Vernon mayor and city attorney resign

Major turnover tonight in the tiny, anachronistic city of Vernon. Mayor Hilario Gonzales, who lives in a city-owned house next to Vernon City Hall, said he would resign effective the day the state confirms his city pension. City Attorney Michael Montgomery, hired just two weeks ago but already shown sleeping on the job in an LA Weekly photo, resigned effective immediately. LA Weekly:

Vernon has only 112 residents, and has rarely held elections in the last several decades. The city has come under fire repeatedly for heaping lavish salaries on its top administrators. Under threat of disincorporation, the city agreed to double its population, set up an independent housing authority, and enact a series of other aggressive reforms.

L.A. Times:

Vernon’s residents will vote in November on 10 different reform measures, including resolutions that would impose term limits for council members and require the city to create a competitive bidding process for contracts.

LA Observed photo