Former Bell councilman keeps nearly $100,000-a-year salary even after resigning

A Bell councilman kept his nearly $100,000-a-year city salary even after stepping down, according to city records.

Victor Bello resigned for undisclosed reasons in August 2009. Almost immediately after he left the council, he became the only full-time employee at the city food bank, working as an assistant to the facility's coordinator, according to Bell's chief administrative officer, Robert Rizzo.

Rizzo said no one had the job before Bello.

Documents obtained by The Times under the California Public Records Act show that in September 2009, Bello was being paid $96,600 a year — the same as most council members. He continues to receive that salary.

The documents also show that Bello was being paid for sitting on four city boards. But according to resolutions the council approved in June 2008, commissioners on those boards must be council members. Bello could not be reached for comment Monday.

Teresa Jacobo, the vice mayor, said she thought Bello was a volunteer at the food bank. She said that when she learned of his salary from The Times, she "was angry."

The district attorney's office is investigating why council members of the small, working-class city are paid so much for a part-time job.

Other documents reviewed by The Times revealed that top city officials have among the highest salaries in the nation. Rizzo's salary is $787,637. Bell pays Police Chief Randy Adams $457,000 a year, about 50% more than Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck or Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and more than double the amount paid to New York City's police commissioner. Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia makes $376,288 annually, more than most city managers.

On Monday night, outraged Bell residents packed the City Council meeting, demanding that Rizzo resign or be fired.

But the council, citing legal concerns, ordered a staff report on salaries of top city officials to be completed for next Monday's meeting. That sparked outrage from people in the audience.

"You're either with us or against us – and if you've been earning $100,000 a year, you're against us," said Cristina Garcia of the community group Bell Assn. to Stop the Abuse.

-- Jeff Gottlieb and Ruben Vives

Comments

[Mike E]

The postponement is probably to move assets around so that they're much harder or impossible to seize. Legal action should be taken now to freeze them.

[Astonished]

Rizzo, that' Italian. Makes me ashamed to admit that I'm of Italian descent.

People of Bell, you have been royally scr*wed! That money could have gone to better your city and your lives! Now that you know, shouting won't do it. What are you going to do to stop it!

[lafilmaker]

This is truly unbelieveable...it is scumbags like these that make people distrust civic leaders. They are supposed to be taking care of our citizens and they just sit idly by as the Governator terminates funds to school, medical facilities, and a multitude of other social programs while they abuse our local resouces. These people need to be paraded in front of their community and be accountable for their actions. Freeze their assests ASAP!

[John L Mendez]

It's suspicious that some of Bell's elected officials are stating like Teresa Jacobo, the vice mayor, that they learned of their colleagues inflated salaries from The LA Times!!!! How do these elected officials conduct city government business if their information is delivered by a local newspaper????

[LC]

There is no other reason why these CLOWNS are getting the highest paid Public Servant serving only part time like RIZO in his goons!!!

It's called CORRUPTION at the highest order!

[LC]

There is no other reason why these CLOWNS are getting the highest paid Public Servant serving only part time like RIZO in his goons!!!

It's called CORRUPTION at the highest order!

[LC]

Rizzo in his goon, acting like more like a MOBSTER!!!!

Corruption growing wild at the CITY OF BELL!!!

[Anonymous]

To restore public trust, immediately reduce council salaries in line with state law. Immediately place city administrator, deputy city administrator, chief and city attorney on leave. Retain impartial interim legal counsel who never done business in southeast or has preexisting professional and personal relationships with city officials. Call for independent audit by committee of auditors, compensation analysts, labor lawyers, public interest lawyers. Demand for full disclosure and analysis of checks from treasurer. Demand full disclosure and analysis of expenses, from travel, meals, phone calls, etc. Demand that councilmembers and execs disclose tax returns, statement of earnings and investment and real estate holdings, including in the city of Bell.

[Resident's Of BELL]

Hey Victor Karma bites!!! don't it? YOU CAN RUN BUT CAN'T HIDE...Oscar you should of been content with just beign a store owner and a nice guy Money is the root of all evil give back to the community! and stop digging yourself a bigger HOLE by backing the rest of the crooks resign NOW and maybe the residents will forgive you eventually.

[Richard Soulier]

The situation in the city of Bell Ca. is Legalized organized CRIME!! Unfortunately none of these overpaid clowns will ever go to jail. I am glad the LA times blew the lid off this one. It is very disturbing to me that this was going on for so long. Unfortunately this could happpen in lot of other cities. Cities with small populations and big tax bases are easy prey. Take your pick, City of Industry or Irwindale etc.. among others. The erosion of public confidence in our local city governments just took a huge hit. The people of Bell should start with recall elections immediately!! Then clean house and fire everyone involved!!! This can not be tolerated as a former veteran I did not serve my country so these clowns could get rich off the backs of working class citizens. It really is very disgusting to hear a pastor of a church who is on the city council say that he did not know how much council members got paid and that the 8,000 .00 check that he recieves monthly were a gift from GOD!!! Really? I hope that the people at his church refuse to donate one more penny to that CLOWN!!! Maybe he will have to go out in the real world and find a real job.

[Shirley Jones]

Taxpayers really need to remove these people from the City of Bell payroll.
Delete the jobs these people hold.
Restrict these people from ever being hired for any governmental office again.
Clearly there has been egregious disregard for the people of Bell.
Do not pamper these people now.
If any insist upon collecting any retirements, make retiring from anything less than a 30 year position unlawful. Then make sure all future positions are restricted to less than 4 years. Not time enough to become vested in any retirement fund. Moreover, put these people in prison for defrauding the taxpayers of the City of Bell . Clearly, there has been conspiracy to defraud the citizen taxpayers of several cities in the area. The choices these people should have should be "leave or go to prison" No other choices.

[Shirley]

NO representative of the people should make more than the median income of the taxpayers who are being represented!
The members of the city council and anyone in the governmental offices of the City of Bell should have incomes between 30-50,000 dollars, for full time, pro-rated for part time, and only hourly, checking in and out, on the books like private sector employees do. No salaries.
NO PART-TIME EMPLOYEE SHOULD EVER HAVE A PENSION PACKAGE EQUAL TO THAT OF A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE!!!!!
NO part-time employee with as few hours as these people work should have a benefits package equal to that of a full time employee.
No employee should be ever allowed to do more than one job and get paid more for it when the rest of us don't get paid when we have to "pick up the slack". This happens at every level of government and it does need to stop.
NO representative of the people should be in office more than twice and NEVER should any one of them collect pensions for less than 20-30 years of full time employment.