Photo by Jody Issackson Tracy resident Rosemary Martin spoke to the council at Monday night’s meeting regarding her complaints against Councilman Tony Peterson. She listed several grievances and asked the council to rescind their acceptance of recently resigned city administrator Madonna Peterson.

TRACY — A Tracy councilman on Monday faced allegations from a handful of residents of being a “bully” and overstepping his authority.

Tony Peterson listened as the residents also spoke out in defense of recently resigned city administrator Madonna Peterson during Monday’s Tracy City Council meeting. Peterson abruptly resigned almost two weeks ago.

Madonna’s Peterson’s resignation was forwarded to Mayor Steve Ferrazzano and other council members declaring she could not work under current conditions.

“There were times when he (Tony Peterson) was hostile toward me and acted like a bully,” Tracy resident Rosemary Martin said during the comment period. “The complaints were registered during public meetings. They can be substantiated.”

After the meeting, Councilman Peterson defended past comments.

“I stand by what I wrote for the paper last week (Tracy Headlight Herald), that I didn’t do anything wrong,” Councilman Peterson said. “I’m just going to let it play out.”

The speakers attribute Madonna Peterson’s resignation directly to the behavior of Tony Peterson (no relation).

During her comments, Martin turned toward Councilman Bill Chukuske and repeated the statement about complaints being substantiated and that she did not appreciate Chukuske’s statements to the press that they were “hearsay.”

“We were all here together in the same room with the meeting documented. That is not hearsay,” she said. “Tony Peterson had the applications sent to a mailbox outside of the city office in the hiring of the last city administrator. That is a matter of public record. (He) has gone to our city office and behaved in a hostile manner towards Madonna Peterson. This can be substantiated by city workers and members of our community; this is not hearsay.”

Martin also recited other instances when Councilman Peterson had used his influence to make the council vote his way instead of abiding by their own city ordinances.

“At the last Planning and Zoning meeting, it was decided by a majority vote to recommend putting up two stop signs on Greenwood Avenue at Adams Street per request of citizens in that neighborhood regarding safety concerns,” Martin said. “The cost of the stop signs are minimal, but instead, Tony Peterson wanted an independent study done at the city expense to study traffic. It is a matter of public record that is what the city council did instead of following the recommendation of the majority vote of the P&Z.

“Tony Peterson is a bully and needs to be recalled from the city council of Tracy,” Martin said. “I have had a number of people tell me that they are glad that someone has finally taken action.

“To those who have told me that they are not willing to sign the recall petition for fear of reprisal from Tony Peterson, I say we should all be more worried about this man continuing on the Tracy City Council,” she said. “If I had had an employee who did their job, but left me a Post-it note that they could not work under these conditions, I would at the very least attempt to find out what ‘conditions’ promoted the note.”

Shirley Anderson took the podium next.

“Madonna Peterson did not do anything wrong,” Anderson said. “The council should have investigated her resignation. Madonna knows her job but was kept in fear of losing it.”

Addressing Councilman Peterson, Anderson said this is a small town — people talk.

“I don’t believe all the closed meetings were needed,” she said.

Anderson asked the council members to rescind their acceptance of Madonna Peterson’s resignation.

The council heard comments from several other residents who promoted rescinding Madonna Peterson’s resignation.

“Councilman Peterson was removed from the EDA (Economic Development Authority) because he cost the city $5,000 in the Orchard Lane Case,” Rhonda Fredericks said. “Put on your big girl panties and do your job. I think you should rescind your acceptance and talk to her.”

Vera Anderson managed to get her walker up to the podium. She told the council she was enjoying retirement but would come out of retirement to hold a council seat if she had to.

Nancy Garrels talked bout the lack of respect in Tracy.

“Is there no respect in this town anymore?” Garrels asked. “I feel sorry for you and your families.”

Someone else from the galley asked when did the council start requiring three-month evaluations for the administrator?

Madonna Peterson’s father, Don Polzine, also took the podium.

“You really hurt her,” he said of his daughter. “You did this to her before. I’m ashamed of all of you, I really am.”