Politics & Government

Former City Manager Dave Adams to Take Seat in Interim

He will be paid $15,000 a month between April 1 and June 1.

Dave Adams—who has served previously as San Juan Capistrano's city manager, and most recently in the same position in Yorba Linda—will again take the top  administrative seat in City Hall until a permanent replacement is found.

The City Council met in closed session Friday to select an interim city manager and determine his salary, following the end of Joe Tait's contract on March 31. Adams will be paid $15,000 a month between April 1 and June 1.

Adams was the city manager in San Juan Capistrano between 2003 and 2009.

Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tait will stay on as a consultant to the Utilities Department through March 31, 2012, at a rate of $225 per hour, but cannot earn more than $175,000 during the term of the contract. Tait's contract was approved on a 4 to 1 vote, with Derek Reeve dissenting.

Reeve said he disliked several elements of the contract, including: the hourly pay, Tait's access to a city-paid vehicle and the maximum 100 hours he's allowed to work each month.

Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The small group of residents in attendance Friday opposed keeping Tait on as a consultant, because issues with the city's groundwater recovery plant have not been completely solved. The plant is not operating at full capacity, partially because of a gasoline additive leak that affected the city's water supply.

Earlier this monthit had—after three years of negotiations—come to an agreement with Chevron over the MTBE leak from a local gasoline station. Although several City Council members said Tait took the lead in making sure the city reached a settlement and never went to court over the leak, some residents said they feared the city would not be able to meet .

The MTBE treatment—known as a granular activated carbon system—is scheduled to come online the first week of July, Assistant Utilities Director West Curry said at a meeting held earlier in the week.

"It's nothing personal against Tait," resident Ian Smith said after the meeting. "They've just bitten off more than they can chew."

Tait was hired as a contracted employee three years ago because of his substantial experience working with the Metropolitan Water District.

"I know there’s plenty of frustration over [the groundwater recovery plant], over a lot of things that have to do with water in this city, but [Tait] is riding it and I think if we cut him at his knees, we go back to square one,"  Councilwoman Laura Freese said.


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