THOUSAND OAKS : New-Car Policy for 2 City Officials OKd

The Thousand Oaks City Council has approved a new auto replacement policy granting the city attorney and city manager up to $22,000 each to buy new cars, which they will keep for five years or 100,000 miles.

The issue sparked heated debate three months ago, when Mayor Judy Lazar and Councilman Alex Fiore, acting as the council’s finance committee, proposed allocating the two city officials $25,000 each to buy new vehicles. The other three council members objected, saying the allowance was too high for these tight economic times.

But this week, Councilman Frank Schillo joined Lazar and Fiore in supporting the slightly trimmed allowance. Councilwoman Jaime Zukowski opposed the measure, saying she had doubts about “the cost, timing and necessity for full replacement at this time.”

Councilwoman Elois Zeanah abstained because she had not studied the proposal, which was distributed at the start of the nine-hour meeting.

After the vote, City Atty. Mark Sellers said he was “greatly relieved.” His 6-year-old Mercury Marquis has been falling apart, he said, and he has had nightmares about breaking down. “It’s fine for going around town,” he said, “but I’m not comfortable driving it for long trips.”

Sellers would not comment on the council’s decision to shave $3,000 off his car allowance. He said he would try to purchase a new vehicle within the next week or two.