Monterey Park’s City Manager Appeals Firing

Monterey Park City Manager Mark Lewis on Friday appealed the City Council’s decision to fire him, contending that the council did not state specific reasons or follow proper procedures.

Lewis, who was fired Monday by a 3-2 council vote, has been blamed for low employee morale and a rash of resignations of department heads. But he maintains that the council never gave him a chance to respond to allegations when it voted to remove him in a closed-door session. Instead, he said, he believes some council members opposed him because he supports affirmative action.

The council suspended Lewis for 30 days, in effect giving him notice before his firing becomes final. The City Council is required to respond to his appeal by holding a public hearing.