City Clerk, Treasurer Jobs Under Review

The Torrance City Council this week appointed a 15-member citizens committee to study whether the city clerk and city treasurer should be elected or appointed positions, and whether City Council members should have term limits.

The committee will review the city charter and advise whether it should be revised concerning these three issues. All charter changes must be approved by voters.

The first committee meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 23 at City Hall. The committee’s recommendations will be made by July 21 so the council can decide whether to place any of the issues on the November ballot.

Presently, the city clerk and city treasurer are elected officials and City Council members can hold their seats for an unlimited number of four-year terms.

The citizens committee is composed of representatives from four groups.

Representing the business community are William Cook, a transportation manager for A & M Moving System; Kevin Thompson, a CPA; and Steve Whitehead, a community relations coordinator for Dow Chemical Co.

Representing homeowners and residents are Jim Beezhold, a Torrance teacher; Martin Gallagher, a manager at Hughes Aircraft; Sue Herbers, a secretary for the Torrance Unified School District; Iris Jacobs of the Delthorne Homeowners Assn.; and E. Lenore Johnson of the New Horizon South Bay Assn.

Public interest groups are represented by Harvey Horwich, a Torrance planning commissioner; Ron Littlefair, a community activist; and Jeannette Pierson of the League of Women Voters.

At-large representatives include Helen Doyle, a retiree from the Torrance Unified School District; Dorothy Miller, a retired command sergeant major for the Army; Stanford Orfila, an attorney for Farmers Insurance Co.; and Marla Schwarts, a school counselor and former teacher in the Torrance Unified School District.