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The assistant city manager is now acting city manager of Seal Beach. The decision was made during the closed to the public session of the Monday, Sept. 9, City Council. The vote was unanimous, according to the city attorney.
“On Item B, the council took action to appoint Patrick Gallegos as acting city manager so that he can participate more fully during the transition period before he assumes the role of interim city manager and he can better assist the city manager when she is unavailable,” said City Attorney Nicholas Ghirelli. He delivered the news during the city attorney’s report at the public session of the council.
No members of the public spoke to the council during the public comment part of the closed session began.
In related news, Gallegos got a 10% pay raise along with his appointment to interim city manager during the public session of the City Council. (See “Council gives Gallegos 10% pay raise,” page 1.)
City Manager Jill Ingram’s resignation is effective Oct. 31.
Gallegos will become interim city manager effective Nov. 1.
Acting versus interim
“An Acting City Manager is designated to fill in for the City Manager when the City Manager is not in the office or is otherwise unavailable,” according to a Tuesday, Sept. 10 email from Gallegos.
“In this case, the current City Manager is still the City Manager but is expected to take time off, work from home, or afford the Acting City Manager the opportunities to lead the City and work with the Council. The Acting City Manager will be authorized to fulfill the duties of City Manager during that time,” according to Gallegos.
“An Interim City Manager, on the other hand, is appointed when the City Manager is no longer with the City and an Interim City Manager serves until a permanent City Manager is appointed,” according to Gallegos.
Background
There were two items on the agenda:
Item A: Conference with city labor negotiators City Manager Jill Ingram and Assistant City Manager Patrick Gallegos about ongoing negotiations with the Seal Beach Marine Safety Management Association.
Ghirelli didn’t say anything about this item, so apparently the council took no reportable action.
Item B: Public employee appointment/employment of the city manager.
In recent weeks, both City Council candidates (each running unopposed in Districts Two and Four) have asked the council to wait until after the election to begin the search for the next city manager. (See “Gallegos to be interim city manager,” at sunnews.org.)
Last week, the Sun published an informal survey of residents and found many residents who also think the city should wait. (See “Seal Beach residents comment on city manager search in informal social media survey,” at sunnews.org.)
