Paso Robles City Council meets in private to discuss legal threats, conspiracy claims
During a closed session meeting Tuesday, the Paso Robles City Council addressed concerns related to ongoing allegations of a conspiracy to oust the city manager and several threats of litigation.
And after two hours of backdoor deliberations, the conversation is still to be continued.
The meeting is the latest in a long saga kicked off by a $2.275 million government claim filed by Paso Robles city manager Ty Lewis in August, in which he alleged that Councilmember Chris Bausch spread rumors and harassed Lewis to the point that he suffered medical issues. Lewis also claimed that Bausch and a slew of community members conspired to drive him out of his post as the city’s top administrator.
The news of Lewis’ claim resulted in a subsequent government claim filed against the city by unsuccessful City Council candidate Linda George — one of several accused by Lewis of conspiring to oust him — who claimed that a “cabal” of city officials, local journalists and community members conspired to tank her election campaign.
During Tuesday’s special council meeting, councilmembers and legal counsel discussed two cases of anticipated litigation — one claim form and one threat of litigation from The Tribune related to the California Public Records Act, city attorney Elizabeth Hull said at the start of the meeting.
It was unclear if the agendized claim was Lewis’, George’s or neither.
And after around two hours of closed-door discussion, the conversation is not yet over, Hull said. The council will reconvene in a last-minute special meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m. to continue the discussion. The council also created a subcommittee to handle the agenda item related to The Tribune.
Hull did not report on the item related to the claim form. One item related to the city potentially initiating litigation was also on the agenda, but was not discussed Tuesday, Hull added.
Tuesday’s public comments revealed frustration with the city.
George called in virtually to urge the city to fire Lewis. She alleged that city officials participated in “cronyism” by not getting rid of the city manager.
“I say to you and Mr. Lewis: You resign? I’ll drop my claim against the city,” George said. “Mr. Hamon, if you fire him, I will drop my claim against the city.”
Clive Pinder, a writer who has documented the ongoing saga in a satirical column for the Paso Robles Daily News, addressed the council, urging city officials to be transparent. Pinder was named in George’s claim as a member of the “cabal.”
“(Democracy) dies in backroom deals that are done by lawyers paid for by taxpayers, in off-the-record negotiations with faceless insurance companies, in closed-session deliberations by democratically elected representatives of the people,” Pinder said.
He also directed several questions at Bausch.
“Why are you refusing to disclose recordings, texts and call details from your personal phone as required under California law? Will you now commit to fulfilling these pending requests? If yes, when? If not, why not?” Pinder asked.
Bausch did not respond.
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