Development, though cannot take place in ANY town without a City Council, or Town Council as the case may be, working together for the common good of it’s beloved city. Not only does nothing get done when city officials are bickering, but you won’t find any major companies willing to come to a town when there is discontent at the highest levels of city government.

So when I read, “City Council tensions erupt into open” on the front page of our local newspaper this morning I could only shake my head in bewilderment at how stupid things can get at City Hall sometimes.

The following e-mail was sent from one Council Member to our mayor. Now before you get your panties in a wad, I am taking no sides in whatever dispute these two elected members of our community are having. In fact, to be honest, I am not sure what the dispute is all about.

But I am sure of one thing, the message in the email below is unbecoming of an elected official and, in my view, may be reason to have him removed from office. I’ll have more comments on this after you read the e-mail. Oh, by the way, the text highlighted in red was my doing.

David Pittman’s e-mail to Steve Jernigan read at city council meeting

Oroville Mercury-Register Posted: 02/03/2010 10:33:19 PM PST

 Subject: Performance- CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICAITON

From:  pittmandw at cityoforoville.org

Date: Sun, January 31, 2010 9:16 am

To:  jernigansd at cityoforoville.org

THIS IS A CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION FOR THE ONLY USE OF THE PERSON ADDRESSED TO.

Mayor,

The phone call you made last Thursday evening to City Attorney Dwight Moore was a level of performance that violates the City Personnel Rules and Regulations Section 15.1 Unlawful Workplace Harassment paragraph 1. Verbal Harassment.

As this is a repeated behavior by you to City Staff I will be taking action. As this event involves the City Attorney and others in City Administration I will be asking the District Attorney Mike Ramsey to investigate your specific performance.

I do not take any pleasure in taking this action, but my Conscious will not allow me to disregard this performance.

I will be reading a letter at the end of the City Council meeting under Public comment non-agenda items. That letter will request an investigation be conducted by the District Attorney of your actions and performance.

Mayor there are two actions by you that I would re-consider making this issue public and asking the District Attorney to investigate.

One:  You would immediately announce either in person or by letter your resignation as City Council member and Mayor effective Tuesday at 7:00pm on February 2, 2010.

Or

Two:  You would support the extension of current City Administrator contract for one more year, under the conditions the City Council establishes a Personal Board/Review committee, City Treasurer is assigned as Negotiations representative and the Administrators contract salary would remain the same as last contract. You could finish your term as Mayor and It would be expected that you not repeat any other verbal harrassment phone calls.

Mayor these are your choices!

In addition if you choose resignation it certainly would be your choice to state the reason. As an example if you stated the needs of your family and new job are demanding and you do not have enough time to devote to the City. That would be a choice acceptable to the public.

Also I recall your previous comment to me that you would support another year of the City Administrators contract. I have an expectation that you will do just that.

You and I share a passion for this City and it prosperity! I hope you choose the second choice and complete your service to the City. As I believe many great developments are on the edge of providing new prosperity to Oroville’s citizens and our families.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I CONSIDER THIS A CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN YOU AND I AND I HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF SHARING WITH ANYONE.

David Pittman

Councilman Pittman could have saved a lot of time and keystrokes if he would have just reduced it down to the major points. Here is how he should have written it:

Dear Mr. Mayor:

I feel that you have broken the law in performance of your duties and my Conscious (sic) does not allow me to ignore your unlawful behavior. Because of this I am asking the county’s top law enforcement officer to investigate your actions.

However, if you resign, or agree to vote the way I tell you, I will forget your unlawful behavior ever happened.

I am sure we can come up with a good lie for you to use if you choose to resign.

By the way, please don’t tell anybody I threatened you this way. Let’s just keep this between you and me, OK?

Politics or Extortion? You make the call!!! Either way, it is ultimately not helpful to the Lake Oroville real estate market.