YORBA LINDA
Public Works Director Roy Stephenson filed a claim against the city Friday, alleging that the City Council wrongfully reduced his pay by $30,000.
Stephenson has accused the city of breaking its agreement to continue all of his benefits for the entire length of his employment, according to the claim.
The council revoked some compensations granted to him by former City Manager Art Simonian, who was terminated and is being investigated for the mismanagement of city funds. Stephenson said some of the items, which included a larger car allowance and an additional life insurance policy, convinced him to stay at his job in 1997 after receiving a better offer from another city.
In the claim, Stephenson said he stayed in Yorba Linda primarily because he was promised the extra compensation. The council, with Councilmen Henry W. Wedaa and Mark Schwing opposed, voted Sept. 7 to revoke Stephenson’s benefits.
Mayor John M. Gullixson said the perks were never authorized by the council and were inappropriately doled out by Simonian.
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