San Fernando Administrator Strenn Resigns

City Administrator Mary Strenn, whom city officials say had been openly seeking employment in a larger municipality, has resigned.

The City Council voted 3 to 2 to accept Strenn’s resignation--effective Monday--and to approve a negotiated settlement during a closed-door session at City Hall, Mayor Raul Godinez II said Saturday.

Godinez and Councilmen Silverio Robledo and Jose Hernandez voted to accept Strenn’s resignation. Council members Doude Wysbeek and Joanne Baltierrez opposed it.

Howard Muira, director of the city’s Community Development and Planning Department, will serve as interim city administrator until a replacement can be found, Godinez said.

Godinez said he learned last spring that Strenn was seeking employment elsewhere when city officials in Durham, N.C., notified him that she was a finalist for the city manager’s post. The position was offered to another candidate, he said.

“The average tenure is four years in the [San Fernando] city administrator’s position, and she had been here for seven years,” Godinez said. “She is looking for bigger challenges. She’s young and she has a bright future ahead of her.”

Knowing that Strenn intended to move on, Godinez said it was in the best interest of the city to negotiate a settlement and begin the process of selecting a new city administrator.

Wysbeek, however, maintains that Strenn was forced out by the three-member majority that wants to replace her with a political ally.

“It was a forced resignation that was orchestrated,” Wysbeek said. “They suggested that she resign. Her first desire was to stay employed.”

Strenn could not be reached for comment.

“There was no animosity here,” Godinez said. “We reached an amicable settlement. I wished her the very best in her career.”