Countywide : Andrus May Get Paid for Advice to County

The Board of Supervisors will consider a proposal next week to spend as much as $50,000 for the legal services of former County Counsel Terry C. Andrus, who resigned in March amid criticism of his actions concerning the county’s financial crisis.

Andrus joined the law firm of Rourke, Woodruff & Spradlin last month but has continued to volunteer his legal advice to the county on certain matters.

County staff has proposed using Andrus’ services on a case-by-case basis, saying in a report that his “background and knowledge are vital to the county’s recovery efforts and its general operations.”

Andrus was criticized by county supervisors for not informing them about an April, 1994, meeting he attended with officials of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which was examining the county’s finances months before it filed for bankruptcy protection Dec. 6.

Andrus said he did not want to spread undue panic about the county’s financial situation.

Though he resigned in March, Andrus continued to serve as county counsel until June while the county searched for a replacement. The county has yet to name a new counsel.