Quorum Unlikely For Mayor Scherman’s Special City Council Meeting

Time to act, not form committees Davis tells Scherman

A special meeting of the Elk Grove City Council scheduled for 5:00 pm this evening by Mayor Sophia Scherman will unlikely have a quorum of at least three members to conduct business.

Elk Grove News has received confirmation that Vice Mayor Steve Detrick has a previously scheduled event and Council member Gary Davis is out of town for the week. Council Member Jim Cooper reported in other media that he too has a previously scheduled obligation.

The meeting was called by Scherman in response to public comments at last week’s city council meeting regarding lewd behavior of residents of a juvenile group sex offender facility on Cheer Court. Scherman had one item placed on the agenda – the discussion of the formation of an ad-hoc committee “to review and provide direction regarding group homes and facilities.”

Scherman’s requested meeting came even though Detrick and Davis, in conjunction with the Elk Grove Community Connection had drafted an ordinance in the hours immediately following last weeks meeting and was going to be considered at the city’s next regular meeting on Wednesday, July 28.

In a statement to Elk Grove News, Davis said he was ‘disappointed’ with Scherman for not checking with the council prior to scheduling the meeting which he characterized as unnecessary.

“And, frankly, the meeting is not necessary. Vice-Mayor Detrick, the Elk Grove Community Connection, and I have crafted an ordinance to be introduced at the next Council Meeting,” Davis said. “We don’t need to create another committee, we need to act."

Detrick said Scherman’s maneuver to schedule the special meeting is legal “but does not meet the intent and the spirit of the law.”

Scherman and Elk Grove City Attorney Susan Cochran did not respond to requests to comment on the matter.