Terry Matz, Adios

TERRY'S LAST DAY TODAY
Word has it that today is the final day on the job for contract Interim Assistant City Manager, Terry Matz.






EXPERIENCE PROVIDED NEEDED EXPERTISE
Matz has a long career in municipal governance and was retained by CEO Tom Hatch earlier this year to bring some much-needed expertise to help with special projects. He's been working three days a week for the most part.

OCFA PROPOSAL RAMROD
In his most recent assignment Matz was the project manager for the Orange County Fire Authority proposal to take over Fire and Emergency Medical Services for Costa Mesa. From all appearances he did a fine job.

NO DECISION YET ON PERMANENT REPLACEMENT
Hatch has been actively recruiting a permanent replacement for himself but, according to Interim Communication Director Bill Lobdell, has not yet made a final decision. So, Matz' departure means one less contractor at City Hall. He will return to his retirement, leaving behind a job well-done.

City Analysis Of OCFA Proposal Released Today

FINALLY
The long-awaited City analysis of the Orange County Fire Authority proposal has finally been released, HERE.





WHY NO STUDY SESSION?
According to the press release that transmitted this information, the analysis and the OCFA proposal will be discussed at the Costa Mesa City Council meeting on July 19, 2011. That's more than disappointing because there is a Study Session scheduled for July 12th and an issue this complex clearly should be vetted in a more user-friendly environment, just as has been done in recent months with the Police Department restructuring and the Budget. Then, again, perhaps the City Council has decided that they didn't like all that inconvenient resident involvement after all. Regardless, the analysis will be discussed on the 19th and will likely play to a large crowd that evening.

FIRST PASS, NO OPINION YET
I've only made a first pass through Interim Assistant Chief Executive Officer Terry Matz analysis and, due to the many ways this issue can be sliced, I'm not prepared to offer an opinion yet. There's more to this than strictly numbers - politics come into play, too. I suggest you go to the link, read the report and form your own views. I'll get around to plowing through it in detail after the Independence Day holiday, when I'll be busy with a couple fully-charged hoses, ready to protect my property from the fireworks all weekend.

HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY