George Watts has been appointed acting city manager until the City Council names someone to replace Lyle Alberg who recently resigned. Watts, the city's assistant city manager, has served as acting city manager before. This time he has applied for the position.
George Watts has been named city manager of Arcadia. Watts discusses areas of concern: finances, redevelopment, senior housing. Biographical notes included.
George Fasching, owner of Fasching's Car Wash who joined the City Council two years ago, was chosen as the city's mayor on Tuesday, replacing four-time mayor, Charles Gilb.
Mayor Roger Chandler lost his bid for re-election as challengers George Fasching and Joseph Ciraulo and incumbent Robert Harbicht were elected to the Arcadia City Council. Fasching led with 27.2% of the vote, followed by Ciraulo with 22.1% and Harbicht with 19.8%.
Former candidate, Vince Foley has filed a complaint with the State's Fair Political Practices Commission regarding alleged under-reporting of campaign contributions by George Fasching and Dennis Lojeski.
The seven candidates who vie for two open City Council seats represent two rival political factions which stem from one political event four years ago; the firing of City Manager George Watts in May 1992.
Incumbents Sheng Chang and Barbara Kuhn failed in their bids for re-election to City Council as voters gave first-time candidate Gail Marshall, former Mayor Roger Chandler and council appointee Gary Kovacic the nod for the next four years. Gino Roncilli came in well ahead of former Mayor George Fasching for the two year seat. Voters also gave thumbs down to Measure A, a ballot initiative that would have added 2 percent to the current 5 percent utility tax for the next four years.
Peter Kinnahan, former redevelopment project manager for the City of Carson, has been appointed assistant city manager for economic development in Arcadia by City Manager George Watts. Kinnahan succeeds Jay Corey.
Geri Fasching (wife of former councilman George Fasching), S. H. Wen (past president of the Arcadia Chinese Association) and 2 other residents filed a lawsuit contesting the election of Sheng Chang, alleging his campaign workers paid for votes and knowingly registered people who could not legally cast a ballot.
Incumbent councilwoman Mary Young is scheduled to take the gavel as the new Mayor of Arcadia. In the election, about 22% of the city's 25,000 registered voters participated. Here are the final results: George Fasching, 27.2%, 3996, Roger Chandler, 14.7%, 2162, Joseph Ciraulo, 22.1%, 3242, Charles Chivetta, 9.4% 1368, Robert Harbicht, 19.8%, 2907, Eileen Stephan, 6.9% 1014
Arcadia's proposed city budget will be about $24.4 million, up 8.9% from the $22.4 million 1985-86 budget, according to a report from City Manager George Watts.
The Arcadia City Council will receive a recommendation from City Manager George Watts to require an independent audit of Best Disposal's books to justify a proposed rate increase for rubbish collection services. Best is seeking the increase of offset a 100% increase charged them by landfill owners.
Arcadia may follow the lead of Pasadena, Los Angeles and other communities by considering the possibility of adopting a no-smoking ordinance. According to City Manager George Watts, the council has not decided on any specific rules and probably will not receive a study report from staff until mid-November.
Don Fickas, president of the Arcadia Board of Education, in a brief statement Monday night blasted the majority of teachers who had boycotted the high school open house the previous week.
George Watts discusses the state of the city financially, suggesting the city may have problems in two or three years. His suggested solutions include improving efficiency, increasing revenues and cutting services and programs.
City of Arcadia has budgeted $55,000 for a downtown revitalization study, City Manager George Watts told members of the Arcadia Business Association at their monthly dinner meeting. See hard copy in Box 51.