The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 183

HUD Audit Raps Compton Real Estate Dea Edition Part VII THURSDAY, SEPTMEBER 23, 1976 mm The auditors' only recommendation, however, was that the CRA be more careful in the future. The purchase of that property has sparked a pair of lawsuits claiming the $700,000 sale price was too high. This audit, presented to the City Council this week, provides the first official input from federal authorities that the lawsuits may have some basis. The audit, prepared by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), also concluded: The CRA's real estate acquisitions were handled by an unqualified appraiser. Accounting records were not properly maintained.

The CRA's land inventory account was inaccurate. The City Council received and filed the audit without comment The audit covers the period from Oct. 1, 1972, through Sept. 30, 1975. While it was titled a "final audit," Roland Camfield, area director for "The qualifications furnished to us by the relocation supervisor indicated that he had no practical experience as a real estate appraiser." The report cited HUD guidelines requiring that appraisals of property being purchased by the CRA "be reviewed by a competent appraiser who shall set forth in a written report his review findings and explain the basis for his conclusion as to fair market value." Please Turn to Page 2, Col.

1 Hj ii. Hi HUD, noted in a cover letter that the report has not been subject "to full administrative review by this office." Only after that, he said, will the city be notified of "the administrative determinations on which you will be required to take action." The report noted that the CRA's real estate purchases were "handled by an unqualified review appraiser acting in a dual capacity as real estate negotiator," contrary to HUD regulations. Furthermore, the auditors noted, be approved that it's going to be approved regardless of what the effect is on the overall hillside development," Henderson remarked. "In effect, this council is selling out basically to a development in this case But Henderson's remarks were cut off as a visibly angered Sanborn exclaimed: "Now I really resent that! I really do resent that1" Although brief, the verbal volley was a distinct break from the normal decorum observed by councilmen. And both men quickly fell silent when Mayor Jack Mele rapped his gavel to call for the vote.

Councilmen voted 3-2 to delete supplemental material from the Environmental Resources Management Element (ERME) of the General Plan which had been the subject of a recent Superior Court case. Henderson and McDonald voted no. The supplements related to the num I -Y, 1 enjoying the attractions the first week Doniak, 6, riding merry-go-round. Later, Doreen and friend Tina Koch, 7, she visited the livestock area where farm animals are stabled. The Bellflower group's visit included viewing many of a vast variety of exhibits by county residents.

Times photos by Steve Rice IT'S COUNTY FAIR TIME The County Fair is under way again in Pomona, and between now and Oct. 3 when it closes, a million people are expected to attend. Story en Pag 3 Bellflower Seeks $1 Million Grant for Theater Project Sparks Fly in Hillside Policy Debate Townhouse Project Issue in Angry Whirrier Council Exchange BY TOM GORMAN Timet Staff Writer COMPTON Federal auditors have concluded that the city's Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) paid too much when it bought downtown commercial property last year for $700,000. It was the city's purchase of that property that led to the conviction of former councilmen Hillard Hamm and Russell Woolfolk on charges of extortion. After the David Haber and Associates report last September called for a $975,000 rehabilitation (including contingency and architects' fees), the Cultural Center Study Committee headed by William Bristol estimated that the figure could be cut nearly in half.

That estimate was predicated on a lot of donated engi neering and construction work. One piece of engineering Szabo would like to do is design of the orchestra pit, which he would locate under the stage for what he says would be maximum accoustical effect. According to the Haber study, the big expenditures needed include for architectural changes, $153,800 for electrical work, $226,000 for acoustical work and $50,000 for stage rigging-City needs are about twice the $1 million wanted for the big former theater. Other city needs include about to complete the city water grid system, another $250,000 for the Flora Vista storm drain program and money for on-of ramps for Downey and Clark Aves. at the Artesia Freeway.

In addition, the city may seek funding to complete the sidewalk system, including ramps for disabled persons, Alario reports. NOTES School to Christopher Columbus High School. Other units may make suggestions also during the Monday, Oct. 4, meeting of the Board of Education. City Orders Hold on Pay COMPTON The City Council instructed acting City Controller Rick Kermer this week not to pay Saul Lankster $1,745 in back pay despite an order by the city's Personnel Board that he be given the money.

Lankster, a police inspector, was forced by city officials to take a leave of absence without pay in June when he ran for Congress. Lankster took the matter to court, where he lost, and then to the Personnel Board, which decided that he should receive a month's back salary. City Atty. Clarence Blair has argued that, in view of the court's support of the city's position ordering the leave of absence, to give Lankster the money now would be a gift of public funds. Discussion on Police Pay DOWNEY Consideration of pay negotiations with the Police Department has been ordered for the City Council agenda Tuesday.

The council did not discuss the issue in detail during a study session this week, but indicated a desire to return to the issue at the Tuesday meeting. City Manager Charles Thompson has indicated that he is not likely to recommend changes from his last proposal for a 5.5 pay increase, plus time and a half for three additional holidays. That would make a total of 11 overtime holidays, if worked. The Downey Police Officers Assn. seeks what Thompson says would total 16 increases in two fiscal years.

Among small fry was Christine with her mother 4 Technicians Transferred in Wake of Metro Fatality BY TOM GORMAN Timet Staff Writer as Board to Replace Superintendent Before Election Montebello Trustees Change Position, Say Selection Can't Wait BY MARY BARBER Tlm Start Writer Montebello Unified School District Board of Education members who once fought a bitter battle over a superintendent's contract have changed their position. Now, they say, they will make the choice of a new superintendent prior to next spring's election, in advance of a possible change in board makeup. Board President Eleanor Chow and member Art Velarde strongly defended their current position, saying they are taking the advice of professional consultants who recommend choosing a new superintendent before next year. "Now is the time," both said. And besides, their situation is entirely different from that of almost two years ago when two lame duck board members, along with current member Herbert Stearns, extended the con tract of then Supt.

Warren Linville. That situation, volatile at the time and still fresh in the memories of the current board who unanimously deposed Linville last month, led to a supposition that Linville's replacement would be appointed after the election next March. Linville, removed from his top executive role, is now on leave and serves as a consultant for the district and maintains a contract that keeps him as nominal superintendent through June of 1977. It is presumed that a new superintendent will not officially take over until July 1, although board members admit to the possibility of overlapping terms. At its last meeting the board hired Conrad Briner of Claremont and Kenneth Peters of Beverly Hills as consultants who will carry MUSD through its national search for a new Please Turn to Page 4, Col.

1 Health Hazards Report Prompts School Boycott COMPTON Some 200 children have been kept from attending classes at Mayo Elementary School by their parents this week following a letter from the county listing a number of health and safety problems found at the school. School officials, however, claim the problems have been virtually eliminated, and say they hope the students will return to classes today. The boycott of classes, supported by parents of nearly a third of the school's 575 students, was apparently sparked by a Sept. 15 letter to Supt. Rodney Mahoney from the county's Department of Health Services.

The two-page letter, following an inspection of the school at 915 N. Mayo St, listed such problems as poor venti-lation, damaged floor tiles, a loose Please Turn to Page 4, Col. 1 BELLFLOWER This city would like to have $1 million in federal funds to bring the Mary Lewis Center on midtown Bellflower Blvd. up to a multi-use capacity. Application for the federal funds, approximately the amount recommended a year ago by a consultant for upgrading the 50-year-old theater building, is in preparation.

The City Council has yet to give final approval to the application but ordered it prepared. Approval seems likely because Monday the city legislators will consider authorizing bids for an estimated $11,000 plans and specifications for some electrical work for the theater. The city bought the theater in 1974 for $100,000 considered a bargain buy from the Circle Theater Trust The building was remodeled in 1948. After staff study, the city decided it needed a professional study of needs to give the building multi-use capability. Among uses expected are little theater, the Bell-flower Symphony conducted by musician and engineer Geza Szabo, plus community meeting rooms and recreational uses.

"We expect to get a lot of use for all age groups from the building because of its central location, said City Administrator Ed Alario. NEWS Worker Fatally Injured WHITTIER A 34-year-old city street maintenance worker was fatally injured Wednesday morning by the hose of a high-pressure sewer cleaner. Police said the hose struck Street Department employe Parley G. Bagley on the chest. The Whittier man was transported to Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital.

Commerce to Sell Camp COMMERCE The City Council voted this week to sell Camp Commerce, its four-acre site in Angeles National Forest. Last year it was discovered that the camp adjoins an earthquake fault that has been inactive for 170 years, but still prohibits public use of the land. Camp Commerce houses 40 people at a time and has been replaced by another site the city leases at Lake Arrowhead. Candidate Asks Recount COMPTON Unsuccessful City Council candidate Hulon Fite has asked for a recount of last week's election returns that placed him third, about 500 votes behind Jane D. Rob-bins in the 4th Councilmanic District race Fite will be required to place a $200 deposit with the city, which will be refunded to him if there is a change in the final count.

Both Robbins and Maxcy Filer, winner in the 1st District race, were seated Tuesday, putting the council at full strength for the first time since last June Name Change Requested DOWNEY Representatives of UNICO, a federation of Americans of Italian descent, this week asked the Board of Education to change the name of Central Continuation High ber of dwelling units permitted on hillside areas and with the proper absorption of runoff water from developments. Judge Harry Hupp had ruled that the supplements were inconsistent with the General Plan. Henderson and McDonald agreed with the move to delete the supplements which city officials still maintain had been incorporated in the ERME merely as examples, not specific guidelines. But at the same time, both councilmen called for more specific guidelines along the line of Brea's hillside ordinance. City officials say that there are sufficient regulations for hillside construction.

A planned unit development designation was adopted for hillside construction. Last year, Coast Construction's plans were vigorously opposed by homeowners groups. The principal objection was the amount of hillside grading required for development Please Turn to Page 6, Col. 4 State health authorities, who refused to identify the four technicians "for legal reasons," said the transfers were ordered "for their own good." "We're not assuming guilt on anyone's part. Absolutely not," said Bob Nance, spokesman for the State Department of Health.

"The transfers were a safeguard for the rights of those employes," he said. "If something happened to another patient and they were in the vicinity well, we want to separate them from the patients so they won't be the victims of coincidence." Friday's altercation occurred just hours before a state official visited the hospital to order the transfer of the four technicians on duty when Holcomb died. Please Turn to Page 2, Col. 1 Nelson is pressing for elimination of contingencies, substituting for them some guidelines that strike at the greatest threat the possible cutoff of student funding if the paper fails to meet student body officers' requirements. Or possibly even their wishes.

The student fund, made up of fees that come directly from students, allots $17,000 annually for the paper's publication. The contingencies were drawn up in 1968, a time of campus militancy and unrest that never hit Cerritos College very hard, as a kind of protection against takeover by any strong influence, be it students or trustees. They spell out some normal procedures, such as campus news having precedence over non-campus news and rules against censorship of student Please Turn to Page 2, Col. 3 BY KEITH TAKAHASHI Times Stan Writer WHITTIER An angry exchange of words between city councilmen ended the debate this week as to whether a hillside development ordinancepolicy should be adopted. The brief verbal encounter between Councilmen Blake Sanborn and Robert Henderson centered on the Coast Construction proposed construction of 220 townhouse units in North Friendly Hills.

Henderson accused other councilmen of having already decided to vote in favor of the development. Henderson was joined by Councilman Jere McDonald in urging the council to consider the drafting of more specific guidelines or policies for hillside development "I think it would probably be realistic to say that I think this council has already decided that Coast Development is important that it's going to El Rancho Strike Continues With No End in Sight BY KEITH TAKAHASHI Times Staff Writer PICO RIVERA Negotiations are at an impasse between striking teachers and representatives of the Rancho Unified School District in this second week of the new school year. Each side indicates that it is willing to resume talks. At this point, however, the agreement ends. The Certificated Employes Council (CEC) says it will meet with the El Rancho representattives only if all further negotiations are handled by a mediator.

CEC represents the El Rancho Education Assn. (EREA) and El Rancho Teachers (ERFT). On the other hand, El Rancho spokesmen say that state officials indicate that a mediator's services would be in line only when an election has been held to determine who will be the teachers' sole bargaining agent "The district's hands are really tied," an El Rancho spokesman said. In past years, negotiations for salaries, benefits and working conditions were under the aegis of the Winton Act But the state Legislature's adoption of the Rodda Act (which calls for election of a bargaining agent) invalidated the Wintor Act on June 31, The Rodda Act 1 came into force, but the state is still far behind in scheduling elections to determine who will be the teachers' bargaining agent under the new law. Robert Martinez, El Rancho's deputy superintendent, maintains that a master contract can only be signed by the sole bargaining agent.

The CEC's approval of a document specifying salaries, benefits and working conditions could not be held legal and binding on the as yet undesignated bargaining agent, he explained. EREA spokeswoman Mickie Deming (cq) said El Rancho trustees had earlier designated the CEC as the teachers groups' agent "Our position is that we can negotiate. They can give Please Turn to Page 2, Col. 1 NORWALK Two psychiatric technicians have been placed on "administrative leave" from Metropolitan State Hospital following a wrestling tussle Friday with one of the patients at the mental health facility. One of the two aides was also among four psychiatric technicians transferred to nonpatient activities following the death of a 19-year-old patient last June 21 The four were on duty that night when Mark Frank Holcomb was found dead in his dormitory bed, a victim of "aspiration or choking on his own vomit," according to the autopsy report A coroner's inquest jury decided last week, however, that the Garden Grove man met his death "at the hands of another other than by accident" TRUSTEES DELAY DECISION ON COLLEGE PAPER CURBS BY MARY BARBER Times Staff Writer Publication of the Cerritos College student newspaper is contingent upon a set of regulations that nobody entirely espouses and hardly anybody knows how to change.

Only a couple of people have come up with some solutions to what are known as contingencies, the controls set eight years ago to insure student management of the paper, Talon Marks. Cerritos College Board of Trustees, despite hearing lengthy discussion at its meeting this week and months of previous debate on the issue, postponed any decisions until after further study. The issue of contingencies affects a number of people, notably the editors who are somewhat constricted and the faculty adviser for Talon Marks, Thomas Nelson..