Burbank Loses 4th Official in 9 Months

Burbank Assistant City Manager George M. Nony, a 24-year City Hall veteran who helped shape redevelopment in Burbank, is resigning to become Gardena’s community development director.

The resignation of Nony, 54, is the fourth among major Burbank officials in nine months, but Mayor Mary E. Kelsey said the departures apparently are not connected.

“I think it’s just one of those things,” she said.

Nony, who lives in Burbank, said his departure was not related to that of other officials. He had been acting as city community development director since Larry J. Kosmont resigned in August to form a development consulting firm. He previously had served as city planning director, senior administrative assistant, principal planner and senior planning administrator.

“This was not a decision I took lightly,” Nony said. “But I think going to Gardena will recharge my batteries and present me with a new set of challenges. I’ve accomplished all I can in Burbank.”

Nony will leave Burbank Jan. 16 and start work in Gardena, south of downtown Los Angeles, Jan. 20.

Because of his longevity, Nony was regarded as the unofficial historian of city politics. He survived a municipal shake-up two years ago when former Mayor Mary Lou Howard took control of a newly constituted City Council.

City Manager Bud Ovrom said the loss of Nony will be “very significant. I have expressed to George the strong desire of the entire council and myself that he stay here. However, I am convinced that there’s nothing we can do or say to change his mind. George has personally assured me that he has no bitterness or displeasure toward the city which motivates his decision.”

Burbank City Planner Gary Yamada had resigned in May, saying he was “too burned out” to continue, and Public Works Director Steven M. Magnuson resigned last month to devote more time to his structural engineering business.