Impeccable timing. As the US Senate debates National Health Care the Mission Viejo city council will be addressing this very same topic on Monday evening.
One minor difference. Councilman Lance MacLean, who has accepted access to a Mission Viejo taxpayer funded lifetime health care benefit, has just offered to remove himself from access to that perk. However, we all know that once you rescind a benefit, and should Lance survive the February 2nd recall election, he can always have his controlling council majority have it reinstated. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
For those not familiar with this local policy issue let me provide some background data. One of the charges in the recall petition relates to this very costly topic.
In June 1998 Mission Viejo voters approved limiting our council to three consecutive four years terms. Several years ago our city council agreed to allow any member who serves for 12 consecutive years to have access to a lifetime health care benefit paid for by the taxpayers of Mission Viejo.
Fast forward to the May 19, 2008 council meeting where council member Frank Ury Agendized the following: “Elimination of Current and Future City Council Members from eligibility for Lifetime Medical Benefits.
The recommended action: “Approve an Amendment to the Council Policies to Eliminate Current and Future Council Members from Eligibility in the Mission Viejo Employee Retiree Medical Benefit Program.”
Jumping ahead to the Agenda heading which reads: “Bottom line: It is not right for the taxpayers of Mission Viejo to pay a lifetime of benefits to retired Council Members (and their spouses) for 12 years of part time work.”
The first line of the next to last paragraph of Frank’s recommended action reads:
“If this council each reaches the 12 years of service, and in round numbers each lives another 25 years or so, the savings going forward will be $10,800 x 25 years or $270,000.”
Although I spoke in favor of the recommended action I did question Frank Ury on the timing of Agendizing this item just prior to his November reelection.
If you watch the meeting video you will hear Frank state that “we do not need the taxpayers of Mission Viejo to pay our (health care) benefit after 12 years of service.”
He later says that “this is a benefit that is above and beyond what we should be entitled to serving as a part time council.”In his comments councilman Lance MacLean says that “I have to agree this is more politically motivated” adding “it’s difficult for me to watch the political play in action…it’s a game.” PS: He was right. This was politically motivated.
Lance later says “I don’t need those benefits because I am already covered.”
Later in the debate he says “I’m not going to take it” yet fights to retain it.
In council discussion of the ability to rescind their right to have the benefit our city attorney responds “if someone wants to have a change of heart” we’ll deal with it (paraphrased).
Well folks. Here we are. But before we engage in this latest offer to save his seat let me take you to Agenda Item #25 of the council meeting of Nov 17, 2008.
November 17, 2008. This just happens to be the first meeting after his re-election, where Frank Ury makes a major U-turn and votes to reinstate the very benefits that he said were obscene. After making a valid conservative argument in May he now does a 180.
The council adopted Resolution 08-57 Amending a Personal Policy Regarding Retiree Health Benefits. The vote.
AYES. Kelley, Ury, MacLean
NOES. Ledesma
Absent. Reavis
Prior to their debate I spoke in opposition to that reversal urging a no vote as well as my pointing out that there was zero heath care benefit cost data in the back-up package. After my Public Comments member Ledesma questioned our assistant City Manager on said cost.
Irwin Bornstein confirmed the future benefit total payout cost, after 12 years of consecutive part time service, on average could be $257,000 per member.
Note: Irwin did point out that as of Jan 1 2007 we changed from a Defined Benefit plan to a Defined Contribution Plan for all new participants.
Folks. At the very next council meeting, as a reward for his vote, the council majority bypassed mayor pro-tem John Paul Ledesma and selected Frank Ury as mayor for 2009.
Why doesn’t someone challenge Lance MacLean?
He is a broken record stating that “you have to win three terms and that is difficult to do.” According to my (prior) research 90 percent of incumbents running for re-election prevail over challengers. Where is he getting data to back up that lame rebuttal.
So let us wait as Lance goes into panic mode by his latest proposal to save his council seat by offering to relinquish his access to the lifetime health care which he feels is an entitlement.
In his March 2009 interview OC Weekly reporter Spencer Kornhaber writes.
“In council meetings, MacLean, Ury and Kelley never endorsed the idea that part-time council members deserved medical benefits. After dealing with the recall, though, MacLean changed his mind.
Spencer than quotes Lance as follows: “look at all the stress that I have. Go out there and Google how many council members across the United States have been gunned down and killed. You’d be surprised,” he says.The story continues which Lance saying: “I’ve been elected to work for the City of Mission Viejo. I think my health should be taken care of. If I were to get murdered in a council meeting by one of these knuckleheads, you know how much life insurance “I’ve got through the City? Goose egg. None.”
Lance. This issue relates to health care not your life insurance or police protection.
MacLean’s days on the council are numbered. He can do anything he wants during his final days — renounce benefits, give his council pay to starving children in China, reduce his carbon footprint, etc.
His last-ditch efforts are transparent after years of arrogance, violence and self-enrichment. Dump him already.
Observer.
Not to hog the Juice blog but I have just completed researching and drafting another glass shattering post about Mr. MacLean. He really should move out of his glass house. Readers will simply have to wait as it covers another topic.
I think MacLean will be recalled. I didn’t know that council members could do things like give themselves medical benefits and double their pay without a vote of the people.
I hope politicians see what is happening to MacLean and clean up their act.
Kevin.
Let me explain how the Mission Viejo council majority were able to double their monthly stipend with a simple majority vote.
Mission Viejo became an Orange County city on March 31,1988.
Since that time every prior city council recognized that this is a “part time” job and had no desire to increase that stipend. They all had virtually the same duties and responsibilites, and attended many of the same meetings, as our currently serving members. Sadly some saw an opportunity to grab taxpayer funds claiming that they were putting in a lot of hours. Every single one of them is told in advance what the job pays and, now that they have been elected, they want to reward themselves.
There is also a trigger tied to population.
While some were only serving four to eight years, they were able to compensate themselves by back dating this increase for the 20 years of our cityhood at 5% per year. One problem. None of them have been in office that long.
Trish and Lance were only elected in 2002 and Frank Ury in 2004 yet they didn’t loose any sleep as they took compensation credits which preceded their being elected dating all the way back to 1988.
Nice huh. Conservative Republicans? Yeh sure. That’s what they claim in their their campaign literature but don’t believe it. Their actions in this single act speak volumns.
I know several Democrats in Mission Viejo who would put these alleged conservative Republicans to shame.
Healthcare debate in MV — that’s a good one. Are residents getting a 60-day reprieve from the slow drip of a $257,000 transfer of taxpayer dough into MacLean’s bank account if he sticks around for another term? I don’t think what he is proposing is legal, and it’s for sure not binding. Instead of spending money on the city attorney to look it up, just wait for 60 days when MacLean is kicked off the gravy train. Problem solved.
Mountains out of molehills, Larry? The only one who in entitled to this benefit is Bill Craycraft. It’s a non-issue. Another one of your smoke and mirror games like those “interviews.” Are you not worried about final judgement day, Larry? It’s coming you know.
Dan Avery returns.
And he is almost on his best behavior.
Smoke and mirrors. $270,000 per council member is smoke and mirrors when we currently have three members each of whom will qualify if they get re-elected to one more term?
My interviews were smoke and mirrors. Dan. Did you hear my prior warning. If you can’t stay on topic I will be obligated to hit the delete key on your comment. Readers want to learn of Monday’s council vote, not my prior candidate interviews on this thread. Get it. Comprehend? Or get lost.
Frank Ury makes a loud and valid argument to eliminate the waste of taxpayer funds of lifetime health care for a part time position and does an about face the very first meeting after his reelection. And one or two meetings later those who would benefit from the reinstated lifetime health care appoint him mayor ahead of vice mayor John Paul Ledesma.
And Dan Avery can’t sell a rotten fish at the local fish market?
You can never know what kind of well informed readers we attract on this popular web site.
Uh-oh. A graduate of the Lance MacLean School of Anger Management is back after busting out of cyberjail.
Lifetime healthcare for part-time service is unheard of in the real world, and the folks from the real world are the ones pushing the reject button in the recall.
Lance’s phone survey probably found that voters would throw him out for his self-enrichment so he’s trying to undo it. But how will he undo his acts of violence, including those he tried to cover up?
I did hear about the vote-trading among the majority members, MacLean, Ury and Kelley. I didn’t know what Ury was getting in return, but Larry’s explanation sounds right on the money.
Only a few chards remain of Lance’s glass house. If Mad Dan is a MacLean apologist, why did he sign Dave Leckness’s ballot statement? This is way more entertaining than a circus.
I’d like to recall everyone on the Mission Viejo council who voted themselves lifetime medical benefits. I regret that we have but one recall on this ballot.
Well you glossed over the fact that only Bill Craycraft qualifies, Larry. Nice how you ignore those troublesome fact. According to the piece Elizabeth Mimms sent out this special election to get rid of Lance is costing us Mission Viejo taxpayers $275,000, and Lance was up for re-election in November. You’re so impatient to get rid of Lance you don’t mind spending that change, Larry. Something about your entire argument doesn’t make sense. You’re upset about medical benefits no one will get, but you don’t mind spending $275,000 to get rid of someone eight months before they’d lose anyway? I don’t know how you define democracy Larry, but the other 95% are content to let people serve out their terms. Lance did win you know. That’s the real issue. Why are you and Dale undercutting our system of elected representatives, while yelling about nonsense issues, talking about “second revolutions,” and talking about “taking people out?” It’s a serious question, Larry. People are reading this who want to know.
Mad Dan should send his questions to Mad Lance. If there’s no potential liability to taxpayers from Lance and two other council members giving themselves lifetime benefits, why is Lance making a big production of rescinding a no-big-deal perk?
IMO, the perk is a reason Lance is hanging around, and his prospect of $270,000 is a big deal to a man who has been unemployed. Why don’t the three guilty parties (MacLean, Ury and Kelley) un-perk themselves by voting the perk off the books at the next council meeting?
Recalling Lance now ends the liability or potential liability. Dale Tyler says he’ll overturn the benefits when he’s elected. I’m voting for the recall and I’m voting for Dale Tyler. Lance has been in a NECK and NECK contest with Ury to be the biggest spender, and it’s time to CHOKE off the perks.
The item on the council agenda proves that Lance knows what he did was wrong. He is now pretending to give up his entitlement to the benefits (which, by the way, he could still collect if he weren’t recalled). He is going through the motions to call attention to himself as a publicity stunt. What he is really calling attention to is his guilt.
larry, how can they get comped for expenses in 1988 when they were not on the counsil. That is straight robbery!!! Why they are at it, why don’t they vote to give all MV residents lifetime medical benefits. Its our tax money anyways. Larry, maybe they should recall everyone and start fresh. Dan Avery can be mayor. j/k
Paulie.
You have to wonder how they sleep at night after doubling their comp.
Let me restate what happened.
Many of us worked together to get Trish, John Paul and Lance elected in 2002.
Some of us helped Frank Ury get elected in 2004. They will not deny that fact.
We also helped John Paul get elected in 1998.
As such none of them were in office in 1988 yet they increased their compensation based on 5% per year for the past 20 years. That is how they ended up with a 100% increase.
The council voted to increase their monthly stipend based on our being a city in 1988 long before they were elected.
Forget the dollar amount involved. For me this issue is about ethics.
Every city council candidate is told by the city clerk what the post pays. If you feel it requires too much of your time for that public service job than simply walk away.
If I am not mistaken council members may only take $1 per year in Villa Park.
Don’t you love Dan Avery–I guess he endorses Greed, Intimidation, and Violence—he must these are Lance MacLeans calling cards.
Honorable President Polk. Nice to hear from old Democrats.
Before responding I Googled you to check your background and realize that you were the first president to recognize limited public service and did not run for a second term. Now only if we could get members of Congresss to give up their career positions we might get some much needed new blood and fresh ideas into the beltway.
There may be two Dan’s adding comments to my posts. One is Dan Avery while the other calls himself or herself “Dan the Print Man”
At the end of the day I have no problem responding to each of their assertions.
Well I see Larry has revived his hotmail accounts to keep this thread alive. “perked off” and “recall lance” are either phony or two very cowardly people. At least Larry mans up and uses his real name. That takes courage. Especially with Larry’s views. Larry don’t you ever doubt your judgement? By your own account you backed Lance, Trish, Frank, and Gail, the latter who was perhaps the most corrupt politician to serve in MV. And now you can’t stand any of their decisions? What’s it like to be so wrong so consistently? I am genuinely curious.
Well folks. Dan Avery has returned.
And I thought this post was about lifetime health care for part time service.
Sorry Danno but you are once again off base with comments that are not related to this post. Keep it up and watch how quickly you disappear.
Just a quick note that I have deleted another comment from Dan Avery.
This thread, like every other Juice post, is to stimulate debate on the specific issue. While we encourage your inputs, please restrict your comments to the subject matter. Thank you!
Juice readers. Larry Gilbert does not have a hotmail account and never uses an alias
Anyone reading my posts, especially those related to our recall election, have seen that I have responded to every valid challenge. This post is not about my judgement.
That being said I will continue responding to comments that stay on the thread. Others will be ignored or if appropriate, deleted such as a recent comment by Mr. Avery in which he resorted to cursing me to make a statement.
Mr. Avery. Let me remind you that you are a guest on this site.
Hey! You deleted Dan Avery’s comment to MY post which has nothing to do with your Mission Viejo story! Why did you do that? Must have been a mistake. I’ll see if I can put it back……..
Brother Vern. Sorry if I deleted a Dan Avery comment on your post.
I thought they were each in response to my story of Mission Viejo health care.