Community Services Director to Retire

After seven years with Camarillo and another 30 years of public service in other cities across the country, John W. Elwell, the city’s director of community services, has decided to retire.

Elwell informed his boss, City Manager Bill Little, earlier this month that he would vacate his position at the end of November. Little informed the City Council at its meeting Wednesday.

Elwell, 63, said he planned to spend much of his time visiting his many relatives scattered across the country.

“We’ve made a lot of friends here, so we’ll be coming back,” Elwell said. “But our home base will probably be in Anaheim.”

As director of community services, Elwell is responsible for public services such as streets, water and sanitation. He also oversees the city’s recycling program and building maintenance.

Elwell, who has worked at nearly a dozen cities across California and the Midwest, said he began pondering retirement earlier this year. “My wife started in on me as soon as I turned 62,” he joked.

After he leaves Camarillo, Elwell said, he would register with a national agency that recommends administrators to various cities on a temporary basis while officials search for permanent replacements.

Little said he already has begun forming a search committee to replace Elwell.