Board Hearing On Retroactive Pension Spike

I was watching the OC Board of Supes meeting online -- specifically Moorlach Chief of Staff Mario Maneiro's presentation on rescinding the retroactive portion of the 3-at-50 pension spike.

In addition to calling for the rescission of the retroactive spike, I thought I heard Maneiro say Moorlach proposed trying to fashion some solution with AOCDS to re-structure their retirement along the lines of how OCEA funds theirs (i.e. partly through employee contributions) in order to prevent the loss of pension benefits. At least that's what i thought I heard through the collateral noise here at Casa de Jubal.

Public comments have started and first up is Chapman Law School Dean John Eastman is the first speaker. Eastman makes two points worth mentioning:

1) Any OC taxpayer can bring suit to enjoin the payment of the illegal retroactive pension payments and

2) The Supervisors can be held personally liable for the illegal retroactive pension payments once they know they are illegal.

UPDATE: Following Eastman were Sheriff Mike Carona and District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. I wasn't able to listen closely to their comments, but I got the impression Carona was opposed and Rackauckas urged caution.

Next was a succession of Lincoln Club members -- Dan Berends, Buck Johns and Dale Dykema -- arguing that the retroactive pension spike clearly violates the state constitution. They were followed by Mr. Dormand (I missed his first name) who tried to rebut Maneiro's presentation as best he could in 3 minutes. He did claim emphatically that the state Supreme Court carves out an exception for retroactive pension spikes to the constitutional prohibition against giving additional ex poste facto compensation for work already done. I hadn't heard that before, and will have to follow up with Mr. Dormand.

AOCDS President Wayne Quint spent his time recounting several AOCDS members who had died in the line of duty and whose families would be negatively impacted by the rescission. There is something grotesque about trotting out such tragedies in order to guilt elected officials into sustaining an illegal raid on the public purse. Quint concluded his comments by saying:

"I've heard a lot about 'the law this,' and 'the law that.' There are some things that are higher than the law. There's human dignity."

An interesting comment coming from a law enforcement officer. And interesting for a law enforcement officer to believe that ensuring a pension agreement is in harmony with the state constitutional is an "assault on human dignity."

UPDATE (12:14 p.m.): Gadfly Darrell Nolta just announced he is switching his support on this issue from Moorlach to Carona and Rackauckas. Case closed!

UPDATE (12:18 p.m.): Public comments have closed and it's back to the board. Supervisor Campbell is speaking his piece.

Campbell just said he will vote for Moorlach's proposal. Bates and Nguyen indicated they'll also vote 'yes" on the motion but wanting a more "measured approach" to explore options and seek an independent review during the seven weeks until the final Sept. 18 vote on this matter.