DOWNEY - The Downey City Council, still without a permanent city clerk since firing Kathleen Midstokke earlier this year, agreed Tuesday to pay up to $65,000 for temporary help.Two part-time employees have been handling city clerk duties since February, but officials say "temporary assistance" is necessary while the city continues recruiting full-time candidates. Council members, for reasons still unclear, placed Midstokke on paid administrative leave in January. She officially retired on June 30, after receiving a lump sum payment of $9,792, equal to one month's pay and benefits. The City Clerk's office in Downey is normally staffed by one part-time and two full-time employees responsible for officiating elections, documenting the legislative actions of the City Council, managing the city's official records, handling bid openings, responding to requests for information and subpoenas, and more.

********** Published: September 15, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 22