By Ted AYALA

A bond transferring money from the City of Glendale’s Electric Works Revenue Fund was approved by city council on Tuesday night. Approval was split 3 -2, with councilmembers Frank Quintero and Zareh Sinanyan opposing the transfer.

The total amount of bonds issued is not to exceed $60 million, interest included.

Mike Mohill, during the public comments section before the ordinance was voted on, spoke in protest of the issuance of the bonds.

“The money is going to pay for the salaries and pensions of the city workforce,” he said during a brief PowerPoint presentation. “We’ve transferred millions of dollars for GWP to the city workforce. That’s why we need the bond.”

He also criticized councilmembers Ara Najarian and Laura Friedman for not bringing the possibility of the bond issue up during their election campaigns.

“Is this fair?” he asked.

Mayor Dave Weaver, before voting to approve the bonds, dismissed Mohill’s criticisms as being confused and irrelevant.

“This has nothing to do with the matter at hand,” he said.

Council also approved an ordinance dispensing with competitive bidding for the installation of new shelving at the Brand Library. The shelving contract will be awarded to Yamada Enterprises of Huntington Beach.

“For the purpose of obtaining the kind of shelving [the library needs], that would be Yamada,” said City Manager Scott Ochoa.

According to director of Libraries Cindy Cleary, Yamada already owns the equipment that the library would need. She also added that her department reached out to two other entities, but that they either didn’t meet the city’s requirements or failed to respond altogether.

The Brand Library, she announced earlier, would be reopening to the public in March 2014 after being closed for two years for renovations. A black-tie- optional gala fundraiser will be held on March 27, followed by a ribbon-cutting on March 30.

  Ted Ayala