Countywide : Decision on $50,000 Fee for Andrus Postponed

Officials have postponed until next week a decision on whether to pay as much as $50,000 for the legal services of former County Counsel Terry C. Andrus, who stepped down earlier this year after being criticized for actions related to the county’s financial crisis.

The Board of Supervisors was set to vote on the matter Tuesday but put off a decision while officials finalize the wording of Andrus’ contract.

The County Administrative Office wants to retain Andrus’ services to deal with some of the cases he handled as county counsel.

“This would allow us to retain him on an as-needed basis when we need him to do some substantial work,” said Bob Wilson, the interim assistant chief executive officer.

Andrus left the county in June and now works for the law firm of Rourke, Woodruff & Spradlin. But he has continued to volunteer his legal services to the county on some matters.

Wilson said the county would benefit from Andrus’ experience with the county and knowledge of certain cases.

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

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