By Katrina Van Duzee/Garden Grove Journal
An agreement with Fountain Valley to let that city use Garden Grove’s city clerk’s services was approved by the Garden Grove City Council Tuesday night.
The council voted 4-0 at the city council meeting to allow City Clerk Kathy Bailor, to provide professional consulting services related to Fountain Valley’s city clerk function. Under this agreement Bailor will provide up to eight hours of consulting to Fountain Valley each week, but will remain a Garden Grove employee.
Only four members were available to vote on the consent item, as Councilmember Andrew Do’s seat remains vacant after his recent resignation.
Fountain Valley’s City Manager Raymond Kromer recently requested help with their “city clerk function” from Garden Grove City Manager Matt Fertal. The city has been operating without a full-time city clerk for over nine months, after several prior city clerks quit after short-term employment, according to a staff report.
“I was pleased to see on the agenda our city clerk, Kathy Bailor, the local expert, has been asked to help out Fountain Valley,” said community activist Robin Marcario. “This is indicative of the quality of our staff.”
The agreement works because Fountain Valley operates on an opposite schedule than Garden Grove. They have alternate Friday’s and city council meetings off, according to staff. Bailor has agreed to lend her services after meeting with Fountain Valley city employees and determining she would be able to help without detracting from her performance as a Garden Grove employee.
“Mrs. Bailor, if this gets to be too much, just let us know,” said Councilmember Dina Nguyen.
Garden Grove will bill Fountain Valley $85.73 an hour for Bailor’s services and any additional expenses monthly, according to the staff report. The agreement can be cancelled at any time with a 30 day notice and will take effect only after it is approved by both city councils.
The reason behind asking for Bailor’s help is due to budget shortfalls, a lesser workload for Fountain Valley and a shortage of employees with the expertise to be promoted to a city clerk position.
“One thing I have to say about Garden Grove, we do share with neighboring cities,” Mayor Bill Dalton said.
“Being a good neighbor means we are available to help other cities in Orange County.”
