BELL GARDENS : Council to Hire City Ombudsman
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The City Council has unanimously approved hiring an ombudsman to look into citizen complaints about city employees.
A panel of Bell Gardens residents was appointed last week to choose an impartial mediator, who will determine whether residents are being treated fairly on legal issues, on interpretations of building and housing codes, and other ordinances.
“I’ve seen too many people shake their heads when they walk out of City Hall,” said Councilman George T. Deitch. He suggested that an ombudsman could help people who “need a second opinion on a city matter to figure out if (they were) right or if the city was right.”
Councilwoman Rosa Hernandez said she hoped that the ombudsman will “alleviate some of the tension that we are going through.”
Hernandez was referring to recent fighting among City Council members.
The panel will include Marie Chacon and Victor Vaillette, community activists who have been critical of the current city Administration.
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