More fall out from the Vernon CA money scandal

Eric T. Fresch, Esq. former Vernon city administrator and city contract attorney involved in ripping-off Vernon, CA is dead 6/28/12, age 58.  
 
San Francisco Chronicle/Associated Press, 6/29/12.  "Former head of troubled California city found dead."

Beautiful downtown Vernon, CA

VERNON, Calif. (AP) -- The body of a former administrator of the embattled city of Vernon was found in the water off a San Francisco Bay area island on the same day the California auditor's office issued a report criticizing the way he and others managed the tiny, scandal-plagued industrial town.

Industrial Park

The body of Eric T. Fresch was discovered Thursday floating off Angel Island, said Park Superintendent Amy Brees. She said his bicycle was found nearby.

....  Auditors noted that Fresch's law firm was given a contract for legal services in 2010 that contained no spending limit, and that between 2005 and 2011 his firm was paid more than $5 million. 

Infrastructure

Vernon paid Fresch $1.65 million in 2008, according to documents released by then-Attorney General Jerry Brown in 2010, when Brown announced an investigation into exorbitant salaries paid to public officials of small Southern California cities.  California Auditor Elaine Howle told the Los Angeles Times her office tried to interview Fresch as it prepared the audit, but he repeatedly ducked calls and the efforts of subpoena servers.

....  About 50,000 people work in Vernon, a 5.2-square-mile warren of warehouses and factories in the shadow of Los Angeles, but only about 100 actually live there.

Among other things, the report said, Vernon lacks sufficient controls on its contracting for services."  Read Article.

Related  -  City of Vernon, CA. "Statement on the passing of former Vernon City Administrator", 6/29/12. "The City of Vernon sends its heartfelt condolences to the family of former Vernon City Administrator Eric T. Fresch in their time of great personal loss due to his unfortunate passing.  Eric T. Fresch, Esq. previously served as Vernon city administrator and city attorney."

Note:  Photographs (upper left and lower right) are by Patrick A. Timlin, with permission. Copyright 2006 by Patrick A. Timlin.

Submitted by Jim Alex

Posted by Kathy Meeh