KATHLEEN BURR, AVRCD PRESIDENT, IS AT IT AGAIN

I have been asked by several people if there is something wrong with Kathleen Burr "because she acts so paranoid." lam not a doctor and do not know, butt will say I have gone to meetings where she has expressed that she thinks others are out to get her and spying on her. She also accused an individual, a officer at LA Superior Court, of stalking her in a sheriff's car to which he has no access. At one meeting I brought up a topic and she said "how did you know that was a topic?" and l replied it is on the agenda. It is also obvious to many that Kathleen Burr has a fixation about Tom Florence. It is considered common knowledge she hires only her relatives and "special" friends to work for the AVRCD Kathleen Burr has made it known to her staff that she hates Tom Florence and wants him gone because she believes he was a whistle blower along with others about what was happening at the nursery and the meetings. So, here we go again. It is obvious to me that the council being given to the AVRCD is inadequate and shows a high level of incompetence considering, the two letters delivered by representatives for the law office of Charlton Weeks, Bradley Weeks being the attorney for AVRCD @ $300.00 an hour.

The AVRCD held a special meeting July 20,2012 at their main office for the purpose of firing an employee. She has said, on many occasions, that she did not care about the law or the Brown Act in connection with our state nursery. She has attempted to illegally dismiss Tom Florence on several occasions. Before the closed session, which she called, comments and the name of the employee, Tom Florence, was disclosed and after Bradley Weeks announced they were firing Tom Florence which is a flagrant disregard for the Public Employee Right as stated in the State of California Supervisors Handbook and State Government code. Tom was not at the meeting because he does not drive. Arrangements were not made for him to be there and he was not informed after the meeting of his dismissal. The letter they sent him by fax is vague because they never stated who made complaints or who was offended, ignoring the State of California Supervisor Administrative Procedures handbook. In the 23 years Tom has worked at the nursery it is only now, when Kathleen Burr has made it known to her staff that she hates Tom and wants him gone by the end of the month that we hear about bogus complaints with no witnesses brought forward as demanded by the State of California Codes.

Tom received a letter for another special meeting on July 24 but no one showed because the letter stated he was to appear at 3:30 AM to meet with Be board. A reply was sent to Mr. Weeks and hand delivered, with a witness present, and Mr. Weeks, an officer of the court and attorney for AVRCD refused to sign for the reply. The letter was clear that AVRCD was no longer to speak with Tom on these issues but they must go through his representative. The letter also made clear that all records pertaining to Tom Florence's progressive discipline and or trainings regarding the said complaints were to be made available for review by the representative and Tom Florence so he can properly defend himself against the allegations. Written complaints and or depositions are not recognized by state government code. WITNESSES MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR CROSS EXAMINATION. Debbie Gillis acknowledged this at her meeting with Tom at he nursery. Now another letter was illegally generated, on the same issues that are null and void by state government code 54957-54957.5, without informing the representative. Although l am not an attorney or a paralegal I was asked by Tom to speak and act on his behalf until an attorney can be engaged to sue the AVRCD and each board member individually for harassment and discrimination because Tom will be retirement age in September and belongs to a minority known as Creole in Louisiana.

We ask all who can come out for the July 31 meeting do so because we demanded it be open session not closed which is Tom's right.

Marta Kester

---