There will be a “Best of the Best” farewell reception for Fontes, who was hired as city manager in late 2009 and moved into the corner office in February 2010, on Thursday.

A reception for Fontes will be held April 13, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center, located at the corner of West Main Street and Steckel Drive. There will be hors d’oeuvres served and the community is invited.

At the April 3 council meeting during the Communications portion of the agenda, Vice Mayor Ginger Gherardi said she wanted to “extend thanks” to Fontes “and wish he and his family the very best in the future.”

Councilman Clint Garman seconded Gherardi’s remarks and noted he has known Fontes for years.

“I always appreciated you helping us to the best of your ability,” said Councilman Martin Hernandez and he urged Fontes to let the council know how he and his family are doing.

Fontes announced late last year that with his last child graduated from high school, he was retiring from the post at City Hall.

There are no council members still on the panel that were seated when he was hired, coming from his hometown of Nogales, Arizona.

The biggest accomplishment of Fontes was the city’s purchase of the wastewater treatment plant. The council okayed the purchase in April 2015 of the $60-million-plus facility, built and operated by a private entity.