Bernie Simon as City Manager: Think About It.

Finance Director Bernie Simon was named acting city manager until a permanent city manager is selected in the fall. Then Bernie Simon said he may apply for the City Manager's Job.



There are two problems with that: First of all the Job Announcement says one requirement is to have 5 years experience in either the City Manager or Assistant City Manager Position in a City. He has not had that experience or title.



Clearly neither did Tom Schwab or Steve Berry when they were hired by the City Council. In addition, Bernie Simon will have to prove his own integrity as he did work under Schwab and did not wave flags about improper use of funds. He has been a loyal bookkeeper to the City Manager, not a loyal bookkeeper to the Citizens or as a check on the City Management.



Some one should investigate why he came back to GT, for a similar job. The Commute is not an easy one.

The Valley Chronicle - Hemet and San Jacinto,CA,USA There was a contest in San Jacinto for city treasurer. Bernie Simon, who was fired as the city's finance director earlier in the year, ...

From PE:

Candidates are Bernie Simon, the Grand Terrace finance director, and
Alonso Ledezma, a broker and owner of San Jacinto Realty. The post is largely ceremonial, although during Potts' tenure he sometimes filled in at community events to represent the city.

Simon, 52, left San Jacinto in December after seven years as the city's finance director. He was hired for the same job in Grand Terrace, where he used to work. He has lived in the San Jacinto Valley since 1991.
He sees the treasurer role as to "watch dog the city's investments and make sure we are doing the things that are legal." He said his familiarity with city finances, the government code and investment regulations qualify him for the post.

No, in this case I suggest that the City Manager should be like a Mark Uffer who comes in and takes a full audit and finds flaws in prior practices and procedures and cleans up organizations so they run more efficiently and offer better services to the citizens.



Clearly the Job Announcement was an attempt to Narrow the Applicant Pool to Schwab and Berry. The good thing is people have applied. Let's hope among them is a reformer not a conformer, as we don't need more of the same.