The Taft City Council on Tuesday night delayed until their next meeting a censure resolution against Councilman Cliff Thompson.

The council, at the Tuesday March 2nd meeting decided withour comment to delay the hearing until the Tuesday, March 16th meeting.

Councilman Cliff Thompson, during his council comments asked the council to give him time to review the resolution and to have time to defend himself against the charges.

The resolution, submitted by Councilman Randy Miller and Paul Linder criticizes Thompson for violating the public trust, a finding made by a recent Kern County Grand Jury report, and for harrasment of city employees and staff.

Below is the text of the proposed censure:

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT APPROVING A RESOLUTION CENSURING TAFT CITY COUNCILMEMBER CLIFF THOMPSON

WHEREAS, the citizens of Taft expect their elected representatives to act in a responsible and rational manner; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Cliff Thompson was cited by the Kern County Grand Jury as having
"violated the public trust" by failing to file an amended economic statement as required by law, and then doing so 2 years after the fact; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Thompson by his various personal and unprofessional actions have brought shame and controversy to the City of Taft in the manner of a Grand Jury investigation; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Cliff Thompson conducted a $200,000 personal business transaction with a city employee, the perception of which reflects badly on the City Council; he has since admitted in a public statement that it was unethical on his part to have done so; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Cliff Thompson has pressured the City Manager to hire him as a city employee on more than one occasion; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Cliff Thompson leaked privileged information to the press casting doubt on the credibility of the actions of the city council in closed session; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Cliff Thompson left the dais during a city council meeting and approached and threatened a member of the media; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Thompson sat in on closed session meetings of City Manager evaluations when he knew he had a conflict of interest due to the financial transaction that he had entered into with the city manager; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Cliff Thompson did not attend Kern COG and LAFCO meetings and did not inform the alternate of his absences so that the city council could be represented; he had the City incur costs and expenses by not canceling conference registrations and hotel reservations, and is untimely and slow in reimbursing the City for reservations for his guests for a dinner meeting; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Cliff Thompson has left numerous closed session meetings in a huff when further action and discussions were still to be considered."
WHEREAS, the citizens of Taft and the Taft City Council expect civility, respect, trust, and productivity at City Hall:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Taft, California, that:

Section 1: The City Council of the City of Taft has lost all confidence in Councilman Cliff Thompson.
Section 2: The City Council hereby officially censures Councilman Cliff Thompson for comments and actions that have brought disgrace and embarrassment to the City of Taft and its Council; this includes other reasons such as the harassing of the City Manager and staff, creating a hostile work environment with Council and City staff, and calling for an unfounded Grand Jury Investigation.
Section 3: If Councilman Cliff Thompson cannot or will not take appropriate corrective actions to carry out the duties as a functional member of the Taft City Council, the majority of the Taft City Council asks that Councilman Thompson resign from the elected office as a Taft City Councilman effective immediately.
Section 4: This Resolution is effective upon passage.