Change of Heart on City Manager

The good news is that San Juan Capistrano’s City Manager Stephen B. Julian was recently discharged; the shocking bad news is that it will cost us taxpayers about $200,000 to fund the “golden parachute” made for him by the City Council in 1990 (“San Juan Lets Go Embattled City Manager,” Sept. 29). The Times reported that veteran Councilman Kenneth E. Friess, in explaining the 1990 deal, said: “At the time, it seemed like the right thing to do. At the time Steve approached us about the contract and asked to have a re-look because there was an election coming up in five months.” Friess said Julian wanted to renegotiate his contract with a council he knew rather than risk dealing with a new council majority.”

This is an incredible revelation: In 1990, the council made a sweetheart deal with their friend, Mr. Julian, for the express purpose of tying the hands of a future, incoming council and blocking the wishes of the voters in the coming election. Wow! Talk about naked arrogance! That 1990 council was made up of Gary L. Hausdorfer, Ken Friess, Tony Bland, Larry Buchheim and Phillip Schwartze.

Their plot to control the actions of the future council has cost us over $200,000. Maybe each man should be responsible for paying us taxpayers one-fifth.

ROY L. BARNES, San Juan Capistrano