend into social barbarism. For more information visit:  http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-cell-phone-etiquette.htm