Board hires Barlow for building department after recusal plan tied to husband's company

The Long Beach Mayor and Board of Aldermen voted to hire Miss Barlow to a position in the building department and accepted a recusal arrangement after concerns were raised about her ties to a local construction company.

During executive-session briefing and the public motion that followed, a participant told the board that Miss Barlow is a registered agent for a construction company whose husband is the designated owner of Barlow Builders. The participant urged safeguards to prevent any conflict of interest. “She is a registered agent for a construction company within the city that her husband is the designated owner of Barlow Builders,” the participant said, and urged that Miss Barlow not inspect or sign off on permits for that business.

The participant said City official Gunlock would enforce the separation, describing it as “in no instance [to] participate in any inspection, sign off on any permits or applications presented to the building department on behalf of Barlow Builders Inc.” The board accepted that assurance and then voted to hire Miss Barlow; the motion carried following a voice vote in which members present said “Aye.”

Chair moved the hire after the executive-session discussion; no formal disciplinary or corrective action was recorded in the meeting. The record includes a clarification that no action was taken during the closed portion of the meeting and that the hiring decision and the recusal conditions were executed in open session.

The meeting transcript does not record Miss Barlow’s first name, the candidate’s start date or whether the recusal arrangement was reduced to a written memorandum. The board member who raised the concern said both Miss Barlow and the relevant city staff were aware of the proposed safeguards. The board did not amend the hire motion; it approved the appointment and the verbal recusal agreement.