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The Housing Advisory Commission is asking the Berkeley City Council to have an independent investigation conducted into allegations made by City Attorney Manuela Albuquerque regarding former Housing Director Steve Barton’s alleged refusal to take her advice and similar allegations directed at City Manager Phil Kamlarz, Deputy City Manager Lisa Caronna and other staff. 

The city manager asked Barton to resign the day before the memo came out, based on reports written by the city attorney accusing Barton of not following her advice and not completing various tasks. (See Barton’s response in accompanying story.) 

The Thursday evening HAC vote was 4-2-2, with Commissioners Frankie Fraser and Jane Coulter opposing and Commissioners Marie Bowman and new commissioner Beth Wachtel abstaining, according to Commissioner Jesse Arreguin, who had submitted a stronger resolution that failed. Arreguin’s proposal had called for Barton’s reinstatement until an inquiry was performed. 

The HAC resolution also recognized Barton’s contributions to the city, “specifically his work to help construct hundreds of new units of permanently affordable housing in Berkeley, his work in drafting amendments to the Condominium Conversion Ordinance, which protects tenants while providing opportunities for home ownership, his commitment to ensuring that working people can continue to live in our community and his support for Section 8 tenants and their right to affordable and habitable housing.” 

It is not known at this time when the council will consider the HAC resolution.