Azusa : Contract Proposal Dropped

The City Council backed away Monday from a proposal to extend by two years the contract of City Administrator Julio J. Fuentes.

The proposal by Councilman Harry L. Stemrich was reportedly dropped at the request of Fuentes, who said he felt the offer was ill-timed considering his current contract has more than two years to run.

Stemrich, who is concerned that Azusa may lose Fuentes to another city, said he meant the extension as a good-will gesture toward Fuentes, who has been caught between various council factions throughout his tenure.

“I appreciate the vote of confidence but would prefer to let the issue stand at this point,” said Fuentes, who earns $84,000 annually.

In late 1987, Fuentes was given a four-year contract by the council over the strenuous opposition of Mayor Eugene F. Moses and Councilwoman Jennie Avila. Moses has continued his opposition to Fuentes, but the administrator has recently enjoyed the support of Stemrich, Avila and Councilmen Tony D. Naranjo and Bruce Latta.