Costa Mesa suspends city clerk for ‘professional failure’

Costa Mesa suspended its city clerk Wednesday, a day after a judge ruled that the city's charter proposal would not be allowed on the June ballot because her office missed a filing deadline.

Julie Folcik, who has served as city clerk for about 10 years, was placed on paid administrative leave "pending a personnel investigation," city spokesman Bill Lobdell told the Daily Pilot.

City Chief Executive Tom Hatch authorized the move, and acting Deputy City Clerk Christine Cordon will take over Folcik's duties, Lobdell said, adding that he could not comment on why she was put on leave so long after the mistake.

Hatch and Folcik didn't respond to phone calls seeking comment Wednesday.

Costa Mesa-based blogger Geoff West obtained an email from Hatch stating that Folcik was placed on leave "pending the completion of an investigation into the significant professional failure to have the charter consolidated with the June county election as directed by the City Council. An investigation has been started."

Orange County Superior Court Judge Franz Miller denied Folcik's lawsuit Tuesday to order the Orange County rgistrar of voters to allow the charter proposal on the June ballot.

The lawsuit stems from what is being characterized as her clerical error in not filing the required paperwork by the March 9 deadline. She turned in the paperwork the next business day, March 12.

She is paid $122,580 a year, which comes out to $163,230 annually for total compensation when health benefits, pension and extra pay are factored in, according to city numbers put out in December.

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-- Britney Barnes, Times Community News