The Oakley City Council is moving the City of Oakley to the days of yore, with Councilmembers Shaw and Williams leading the charge. During the council meeting of February 13, 2024, the two relished the opportunity to discuss the censure of council members and that council members should not talk of a development item coming before the council until three days before the item is decided.
The delayed announcement (secrecy) was the “old council” way. With the blessing of council members, Bryan Montgomery would keep a project, such as a fast-food joint, secret from the community. Then, the item would appear on the agenda three days before approval. The community would say they did not want it, but the council would approve it anyway. The answer for why they did so was, “we had no choice.”
With the blessing of Councilmember Williams, Councilmember Shaw said we must not speak of a new development project until three days before it goes to the council so “the developer gets a chance to talk.” It is prejudicial towards a developer to speak beforehand because the council member speaking of the project might sway the community against a development. If the council member does speak of a pending project before the three-day limit, the council member must be censured by the council.
Those who know me understand I will probably be censured many times by the council.
Maybe even set a new record for the number of times the censure of a local elected official occurred in the State of California. When I was elected to the council four years ago, I promised to inform the community of the City’s business. Councilmembers Williams and Shaw’s threats and acts of intimidation do not muster with me. I will notify the community of council business to the best of my abilities.
There is a special council meeting this Saturday, February 24, at 9:00 a.m. at City Hall to discuss the governance of the City. I am sure the discussion of the above will take place. Also, Councilmember Henderson has called for a council social media policy to silence councilmembers’ postings on social media platforms.
Unfortunately, the video of the meeting on February 13 is not yet available. I will post it when it appears on the City website.
George Fuller, Ed.D. - Aka - Dr. OG
City Councilmember, City of Oakley, CA
