Supervisors to Meet Privately on Mittermeier

Orange County supervisors will meet privately Tuesday to discuss the performance of County Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier in the aftermath of her attempt to oust a well-regarded department head.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Charles V. Smith, a staunch supporter of Mittermeier’s, agreed Friday to hold the closed-door meeting, outside her presence.

Most supervisors were upset when they learned recently that Mittermeier tried to fire John Sibley--without notifying them or giving them a reason for her action once they found out. Sibley heads the huge Public Facilities and Resources Department.

Aides to several supervisors said Friday, after news broke about the attempted dismissal, that several residents had called their offices either to support Sibley, a 23-year county employee, or to criticize the amount of power the board had ceded to Mittermeier.

Smith said this week that the 3-2 board majority that approved Mittermeier’s contract last fall made a mistake in not pushing for oversight of her personnel decisions. The board can override her hiring decisions but not her terminations or interagency transfers.

Smith said he was upset after learning recently that the county executive had asked Sibley two months ago to find another job. Vice Chairman Tom Wilson complained that Mittermeier “blindsided” supervisors by not telling them of her decision, and then failing to give a reason for it.

After meeting with Smith and Wilson, Mittermeier announced that Sibley would swap jobs with Vicki Wilson, director of the smaller Integrated Waste Management Department. Vicki Wilson, however, will retain control over two major landfill issues, including cleanup at the closed Coyote Canyon landfill in Irvine.

The Assn. of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs sent a letter Friday to supervisors praising Mittermeier for restoring relations between county government and its employee unions since taking over in 1995 after the county bankruptcy.

Robert J. MacLeod, the union’s general manager, said a long-sought pay-for-performance plan that unions are close to approving would be shattered if Mittermeier leaves her job or is dismissed.

MacLeod said in the letter that Sibley, who was chief of employee relations in the mid-1980s, fostered an attitude of “distrust and conflict” with employee groups and “demonstrated very clearly that he considered dishonesty an appropriate tactic.”

Sibley, who has refused to discuss his reassignment, said Friday that labor negotiations then were contentious, “but that’s the essence of negotiations.”

Supervisor Todd Spitzer’s office received calls from open-space advocates and others urging support for Sibley, whose department oversees harbors, beaches and parks. Spitzer has been a frequent critic of Mittermeier but has declined comment on the controversy.

Supervisor Jim Silva’s office received calls from residents complaining about the scope of Mittermeier’s powers. Silva is a supporter of Mittermeier, but he has praised and defended Sibley.

Supervisor Cynthia Coad has backed Mittermeier’s action.

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