Glendale City Manager Starbird decides to stay put
Tim Willert
The Glendale City Council made City Manager Jim Starbird an offer he
couldn’t refuse earlier this week, agreeing to increase his pay and
autonomy in order to keep him from bolting for more peaceful climes.
After meeting Monday night, the council pledged its support for
Starbird, thwarting a possible move to Burbank to become the city’s
chief executive. Burbank City Manager Bud Ovrom’s last day was
Friday. He accepted a job heading Los Angeles’ Community
Redevelopment Agency.
“I knew there was a possibility of Jim considering employment with
the city of Burbank because they called me and told me they would be
approaching him,” Glendale Mayor Rafi Manoukian said.
The Glendale council agreed to raise Starbird’s base salary from
$15,790 a month to $16,343 -- effective Feb. 1, and give him an
additional 3% raise Feb. 1, 2004. The council also agreed to double
Starbird’s severance package to 12 months if he is fired.
Starbird, who is not a civil-service employee, serves at the
pleasure of the council.
Starbird came under fire from Glendale Councilman Bob Yousefian,
who publicly criticized Starbird earlier this month over the
selection of Steve Zurn to succeed Kerry Morford as Glendale Public
Works director. Yousefian questioned whether Zurn was chosen fairly,
and called for more council say in the selection process.