Camarillo Man Gets Fiscal Post

Longtime Camarillo resident and waste consultant James M. Jevens has been named the city’s new economic development director, a post vacated last May when Thomas Flavin resigned to accept a similar job with the city of Ventura.

Jevens, 56, a former Weldon Canyon project manager for Waste Management Inc. would assume his new duties Aug. 1, if the City Council approves his hiring as expected.

He will be paid $1,875 for 25 hours of work a month on an 11-month contract, officials said.

“I’m very excited about this city’s prospects,” said Jevens, a 30-year city resident. “I think we have a lot to offer the business community.”

While Jevens no longer works for Waste Management, he acts as consultant for Taconic Resources of San Diego County, a partnership backing a controversial ballot measure to change Weldon Canyon’s zoning to allow a landfill to be built there.

“I see no conflict of interest whatsoever,” Jevens said Monday.”Once the election is over, so will be my consulting relationship.”

Camarillo City Councilwoman Charlotte Craven, who sat on the committee that recommended Jevens’ appointment, said she and Councilman David Smith questioned Jevens at length about his consulting for Taconic.

“Yes, initially, there was a lot of concern and that concern was centered on whether or not he would become a full-time employee of Taconic if the ballot measure was passed,” Craven said. “But he said his job is to introduce (Taconic) officials to people in Ventura County, and once the election is over that would be it. We have no reason to doubt his word.”

Craven said she and Smith are also recommending Jevens because of his long residency and civic leadership. She pointed to Jevens’ role as a former Camarillo Chamber of Commerce president and to his continuing role as a member of the Camarillo Boys & Girls Club board of directors.

“He knows the city and he can sell it,” Craven said. “He knows what kind of industries we’re hoping to attract and which ones we’re not.”

The City Council will consider the appointment at its meeting Wednesday. The meeting will start at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 601 Carmen Drive.