Bell slow to turn over public records

Frank Stoltze/KPCC

A large banner displayed at a meeting July 26, 2010 clearly expresses residents' frustration with Bell City Council members.

Bell officials have been slow to turn over public records in the wake of a salary scandal that has outraged residents.

Community activists, the Los Angeles Times and Councilman Lorenzo Velez, who makes $8,000 a year, have asked for documents involving budgets, salaries and elections, the newspaper reported Monday. However, many of the requests by the newspaper have gone unanswered.

The city of about 37,000 has garnered national attention after a Times investigation revealed some top city officials had six-figure salaries. The public outcry led to the resignation of City Manager Robert Rizzo and forced the majority of the council to slash its salaries by 90 percent.

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Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.