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Under the seven-year community development program for the City of Colton. some fu 4d3
<br />have been available for prior years and some funds will be available in July of 1980
<br />for the fiscal year 1980-81.
<br />The two projects of primary concern to the City and the County are Street Improve-
<br />ments and Storm Drains. These funds had already been released, and the City had
<br />only to define a project within the target areas in order to commence.
<br />It is my understanding that the County has been trying to get the necessary project
<br />description from the City for more than six months, and particularly from the office
<br />of Benny Gonzales, as City Manager.
<br />As a result of his failure to define a project within the target area, funds avail-
<br />able for HCD programs from the County of San Bernardino, since July 1,1979, have
<br />not been used for vital water and sewer programs.
<br />Also, since July 1, 1979, the City has had available $200,404 for street improvement
<br />programs. The County has indicated to me that the reason that these programs had not
<br />been commenced was due to the fact that the City did not provide them with projects
<br />for the expenditure of these funds. It was indicated to me that County officials were
<br />always calling the City regarding the commencement of these projects, and got very
<br />little response from us.
<br />(� As of July 1, 1980, we now have available to us an additional $73,558 in water and
<br />sewer monies and an additional $165,503 for street improvements. These monies must
<br />Q be spent, and we need a new City Manager capable of implementing them.
<br />< None of these matters have been reported or explained to me as Mayor, or to the
<br />< City Council, by City Manager Gonzales.
<br />AVOIDANCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS
<br />A serious deficiency in Mr. Gonzales' performance has been his practice of putting
<br />off citizen complaints by indicating that the Mayor or City Council persons had
<br />already made a decision taking away his power to address the problem. This again
<br />is evidence of his failure to report to us.
<br />For example, on or about April 5, 1980, during a meeting of the Agua Mansa Restora-
<br />tion Corporation, the City Manager stated that Mayor Frank Gonzales and Councilman
<br />Hayes favored redevelopment of a large area of South Colton. At no time had either
<br />I or Mr. Hayes come out in favor of South Colton redevelopment; on the contrary, we
<br />have opposed it at all times.
<br />Mayor Gonzales stated that he has a sworn affidavit of the witness that has been
<br />submitted and it will be entered into the Record, and it was written by Mr. Gabe
<br />Castorena, Jr.
<br />Mayor Gonzales continued in another example, a Colton citizen, William A. McCool,
<br />of 1305 Mohave, complained about lack of enforcement of certain City regulations of
<br />land development in his neighborhood. I subsequently learned that Mr. Gonzales ex-
<br />plained to Mr. McCool that he, Gonzales, had discussed the matter with me, as Mayor,
<br />and Councilman Hayes, and that we saw no merit in Mr. McCool's position. Neither I
<br />nor Councilman Hayes had ever talked to the City Manager on the matter.
<br />Mr. David Moore, Attorney representing Benny Gonzales, spoke to the City Council
<br />advising that Benny Gonzales had requested he make a brief presentation on his be-
<br />half regarding some of the points that have been raised in Resolution No. 4007.
<br />Mr. Moore said he would then respectfully request some time for members of the
<br />Colton Citizens for Better Government to speak in his behalf.
<br />Mr. Moore then reviewed the four charges as listed in Resolution No. 4007, respond-
<br />ing to each one defensively on behalf of Benny Gonzales, and introduced memorandums
<br />written by Mr. Gonzales substantiating his performance of the duties and responsi-
<br />bilities as the City Manager for the past six months. Mr. Moore also introduced a
<br />letter written by Mrs. Bea Hernandez, Vice President of the Agua Mansa Restoration
<br />Committee, refuting the charges and allegations that Benny Gonzales had made state-
<br />ments at one of their meetings relating to Mayor Gonzales and Councilman Hayes
<br />favoring redevelopment of South Colton.
<br />Mr. Moore stated that because of Mr. Gonzales' suspension, seven days after the
<br />City election, he has never been afforded the opportunity to work with the present
<br />City Council, and Mr. Gonzales should be given this opportunity. Mr. Moore said it
<br />is our position that Benny Gonzales can, in fact, work with the Mayor and present
<br />Council Members, and the City Council should give this very serious matter every
<br />consideration.
<br />JUL 8 1980
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