Local News in Brief : Montebello : Personnel Policy Reversal

The Montebello City Council has tentatively decided to return to the city administrator the power to appoint and remove department heads and management staff and to give them raises.

If given final approval April 11, the ordinance approved Monday night by a 4-1 vote would reverse past council decisions to weaken City Administrator Joseph M. Goeden’s power to hire and fire department heads and other management personnel. Councilman Edward C. Pizzorno opposed the change.

The previous ordinance, passed in 1985 and revised the following year, requires council approval for all recommendations by Goeden on hirings, firings and salary increases for department heads and managers. The council reduced Goeden’s power after Finance Director Grant Gundestrup suddenly resigned in March, 1985. City officials said the resignation was the result of a personality conflict between Goeden and Gundestrup.

At the time, the majority of council members said the change would give them greater control over department heads and the city administrator. But Councilman Art Payan, who once voted to restrict Goeden’s power, said he is now convinced that city government runs more efficiently if one person hires and fires department heads and managers.

“What tends to happen is at least some staff members would circumvent the city administrator . . . and lobby the City Council,” Payan said.

Pizzorno said he voted against the change because “these things should be run past the council. It’s just a matter of keeping the council apprised.”

Officials said the City Council had never rejected any of Goeden’s personnel recommendations since it weakened his power in 1985.