Taxpayer-funded party will be thrown today

Eron Ben-Yehuda

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The city is throwing its taxpayer-funded party for

city employees today despite protests from some residents about the event

wasting money.

At least city workers won’t spoil the fun, as they had threatened to do,

by picketing the party over a labor dispute.

Union leaders reached a tentative agreement with management earlier this

week, said Tom Hasty, president of the municipal employees association.

“There will be no picketing,” he said.

At a cost of more than $20,000, the party, starting at noon and lasting

until 4 p.m., will be held in a room in the vacant Broadway building at

the Huntington Beach Mall. Employees will attend the party in one-hour

shifts, Deputy City Administrator Rich Barnard said.

Although the city employs about 1,300 full and part-time workers,

officials don’t believe the controversies surrounding the party, meant to

boost morale, caused the expected attendance to drop by half.

City Councilman Ralph Bauer, who had proposed canceling the party because

of the “uncontrollable” cost, said he hopes the city has learned a

valuable lesson.

“You ought not to play so fast and loose with taxpayers’ money,” he said.

Some residents want to drive that lesson home.

Resident Topper Horach demanded at the City Council meeting Monday a

“full accounting” of the party’s expenses, including the amount of time

spent by employees traveling to and from the celebration.

Question:

PARTY ON?

Do you think the City Council should give a public accounting of its

party expenses?

Leave us your thoughts on our Readers Hotline at 965-7175, fax us at

965-7174 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Please include your name and

city where you live.