San Fernando City Administrator Steps Down

San Fernando’s city administrator of three years, John Ornelas, has resigned without explanation, the city attorney announced Monday.

Ornelas, 50, is the third major city employee to leave since the establishment of an anti-development majority on the five-member City Council headed by Mayor Cindy Montanez, which led minority Councilman Richard Ramos to speculate that housecleaning is underway.

Longtime Police Chief Dominick Rivetti said when he retired in May that he was not forced out by the new majority. His replacement has not yet been named. In June, Economic Development Manager Sarah Magana-Withers resigned to start her own business.

However, supporters of Ornelas alleged Monday that the mayor ran him out of town, while opponents said he played favorites in a town torn over development issues.

Ornelas could not be reached for comment.

Ramos and Councilwoman Beverly Di Tomaso charged that Montanez and mayor pro tem Jose Hernandez wanted to make way for a city administrator more amenable to their positions, and told Ornelas on Thursday to resign or be fired.

“When you’re in a city administrator position, you have to be neutral,” Ramos said. “Ornelas played fair . . . I’m totally shocked. The mayor in a number of cases has totally applauded our administrator.”

Montanez and Hernandez refused to comment on Ramos’ allegations before Monday’s meeting, though Hernandez said he hadn’t given Ornelas an ultimatum.

Some residents at the council meeting, like Eugene Hernandez, 49, said Ornelas was too favorable to the minority position, especially on development issues.

“I think he played a very divisive role,” Hernandez said.

Cesar Garcia, owner of Inkspot Printing, a local firm, said Ornelas overlooked local business and that Garcia has been passed up for city contracts.

“It was about local businesses not getting local work,” he said.

The council went into closed session after Monday night’s meeting to discuss Ornelas’ severance package, said City Atty. Mike Estrada.

“John has asked that his resignation become effective Sept. 1, although he indicates in his resignation letter that he’s in the process of cleaning out his office and returning city property,” Estrada said.

Although Ornelas did not say why he was stepping down, he said in his letter of resignation that he was leaving the city in “prosperous” condition, Estrada added.