SAN FERNANDO : Costa Mesa-Based City Attorney Fired

A lawyer in a Costa Mesa-based law firm has been fired, effective Friday, as city attorney for San Fernando.

The council voted 3 to 2 Tuesday to fire Robert S. Bower of the firm Rutan & Tucker.

The firm had represented the city for 11 years and had been paid $3,500 a month plus $135 an hour for legal services not covered by the retainer.

Mayor Dan Acuna made the surprise announcement after the council emerged from a closed session held shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday.

“We decided to terminate our agreement with Rutan & Tucker. We do so reluctantly, feeling it’s time for a change,” Acuna said. “This is not an easy thing, to take this kind of action. The majority felt it was time to make a change. It was the will of the majority.”

Acuna was joined by council members Rosa Chacon and Jose Hernandez in voting to terminate the firm’s services; council members Ray Ojeda and Doude Wysbeek voted against the action.

The council will select a new city attorney Friday.

Bower, who sat motionless when the announcement was made, declined to comment on the council’s action. “It’s not appropriate to make a comment,” he said, after shaking hands with council members and a handful of staff members still present in the council chambers.

The city spends about $113,000 annually for legal services.