This is like Christmas Eve the night before the general election, when the residents of Upland are handed a gift wrapped Grand Jury Investigation Report that is so shocking, it’s sure to be the death blow in Debbie Stone’s political career! Inside this edition of The Upland Report, you can read the Grand Jury Report and wave goodbye to Mayor Debbie Stone!
EVERYBODY WAVE BYE TO DEBBIE STONE!
After Tuesday, Her Belongings Should Be Boxed Up & Removed From The Mayor’s Office As Uplandlers Are About To Show Debbie, She’s Anything But Irreplaceable!
The latest Grand Jury Report regarding how Debbie runs the city, is an outrage and an utter embarrassment, again. But for this to drop the night before the her re-election bid, is priceless! There should be not a doubt in anyone’s mind, who has not cast a vote to replace this woman yet, so run screaming to the polls on Tuesday and rid the city of the albatross that is Debbie Stone, once and for all. Be sure to prevent her crony Gino Filippi from getting back on the dais as well!
The 84 page report is below and it’s beyond damning. Don’t let the size of the report deter you from reading it, as everything you need to know is on the first 18 pages, with the remainder being mostly exhibits. The Grand Jury’s Report should make everyone realize that City Manager Rosemary Hoerning is as culpable as Mayor Debbie Stone! The entire Grand Jury Investigation revolves around their gross misconduct and treatment of Former Upland Treasurer Larry Kinley. You may recall Kinley resigned in protest in August of this year and his scathing resignation letter is below.
In essence, the Grand Jury just confirmed everything Larry stated above, is 100% TRUE! They breakdown all of the countless reasons why and write a list of actions and recommendations the city must do to be transparent and accountable to its citizens. And while, “The Civil Grand Jury found that most actions mentioned in this report may not violate the law. The Civil Grand Jury does, however, view these practices as deceptive. These actions also demonstrate a lack of proper government practices and transparency to the citizens of Upland. The Discussion section in this report describes in detail the City of Upland’s actions and decisions that represent a lack of transparency to its citizens. The Civil Grand Jury Report includes recommendations to improve Upland’s understanding of its responsibilities to the Upland citizens.”
Debbie Stone has been on city council for 11 years, if she hasn’t learned how to be transparent and accountable to her constituents in 11 years, her time is up on Tuesday!
The crux of the grand jury’s report is, “Several issues arose that the elected Treasurer of the City of Upland is not being allowed to perform many of his duties by the City of Upland.”
“The evidence showed that taking action to limit the City Treasurer’s scope of authority from the outset of his tenure was motivated by the City management’s desire to suppress the City Treasurer’s pre-election and post-election oral and written communications concerning the City’s Unfunded Pension Liabilities, because it would result in the public asking too many questions of management personnel and elected City officials.”
“Altered Treasury Reports were then filed with the City Clerk on no fewer than five (5) occasions between January 2019 and June 2019, and were included in the Council’s monthly Consent Agenda. (Exhibit 4).”
“In place of the City Treasurer’s signature, both management personnel and senior management personnel would sign the report, effectively making the Treasury Report no longer the City Treasurer’s Report. This is contrary to the City’s Statement of Investment Policy (Exhibit 2). In November of 2019, members of the management personnel did, in fact, remove the City Treasurer’s signature block entirely from the Treasury Report, and replaced it with their own signatures.”
“Evidence also showed that the City Treasurer appointed a Deputy City Treasurer, in keeping with the City Treasurer’s statutory authority. The City Treasurer’s appointment was denied by the City’s management personnel. The evidence revealed that management personnel acted unilaterally in denying the appointment.”
“Even before the City Treasurer was sworn into office in December 2016, the evidence revealed that management personnel, motivated by a desire to suppress the City Treasurer’s messaging concerning the City’s Unfunded Pension Liabilities, limited the input of the City Treasurer by dissolving the Finance Committee.”
THE GRAND JURY RECOMMENDATIONS:
“The Upland City Council investigate and make public, at an open public City Council meeting and on the Upland City webpage, how City staff covered up the notation of Unfunded Pension Liability made by the City Treasurer on the monthly Treasury Report. To be implemented no later than the end of March 2021.”
“The Upland City Council investigate and make public, at an open public City Council meeting and on the Upland City webpage, what disciplinary action was taken addressing the alteration of the Treasury Report after it was signed by the City Treasurer. To be implemented no later than the end of March 2021.”
“The Upland City Council make public, at an open public City Council meeting and on the Upland City webpage, the actions taken to assure that this type of incident, the altering of a signed report will not recur. To be implemented no later than the end of March 2021.”
“Any changes made to the City Treasury Report, after the document is signed by the City Treasurer and submitted to the City Clerk, must be documented in writing with the City Treasurer, the City Manager, and the Mayor. To be implemented immediately.”
“Reinstate the signature block for the City Treasurer. To be implemented no later than the end of March 2021.”
“Once a month at a City Council Meeting, the City Treasurer presents the submitted Treasury Report and the submitted financial status including, but not limited to, those responsibilities as outlined by CA Government Code Title 4, Chapter 3, Section 41004 (Exhibit 1) and CA Government Code Title 5, Division 2 53646 (Exhibit 7). To be implemented no later than the end of March 2021.”
“The roles of the City Treasurer must be clearly outlined in accordance with CA Government Code Title 4, Chapter 3, Sections 41001- 41007 (Exhibit 1) and CA Government Code Title 5, Division 2 53646 (Exhibit 7), and posted to the City’s website for full transparency. To be implemented no later than the end of March 2021.”
“Establish a structured orientation process for an elected City Treasurer that defines his duties, responsibilities, authority, and the expected interactions as a member of the City of Upland management personnel. Include in the orientation process references to CA Government Code Title 4, Chapter 3, Sections 41001- 41007 (Exhibit 1) that support the functions and responsibilities of a City Treasurer of a General Law City. To be implemented immediately.”
“In the best interests of the citizens of Upland, management personnel, both elected and appointed, reinstate all fiduciary duties to the elected City Treasurer, as outlined in CA Government Code Title 4, Chapter 3, Sections 41001-41005 (Exhibit 1). To be implemented immediately.”
“The City establish guidelines and practices which support the appointment of a Deputy City Treasurer by the City Treasurer, should the City Treasurer so desire, for the pro fulfillment of the City Treasurer’s financial duties and responsibilities. To be implemented no later than the end of March 2021.”
“The City establish guidelines/practices and training for management personnel at the City of Upland and elected City Council members of the amount of and a full understanding of the Unfunded Pension Liabilities facing the City. To be implemented no later than the end of June, 2021.”
“The City establish guidelines/practices and training which support the understanding by management personnel at the City of Upland and elected City Council members of their roles and responsibilities on the Finance/Investment Committees. To be implemented no later than the end of March 2021.”
“Document the defined roles, responsibilities and voting authority of all members of the Finance Committee. To be implemented no later than the end of March 2021.”
“Annually, City of Upland officials, elected and financial management employees, attend an in-house seminar that reviews in detail the financial reporting process for a General Law City and the City of Upland Statement of Investment Policy (Exhibit 2). To be implemented no later than the end of June 2021.”
“Make available all of the Finance Committee meeting minutes and Investment Report Summaries for the past 3 years to present, on the City website for public access. To implemented no later than the end of March 2021.”
“The City of Upland publish a comprehensive quarterly report on the City website that lists current pension costs, plus a ten-year pension cost projection. This report, in addition to the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, should include the most current Unfunded Pension Liability information, including the City’s comprehensive plan addressing the escalation of the Unfunded Pension Liability. To be implemented no later than the end of March 2021.”
Below, please find the entire unedited Grand Jury Report.
Now, be sure to VOTE Tuesday and replace Debbie Stone with a Mayor that will enact the Grand Jury’s Recommendations immediately. Be sure to VOTE for a City Treasurer Candidate, like Greg Bradley, who will continue the legacy of Larry Kinley! Be sure to read our 2020 Meet The Candidates Report, to learn everything you can about the 13 people running for Upland Public Offices and finally, VOTE NO ON MEASURE Q!
Check back on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, to see all of the incredible changes you made at the ballot box, because you’re so damn well informed. Thank you everyone from the bottom of my heart for caring enough to read these reports. I am so proud of you and this town my heart hurts. I can’t wait to write about what you do Tuesday because Uplanders are simply the best residents the world has to offer.
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The Upland Report 