Ceres citizens group files complaint to Stanislaus grand jury. What are its concerns?
A citizens group on Monday submitted a complaint against the Ceres city government, asking the Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury to investigate concerns.
In the complaint, the group raises concerns of potential wrongdoing by elected Ceres officials and city staff, said the group’s executive consultant, Louie Arrollo.
Arrollo, who served as Ceres mayor from 1987 to 1990 and from 1999 to 2001, said the complaint involves past officials and staff. It may also involve current elected officials, he said. The group, called CARE (Citizens Advocate Responsible Entity), filed concerns of city leadership violating state and local laws, abusing power, failing to fulfill its obligations, official misconduct and quid pro quo, Arrollo said.
“We want the elected officials and city staff to do the work of a city, through policy and procedures, that benefits the the citizens and residents in Ceres,” Arrollo said. “We don’t want elected officials to run for office merely to enhance their ego or their wallet.”
The group began working on the complaint seven months ago, Arrollo said, adding he does not know how many people are involved. CARE is not a political action committee and the group came up with the name while gathering information for the complaint, Arrollo said.
Poor communication from the city contributed to the group starting the complaint, said Hollie D. Hall, a member of CARE and retired administrative sergeant for the Ceres Police Department. Arrollo and Hall worked together at the department before the former retired from his position as commander. Hall is a lifelong Ceres resident, while Arrollo recently moved to Hughson for health reasons.
“How this thing basically started (was) people calling the city and the city not returning calls,” Hall said. “Or when they do return calls, they don’t give the citizens the correct information. So that’s where the communication breakdown is.”
Outside City Council meetings, Hall said he wants to see the city improve its communication, show interest in citizens’ problems and work to resolve them.
Ceres manager gives statement
Interim City Manager Alex Terrazas on Tuesday declined to comment on the concerns Arrollo and Hall identified.
“Thank you for bringing this to our attention,” Terrazas said in a statement to The Bee on behalf of himself and Mayor Javier Lopez. ”If the Grand Jury determines it is going to conduct an investigation, we will absolutely cooperate with the Grand Jury.”
Arrollo did not elaborate on the specifics of the complaint, citing the confidential nature of grand jury investigations. An assistant will log CARE’s complaint and send it to the grand jury, a jury member told Arrollo Monday as he submitted it at the office on I Street in Modesto.
The jury generally publishes a final report of investigation findings and recommendations at the end of each fiscal term June 30. Government agencies subject to investigations must respond to the findings within 90 days, per the civil grand jury’s page on the court website.
Complaint comes after turnover
Ceres city leadership has experienced a high turnover rate recently. In December 2020, Mayor Javier Lopez and Councilmen Bret Silveira and Couper Condit joined the council as first-timers to elected office. Voters also elected political newcomer Jim Casey in an August 2021 special election.
Condit later resigned in October and Mike Kline rejoined the governing body in December after the council canceled its appointment of John Osgood.
Interim City Manager Alex Terrazas began working for the city in August 2021 upon City Manager Tom Westbrook’s departure to his hometown, Red Bluff. Westbrook had served as city manager since April 2020, when former City Manager Toby Wells left after six years on the job.
