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44 4Speaking on behalf of Benny Gonzales and his reinstatement as City Manager were the
<br />following:
<br />Mr. Norman E. Kinney, 892 Edgehill Drive, County area, Chairman of the Colton
<br />Citizens for Better Government committee.
<br />Mr. Jess Vasquez, 296 West "F" Street, Colton.
<br />Ms. Millie Herrera, 1006 Western Avenue, Colton.
<br />Mr. Benny Gonzales, 1114 Serrano Drive, Colton, thanked the City Council for the
<br />opportunity of holding the public hearing, and also thanked all of those that spoke
<br />in his behalf, stating that all of these charges and allegations are false.
<br />Mr. Gonzales then spoke about his efforts and accomplishments while employed as the
<br />Planning Director and also as the City Manager. Mr. Gonzales commended. Councilwoman
<br />Cisneros and Councilman Rehrer for their support, and spoke directly to Councilwoman
<br />Garcia, Councilman Hayes and Mayor Gonzales regarding his relationship with them,
<br />stating he felt that he could work effectively with them for the betterment of the
<br />City.
<br />Mr. Gonzales concluded that politics is fine, and the Council Members are politicians
<br />but only in this City Council form of government. Mr. Gonzales said he commended the
<br />Council Members for taking the time to run for office, expending their energies and
<br />doing all of this for the people of this community, however, each of you has separate
<br />careers and when you make decisions that effect people, their careers and their live-
<br />lihood, he asked that they do some soul searching and let their conscience be their
<br />guide.
<br />Special Counsel Edward Taylor said he would like to address a question to Council-
<br />woman Garcia, and stated that Benny Gonzales made the comment that Mrs. Garcia had
<br />voted on the resolution during the first meeting at which you were a Council Person,
<br />indicating, perhaps, that you had no prior knowledge of his performance. Mr. Taylor
<br />then asked Councilwoman Garcia if she had been attending Council Meetings for more
<br />than one year and observed him in action and had contacts with him that had given
<br />her knowledge of his activities as City Manager?
<br />Councilwoman Garcia responded yes, that she had been attending Council Meetings for
<br />over one year and she had observed the City Manager and his relationship with the
<br />Mayor, and at one particular Council Meeting, where the Mayor had posed a question
<br />to the City Manager, the City Manager had given an explanation and the Mayor had not
<br />completely understood it, and the City Manager very arrogantly told the Mayor -
<br />"Mayor, it is not my fault that you cannot understand what is being told to you".
<br />Mrs. Garcia stated that, to her, is very unprofessional, she can see an incompatibil-
<br />ity between the City Manager and the Mayor, when a City Manager can respond to a Mayor
<br />in those words and in that tone of voice.
<br />Speaking in opposition to the reinstatement of Benny Gonzales as City Manager was:
<br />Mr. William McCool, 1305 Mojave Drive, Colton.
<br />Mr. Alfred Melendrez, Colton, stated he understands that this attorney is getting
<br />paid $40. per hour, and he does not see why the City has to hire an outside attorney
<br />for this matter. Mr. Melendrez said the citizens of Colton do not like this.
<br />Mr. Taylor stated that the City Council had adopted a resolution approving payment
<br />of $70 per hour.
<br />Mayor Gonzales stated it was felt that because our City Attorney works for the City
<br />Council, it would not be ethical for him to represent the City Council and, there-
<br />fore, an outside attorney was retained. Mayor Gonzales stated this, however, is
<br />no different than what the former City Council did in the Tom Calabrese case, they
<br />also hired an outside attorney at the tune of $70 per hour.
<br />Mayor Gonzales.then declared the Public Hearing closed.
<br />Councilman Rehrer stated he has heard comments this evening, both pro and con, and
<br />he felt that, according to the way he understands it, no action can be taken against
<br />the City Manager for 90 days, and this is a protection for the City Manager, whoever
<br />he may be. Mr. Rehrer stated he objected to the suspension of the City Manager be-
<br />cause at that time the City Manager had not had 90 days to work with this elected
<br />body that is sitting here tonight. Mr. Rehrer said he also disagrees with the state-
<br />ment that the City Manager has not performed his duties properly.
<br />Councilman Rehrer stated now that the public hearing is over, and the people have had
<br />the opportunity to speak as they would like to, and under the circumstances of the
<br />City Manager not having the opportunity to work with this City Council, he would move
<br />for the approval of Resolution No. 4019-B, for reinstatement of the City Manager, with
<br />all charges dropped.
<br />J U L 81980
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