Mayoral appointment delayed, tensions rise at Beaumont council meeting

For what could be a first in the citys history, the decision to appoint a mayor for Beaumont was postponed at the first meeting of the year Tuesday until Jan. 20.

Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Fox motioned to delay the appointment without an explanation during the city council meeting. The council unanimously voted to appoint the mayor at the next meeting.

During a short break, Fox explained why he made the decision, saying the atmosphere wasnt right and there was no rush to appoint a mayor.

Fox was referring to tense interactions between audience members, the council and Mayor Brenda Knight during an action item on a Clean Water State Revolving Fund reimbursement. The item was regarding low-income areas that would be changed from septic to sewer systems. Discussions became heated when Councilman Lloyd White questioned Knight about why she received a letter in December from an organization, called California River Watch, and the council only learned of the letter just before Tuesday nights meeting.

City Attorney David Wysocki said that nothing was being withheld from the council members. He said he was investigating allegations contained in the letter and that the issue would be brought to the council in closed session on Jan. 20.

White asked Knight if she had received the letter and she said yes. White asked to go into closed session to discuss the issue but Wysocki said that would not be necessary because the letter was not an agenda item.

Knight said she was more comfortable following the advice of the city attorney.

Management analyst Kelsey Gormley gave a staff report on the fund that would allow the city to change an area of Sixth Street, between Xenia and Palm Avenues, from septic to sewer system.

Families living in three trailer parks and in 11 single-family residences considered low-income housing on Maple Avenue are affected, said Gormley.

Councilmember Mark Orozco said he had done his research on this subject and had been following it for several years. He asked when the application for the grant had been submitted.

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Mayoral appointment delayed, tensions rise at Beaumont council meeting