Santa Clarita City Attorney Carl Newton is compiling a report to look into the legal requirements for council members to report their personal earnings, after a local activist at Tuesday night's City Council meeting accused Mayor Bob Kellar of inadequately reporting his investments.

Bruce McFarland alleged that in 2002, 2003 and 2004, Kellar did not disclose information required on the California Fair Political Practices Commission Form 700, a statement to disclose economic interests.
The forms are intended to show how much an elected official makes and from what source.

"At this time, I'm demanding that the city conduct an independent investigation to determine if there was any wrongdoing involved in these Form 700 violations," McFarland said during the public comment period. "Omitting information so many times casts doubt on the authenticity of all of Mr. Kellar's disclosures."

McFarland also asked the council to find an independent body to investigate the matter to "reaffirm the city's good name."

Kellar did not respond to the allegations Tuesday night, but Newton said, "There are some ambiguities in the law as to the duty to report income and that is something that I am currently researching and will have a report at the end of the week."

McFarland also asked why the city clerk didn't ensure that the forms were completed with all of the required information. Newton said the city clerk "has no duty to ensure that information appropriately contained in that report is actually in that report."