Montebello City Council

The Montebello City Council has tentatively decided to return to the city administrator the power to appoint and remove department heads and management staff and to give them raises. If given final approval April 11, the ordinance approved Monday night by a 4-1 vote would reverse past council decisions to weaken City Administrator Joseph M. Goeden's power to hire and fire department heads and other management personnel. Councilman Edward C. Pizzorno opposed the change.

Plans to expand a senior citizen's center and build a gymnasium are among Montebello's top priorities, according to the city's new mayor. "My goal is to make sure those are carried through to fruition," said Arnold M Alvarez-Glasman, who was voted in as mayor this week by the City Council. The mayor's post, a mostly symbolic position, rotates each year. Alvarez-Glasman replaces Art Payan, who will return to being a councilman. William M. Molinari was voted mayor pro tempore.

Hats off to Councilman Ed Pizzorno. It seems only he remembers that he was elected, not hired to our City Council. A 40% pay increase! Come on, fellas, what are you going to tell our police, fire and city employees come contract time? Think you can tell them that they don't need a 10% or more pay increase but the City Council deserved a 40% pay increase? (Times, Feb. 11) Big deal that the city staff report states that council members of five nearby cities are paid more. Save the residents of Montebello the 40% pay increase by moving to one of those five cities and run for council there.

A developer has unveiled plans to replace the scrub brush and oil wells of Montebello Hills--one of the last major chunks of undeveloped terrain in southeast Los Angeles County--with an "urban village" of houses, townhouses and condominiums. A neighborhood shopping center, parks, a school, fire station and senior housing also would be included in the 450-acre project planned by Chevron Land & Development Co.

The Montebello City Council has voted 4 to 0 to approve an increase in water rates retroactive to Nov. 1. The increase applies to about 15% of the city served by the Montebello Water System and will average less than $5 a month for residents. Businesses will pay $13.59 more for water and 3% to 4% more in meter fees. The fee, imposed to cover increased costs of water from the Metropolitan Water District, will appear on January water bills. Councilman Arnold M.

The Montebello City Council voted unanimously Monday night to award a $204,280 contract to Challenge Engineering Co. of Cypress for improvements at several city parks. Construction of a concession stand addition to the existing recreation building at Grant Rea Park, and decorative fencing at Holifield Park are some of the improvements included in the contract. Other parks slated for improvements are City Park, Potrero Heights Park, Acuna Park and Rodriguez Park.

The Montebello City Council on Monday appointed a successor to the late City Clerk Andrew Lambo, who died of a heart attack last month. Mary Anne Saucedo, 46, a Montebello bank teller, will fill Lambo's term, which expires in November, 1991. She was chosen from a field of seven candidates. The city clerk is the custodian of municipal records and the city's chief elections officer. The part-time position pays $495 a month plus $150 in expenses.

Former mayor Catherine P. Hensel died of cancer on Aug. 26. She was 75. Hensel was elected to the Montebello City Council in 1976. She became the city's first woman mayor and served in that position twice. She was also appointed by Sen. David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) to the State Advisory Highway Transportation Committee. She voluntarily stepped down from the Montebello City Council in December, 1985, in order to pursue community and church activities.