Board Member Questions Council

A Red Cross presentation at the March 12 Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC) meeting (see page 4 for Red Cross story) was nearly overshadowed when Area 6 Representative Stuart Muller brought up the subject of changes to the PPCC bylaws.

Muller’s short speech near the end of the evening focused on how the board is, in his words, “silencing the public.”

Muller was quickly cut off by PPCC president Chris Spitz who said, “We have discussed this many times Stuart, and we will not be discussing it any further tonight. Another time.”

In a follow-up interview with the Palisadian-Post, Muller expanded on his initial statement made at the PPCC meeting.

“Changes to our bylaws and administration need to be unanimously agreed upon and adequately vetted by the entire PPCC board, which currently isn’t happening at all,” Muller said.

PPCC president Spitz refuted that claim in an email to the Post saying, “I reject completely any claims of lack of transparency, especially given my repeated public requests for suggestions for policy and bylaws changes.”

Spitz added, “For many months, I and bylaws committee chair Jennifer Malaret have been publicly and repeatedly calling for members of the board and public to submit any and all suggestions for changes in the bylaws as well as broader suggestions for policy or process changes. This has been done verbally at meetings, in emails, on social media and in our meeting agendas. I have stressed that all comments are welcome and will be considered.”

Muller doesn’t see it that way.

“I have been attending these meetings for 21 years because I want to be a part of a forum where we can discuss important local issues, and right now this forum isn’t welcoming,” Muller said.

Spitz countered this suggestion, saying via email that as a way to make the community feel welcome, she has instituted “hospitality” at PPCC meetings where attendees are invited to enjoy coffee and a sweet treat and to discuss issues of importance to the community.

According to Muller, there is a power struggle happening between executive members on the board that is limiting the general public’s ability to comment and discuss issues that truly matter to the community.

He added that some board members are fearful of speaking up because they are worried their position might be in jeopardy.

Growing up in the 1960s, a time where being outspoken on censorship was the norm, Muller said he feels like it is his job on the board to keep asking the hard questions.

“I’m from a time where you questioned authority,” he said.