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Compton city manager says council directed release of confidential memo tied to credit-card probe; public session set for investigator next week
Summary
After a closed-session briefing, the city manager reported the council directed waiving confidentiality on a memorandum tied to an internal credit-card investigation and said a public report and investigator will appear on a future agenda. Litigation and personnel matters were also discussed in closed session.
The Compton City Council reported out the results of a lengthy closed session May 12, saying the body provided direction to staff on multiple litigation and personnel matters and directed the city manager to waive confidentiality and bring a report about an internal credit-card investigation to public session.
The city manager summarized seven closed-session items, including multiple anticipated-litigation matters under California Government Code §54956.9, public-employment matters under §54957 concerning the titles of city manager and city attorney, and briefing on existing litigation including Cynthia Zavala v. City of Compton. On the credit-card matter, the manager said the council “directed me to waive the confidentiality and to bring a report forward to the council.”
Why it matters: the announcement follows weeks of public scrutiny and repeated requests from residents for transparency about city-issued card use and any related investigations. Several residents used public comment later in the meeting to press the council for full disclosure and an independent review.
What council said: members did not take official action in open session on the investigation at tonight’s meeting, but the mayor and staff confirmed the investigator will be invited to the next council meeting and that a formal agenda item will address the issues raised in closed session.
What happens next: city staff said a public report will be prepared and the investigator will attend the next meeting to answer questions. The council did not vote on any personnel removals or settlements during the public portion of the meeting; those matters were addressed in closed session, with direction given to staff to return with further information.
Context and public reaction: public commenters described the release of a confidential memorandum to the press as a breach of protocol and alleged Brown Act violations. Bishop Gilly said residents “deserve better” and urged full transparency. Others in the audience called for a third-party audit and for the council to make all credit-card charges available for public review.
The council did not adopt any formal, open-session resolution on the credit-card matter tonight; staff said the matter will be on a future agenda with the investigator present.
