08/06/1975 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - August 6, 1975 Following is a verbatim dialogue which transpired during the Council meeting and which Mayor Grabowski requested be inserted in the Minutes: Councilwoman: Mayor Grabowski: Tonight, in the Palo Alto Times, there was an Miller article which stated "Grabowski Pressured To Give Testimony." I read the article and I was really quite disturbed. I spoke to Mr. Gillio before the meeting. Apparently you did not appear before the Human Relations Commission studying the Santa Clara County Housing Patterns studying laws and the racial integration of schools. The thing that disturbs me very much is your reason for not appearing, because I think it's a sham; and secondarily, if the Mayor of this Town cannot possibly appear before a group like this and defend our zoning, then who can? And I feel that a very good position could be made in defending our zoning. And I feel that if you don't want to do it, if you want to cop out, then let somebody else go before this group. But to state that there might be possible litigation - that's a very bad out; and what you do is place this Town in jeopardy. Now, I don't care how you feel; don't put the whole Town in jeopardy, which is exactly what you have done. And you have fallen right into the trap by not appearing. And it wouldn't cause you any hardship to go before this group and tell them why our zoning is a good thing and why we can defend it. And, when I see an article like this, I know we are going to be subject to another lawsuit. And I'm really very, very disturbed about something like this. Now, you can answer... I've talked with the City Attorney. I was disturbed by the article and what they said Mr. Gillio said, which Mr. Gillio said he did not say. And so I know about the Times; I know how they report things, and it's not always very correct. But the fact is that you did not appear before a group that you should have, and you should have strongly defended the Town's zoning. Mayor: Am I quoted in this article? C. Miller: No. Mayor: I've talked to no reporter reqarding the situation. C. Miller: Apparently you wrote a letter. Mayor: I talked to no reporter. C. Miller: I don't care whether you did. Mayor: Mr. Helgesson? C. Helgesson: As one member of the Council, I don't share the views of Mrs. Miller. The Council instructed you not to give any testimony.... C. Miller: I didn't. C. Helgesson: ..with regard... Well, Council did have a Resolution, or did have instructions from our Attorney on a lawsuit not to discuss any phases of our zoning outside of the Council Chambers. -7-