Under Nita McKay's Interim leadership City staff made sure Monday's jam packed Council meeting came off without a hitch. (Click photo to enlarge)
Loading ...(3/5/09, by Dave Emerson) The two most significant decisions facing Los Alamitos’ City Council right now are the selection of a permanent City Administrator and of a Council Member to finish off Dean Grose’s term.
How the next Council Member will be selected is scheduled to be on the Council’s March 16th agenda. This Saturday, however, the Council is scheduled to interview six applicants as their search for a City Administrator continues.
This promises to be a long and grueling meeting, beginning at 8 a.m. with time for public comments before moving into private session to interview each of the six applicants. No wonder Dean chose to resign–I would have too if I knew such a lengthy meeting was going to eat up my weekend. Smart man!
Whatever you think of our Council Members, you sure can’t deny that they’re putting in the hours!
Interestingly enough, near the end of Monday’s Council meeting in their Council Member remarks both Troy Edgar and Gerri Mejia seemed to suggest that Interim City Manager Nita McKay be added to the pool of six applicants, so I suspect that may be discussed this Saturday as well.
Prior to Monday’s jam packed City Council meeting I saw Nita patiently and professionally observing, evaluating, supervising and responding to questions from the assembling press. She was the picture of calmness–at least when I saw her. And she was already responsible for two full time jobs before the crisis hit–Interim City Administrator and City Director of Administrative Services!
I’m no expert, but I also think Nita might be a very strong candidate for several reasons:
- Nita’s outstanding job getting a handle on an unwieldy budget when she first came on as Director of Administrative Services
- her excellent work on dealing with the current budget shortfall
- her prior experience as Finance Director for Buena Park and then Oceanside
- Nita’s calm professionalism under fire, as demonstrated this past week
- the knowledge of Los Alamitos she’s gained since she came on board in the middle of 2007.
It seems logical for the Council add Nita to the pool and evaluate all seven of them. Unless the Council can unanimously agree that one of the others, I say give the job to Nita. If she’s already got the support of both Troy and Gerri she must be doing something right! She sure seems to perform well under fire.
That’s what I think, but I’m only one of 12,000 Los Alamitos citizens. Please feel free to express your thoughts below, and in the poll above. As always, civility, tact, and discretion is encouraged.
Related posts:
Nita McKay:
Does she want the job?
I think Nita is great! She performed well under fire.
The problem I have is with Troy. Why does he suddenly want to consider her for the spot. He has spoken poorly and with disrespect towards her in the past. Maybe it would be good to put a hard-xss in there. Someone that could put Troy on a leash instead of Troy putting them on a leash. I would like to see someone who can handle Troy and not take any of his “stuff”. I’m guessing that is why Troy is suddenly considering her…so that he will be able to manipulate her too.
warren,
Does anybody?
Seriously, Nita seems to be an excellent worker from just about everything I’ve heard so far. Her employment history seems to indicated she’s been steadily climbing the career ladder and she took the interim position. She seems to enjoy what she’s doing & she seems to do it well.
Put those three together, & my guess is she would take the job if offered. I’d also guess that she’s too classy to actually pursue it, and if asked if she wants it she might even defer out of sense of protocol.
Hubie,
Interesting thought. As I watched it unfold, Gerri was actually the one who brought Nita up as a potential candidate, as Gerri was commending the staff in her Council Member comments. Troy basically just concurred in his comments, which came after Gerri’s.
Any City Manager will “know how to count,” as Art DeBolt once put it regarding a former City Manager. Their job is to take instructions from our elected officials, and that’s the way it should be. Our job is to elect officials that do what’s best for the city. . . . or to help motivate them to do so.
Any professional City Manager will not deliberately go against the Council Majority, with the apparent exception of David Rudat when he only had a short time left anyway, and knew the majority was about to change.
Dave,
You were right about Gerri bringing it up first. It’s so sad that we have to be so distrustful of any councilmember but, he has unfortunatly, earned it well. Hopefully, the recall can be a turning point. As you stated in a previous post, we need to pray. It is one of the most effective tools that is freely given to us.
I feel about Nita the same way I felt about Luci when I saw her doing the job. Professionals. I like professionals. Dominguez wasn’t. Rudat wasn’t. Luci and Nita seem to be. Both were there when a crisis unfolded (LATV/Grose) and both dealt with it with a cool head.
I think we did well when we moved Todd up to chief of police. I think Nita would do well as City Manager.
Weren’t Dean and Troy the ones that interviewed with John Underwood and they both had “concerns” with turnover in the city and they wanted more promotions within the hierarchy of the city employees.
Well Dean, I guess maybe your a good example of why there is turnover…Maybe they needed to go just like you!
BTW-Unless Big B. wants you know who, it ain’t happening. I just can’t see Nita fitting into their plans. She was hired by Serlet. If it happens, I will be shocked.
I really don’t think Troy plays fair with women…just an observation, but I certainly think this guy can’t deal with women that have an opinion. I have heard and seen him insult more women in the last two years. It’s amazing he gets away with it! He did apologize to both Cat and Lauren Driscoll at the last meeting.
Brad Sheridan makes a few comments at one meeting and the CPLA shouts him down, but they make not one peep about Troy’s abusive behavior against every women I’ve ever seen confront him.
He has no class, but I will tell you one thing. I see some of the blogs here and some people try to balance the tension that they hear and read and they try to justify a few actions by the CPLA, but I just don’t buy any of those arguments.
I’ve learned along time ago that when it’s obvious…It’s obvious! Our human nature is always trying to help us give someone the benefit of the doubt…but not this time. The CPLA and this majority wronged our city and citizens.
To Robert: from a previous post or whatever your name is (JU)
Since you were so observant about Gerri’s husband;s statement, I am surprised that you have not also observed that Gerri has no problem speaking for herself at a council meeting.
Nice try
I think there is no reason to bring a new city manager. Nita is doing a great job. This just another way Troy and his gronies are trying to place their own interest people in every spot they can.
LW
I think Troys sudden change of heart toward Nita, is not to sudden after all. I think Troy jumped on the band wagon, to divert the attention that was headed his way. I do not for one second, believe that Troy wants Nita as City Manager. I do however think Nita is more than capable of doing a great job, she is profesional, knowledgable, and stays neutral. She now has some history here in Los Al, which is more than I can say for the new Mare. What a concept, to actually promote from within someone with a proven track record. I can see it now, the residents of Los Al fill the council chamber, get up and speak their minds to let the Council know exactly what they want then without any discusion from the Council, they vote to go in exactly the oposite direction. Wow! doesn’t that sound familiar. It is too bad that it does.
I just wanted to say thank you to those who know me and know that I do not have any problem speaking my mind or speaking in front of a group. I have seen many people come forward that are worse public speakers than I am and a few that are better. What I have not seen is “ROBERT” get up and speak his mind. Thanks for aiming your attention at something so insignificat. You might do better at paying attention to the Council Members rather than the residents. Get a grip. Just in case you don’t believe that I can type on my own, it is 6:25 pm on Monday and my wife is in a Special Meeting in the council chamber. Who know, maybe my sonis the one who helps me with my English and typing.
Is it just me or did Mr. Vardemen just say in his oral comments word for word Troy Edgars response to the recall. He spoke about the balanced budget in the economic downturn, the end of wasteful spending at city hall, the partnering with JFTB to reinstitute LATV. It was word for word. Gee Mr. Vardemen who wrote your statement?
If Mr Rudat the former City Manager had not gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar would he have paid back the cookies he stole from Los Alamitos? I agree with JM he should not be recommended for rehire anywhere. He still hasn’t explained why he didn’t work the hours he was instructed to by the city council. I am really surprised that the CPLA wasn’t all over that one. Hummmmm!