Faced with another funding request for legal expenses, Riverbank City Council members have postponed until Jan. 23 a decision on appropriating an additional $20,000 to remove councilmember Jesse James White from office.
Three members of the current council, with Richard O'Brien voting against the action, brought a quo warranto suit against White in 2008 seeking his ouster from the council for allegedly failing to register as a voter before he sought a seat as a council member.
He has denied that charge and said the council is wasting taxpayers' money in continuing to pursue it.
Resident Charles Neal has argued the same during previous council meetings and at the Jan. 9 council session noted that two recall actions against White have failed and his term of office will expire this November in any case.
So far the city has spent just over $53,000 in fees for outside legal aid to remove White, according to Director of Finance Marisela Hernandez. The extra $20,000 is intended to pay for legal expenditures through June of this year.
Three members of the current council, with Richard O'Brien voting against the action, brought a quo warranto suit against White in 2008 seeking his ouster from the council for allegedly failing to register as a voter before he sought a seat as a council member.
He has denied that charge and said the council is wasting taxpayers' money in continuing to pursue it.
Resident Charles Neal has argued the same during previous council meetings and at the Jan. 9 council session noted that two recall actions against White have failed and his term of office will expire this November in any case.
So far the city has spent just over $53,000 in fees for outside legal aid to remove White, according to Director of Finance Marisela Hernandez. The extra $20,000 is intended to pay for legal expenditures through June of this year.
