IRVINE : Renewal of Brady’s Contract Not a Given

He may be one of the county’s best-known city administrators, but there will be no automatic contract renewal for 13-year City Manager Paul O. Brady Jr. when the issue comes before council members Tuesday.

Council members Christina L. Shea and Greg Smith said that after a required closed-session review, they will call for a public discussion of Brady’s contract, which expires Aug. 1.

“We need some discussion, certainly, about the process,” Smith said. “I know there may be others who want to express concerns about the city manager as an employee, but unfortunately we can’t discuss that in public.”

But even those who have called for Brady to be fired in the wake of Irvine’s aggressive investments in the failed county pool say he appears to have solid support from at least three of five council members.

“I don’t see their support changing,” said Gary Kingsbury, leader of a recall targeting Mayor Michael Ward and council members Barry J. Hammond and Paula Werner for their vote last summer to borrow $62 million for an additional investment in the county pool. “We’ve said numerous times we would drop the recall if they would get rid of Brady.”

Brady, 53, has worked for the city since its incorporation in 1972 and currently receives $136,000 a year. He could not be reached for comment.

Shea declined to say if she supports the renewal of Brady’s contract. But Shea said she is opposed to multiyear contracts.

“I voted against Mr. Brady’s contract two years ago, based on a philosophical belief that city managers should serve month-by-month,” Shea said. “They are political positions in many ways and should be more responsive to the council.”