Gold Bar councilwoman Lazella resigns
By Polly Keary, Editor
Gold Bar City Councilwoman Elizabeth LaZella has resigned after less than a year on the council, citing passive aggression on the part of other city officials and dissatisfaction with how the city conducts its business.
In spite of a city press release stating that LaZella, who was appointed to council in June of last year, was leaving due to a new career that requires specialized schooling that calls her away from evening council meetings; in an email Sunday she detailed some of her other reasons for leaving.
Chief among her dissatisfactions were financial matters, in which she claimed that the city could frequently have saved itself money.
The salaries of city employees is the city’s largest expense, she said, and opined that city employees were overpaid.
“City Hall should not be open more than three days a week and staffed three days a week,” she said.
She questioned the need for a fax line, education classes for city employees, the hours paid out for water pump checks, the cost of truck repairs and tires, office supply costs, and the process of paying for vouchers.
She also said that the city council signs off on vouchers without adequately establishing their necessity or looking for savings opportunities.
And, she said, she was discouraged from expressing her concerns.
“Ever wonder why so many places come vacant in the council and members resign? Passive-aggressive intimidation is the answer,” she wrote. ”I was asked not to speak up, not to make a fuss and to shut up more than once.”
She also suggested that the mayor valued keeping the peace above cutting wages and hours where needed.
“My suggestion, purge the city hall of the mayor and the council and the workers and start all over,” she wrote.
Mayor Joe Beavers said everyone at the city wishes LaZella well in her new career.
The city is now seeking a new volunteer to fill the remainder of the term in City Council Position 2, which ends this year. Already at least one candidate has stepped forward, said city councilwoman Davi Martin.
9 Responses to Gold Bar councilwoman Lazella resigns
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Recent Comments
- Leah Crowley on Freymuth completes basic training
- Bill Atkinson on Freymuth completes basic training
- Wayne Kubli on Walmart appeal gets April court date
- Tom Heffernan on Walmart hearing last week, decision could arrive soon
- MARK W. PURTHER on Walmart hearing last week, decision could arrive soon
Recent Posts
- Monroe City Council 5/28 meeting cancelled
- Monroe wins again on Walmart
- Zimmerman won’t run again; three city council members seeking reelection
- “A Bittersweet Victory”: Jayme Biendl’s family relieved by death sentence for her killer
- American Daredevil: Local stuntman Mr. Dizzy among three to be featured in new History Channel reality show
Chuck Lie
February 12, 2013 at 2:55 pm
The comments from former council member LaZella are significantly different from the comment from Mayor Beavers. Maybe it is time we all start to think about the other stories that Mayor Beavers has told the citizens and the press over the past several years.
Anne Block
February 12, 2013 at 4:32 pm
Ms. LaZella is not the first council member to be threatened by our Peyton Place officials in Gold Bar – just ask Chuck Lie and Robert Amenn.
The Gold Bar Reporters witnessed Ms. LaZella told to “shut up” by former council member Dorothy Croshaw and current council member Florence Davi Martin – both sellar members of our community.
Elizabeth Stowell-Lof
February 13, 2013 at 3:34 pm
And the comments posted above are examples of our “stellar” citizenry? Both of these people have done their best to cause disention and to disrupt the business of the city. Not good representation of the majority of the population, as shown by the last election when they were voted down in their attempts to take over the council.
Anne Block
February 13, 2013 at 4:57 pm
Elizabeth Stowell is wrong. I never ran for political office because I do not believe a person can be effective from the inside.
Seems to me that Elizabeth Stowell should run for office since she seems to be the cheerleader for Ms. Croshaw and her gang members.
Ms.Stowell please get your facts straight before writing.
chuck Lie
February 13, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Elizabeth, I actually won the election. Much the same as most people do, unopposed, yes but I did run and I did stay in office for two years. Joe verbally assualted me one evening after the rest of the council had left. In hind site I should have filed a police report against Joe. I stayed on for another year or more trying to be diplomatic with Joe. It is Joe that is the issue. Over the past 8 or 9 years I have watched the council. For the most part I was embarassed by what I saw and I ran thinking Joe wanted to change the paradigm. It was a real dissapointment to see Joe get swallowed by the paradigm. If you think you can do better, step forward.
Elizabeth Stowell-Lof
February 14, 2013 at 5:33 am
The other members of the coven that is out to destroy the city were those that lost in their attempts to achieve city office.
chuck lie
February 14, 2013 at 6:29 am
Elizabeth, thanks. Please step forward and show us how to run the city. Its your turn. Chuck
What's in a name
February 15, 2013 at 4:04 pm
Lie and Block.
Draw your own conclusions.
chuck lie
February 15, 2013 at 8:22 pm
@ whats in a name, take a look in the mirror and tell us who is the problem in Gold Bar. Your comment is nothing but childish. Thanks for your input.