BOND TICKER : ORANGE COUNTY IN BANKRUPTCY : Unveiling of Waste District Cuts Delayed

An advisory committee of the county’s Integrated Waste Management District is scheduled to discuss a belt-tightening plan next week that might result in layoffs and the closure of a landfill.

The plan was supposed to be unveiled at a Tuesday meeting. But the meeting was postponed until March 9 so that County Chief Executive Officer William J. Popejoy could review the proposal, said Phil Sansone, a former Newport Beach councilman and a member of the advisory committee.

The cutback proposal is expected to include a recommendation to lay off about 50 workers, to save money by closing the Bee Canyon landfill near Irvine and to begin importing tons of trash from other counties as a way to raise money, Sansone said.

Importing trash could generate as much as $30 million a year for the county, he said.

The district has more than $100 million frozen in the county investment pool. Sansone said he doubts the district will have to increase dumping fees if the cuts are made.

But private trash haulers for individual communities and businesses might increase their dumping prices if the Bee Canyon landfill in Irvine is closed and they must travel the extra distance to landfills in Brea and San Juan Capistrano, Sansone said.

Wells Fargo Executive Will Help for a While

CEO Popejoy has welcomed the first of what will eventually be a team of volunteer financial experts to help the county out of bankruptcy.

Paul S. Nussbaum, a Wells Fargo Bank vice president specializing in commercial banking, will join the county as one of Popejoy’s advisers. Wells Fargo agreed to pay Nussbaum’s salary during the 60 to 90 days he plans to work with Popejoy.

Officials said Nussbaum, 38, of Newport Beach will be a trouble-shooter and aide to Popejoy and will have no decision-making powers.

Supervisors to Field Questions at Luncheon

All five members of the County Board of Supervisors will discuss the financial crisis and field questions from the public at a “Meet Your Supervisors” luncheon today in Irvine.

The program, sponsored by the Orange County Chamber of Commerce & Industry, will touch on such issues as privatizing services and selling some county assets. The luncheon is at 11:30 a.m. at the Irvine Marriott, 18000 Van Karman Ave.

Compiled by Times correspondent Shelby Grad.