R. E. Estates : City Manager Resigns to Accept Job in Saratoga

Another Palos Verdes Peninsula city is losing a city manager.

Harry Peacock, 44, manager here for 12 years, is leaving his $51,036-a-year post Aug. 30 to become city manager in the Northern California bedroom community of Saratoga on Sept. 3. His salary there will be $53,000 a year.

The City Council accepted Peacock’s resignation at an emergency meeting Tuesday “with the greatest of reluctance,” said Mayor Jerome Belsky. “We’ve had the benefit of Harry’s services for the past 12 years and all we’ve had were outstanding, highly competent, qualified professional services.”

Assistant City Manager Doug Prichard, 27, will be acting city manager until a permanent manager is hired. Prichard said he will not be a candidate.

Peacock’s departure makes Rolling Hills Estates the third Peninsula city in the past six months to lose its manager. In February, Tom Devereux, manager in Palos Verdes Estates, resigned and was replaced by Gordon Siebert last month. Joseph Leach, city manager in Rolling Hills, died in May and Devereux was hired in July as acting city manager.

Belsky said the council was aware that Peacock was seeking the Saratoga job and had given him time off to interview for the position. Officials said that under Peacock’s management, the city developed its park system, built a new civic center and developed the Peninsula Center area into a large commercial and office complex.

Peacock, who paid tribute to his staff and the community, said he is leaving because after 12 years, “it is time for me to have a change.”