Bringing City Manager Mark Scott’s tenure in Culver City to a swift, tidy conclusion, the City Council determined last night his final day will be “April 14 or sooner.”
The verdict marks the first time in the last two weeks that the Council has seized or held the initiative in the instant drama of When Will Mr. Scott Leave. He only completed the first quarter of a three-year contract.
Since Mr. Scott’s wife had remained behind in South Carolina, his previous position, and he was living in temporary-type circumstances here, sources said signs abounded since the City Manager came to Culver City last May. But there never was even a semi-public hint that his stay would be abbreviated.
The drop-dead date for Mr. Scott was carefully chosen. He is scheduled to start a new assignment the next day as City Manager of Fresno, his hometown.
The date is of further interest because it will be the morning after a municipal election when one and possibly two new members may be elected to the City Council.
Mr. Scott told the newspaper:
“I have tremendous respect for this City Council. They are making sure they protect the city's interests. I am very comfortable with the City Council's direction. They have simply memorialized separation details that I have always intended.
“Whatever day I leave Culver City will be a very sad day for me.”
Significantly, the Council amended his city-record contract to eliminate a bevy of the lucrative benefits and bonuses for which he would have qualified if he had only slightly delayed his resignation announcement. Sources said that, to Mr. Scott’s credit, he declared shortly after his announcement he had no intention of accepting the veritable windfall.
Mr. Scott’s status has roiled City Hall since Feb. 8 when he jolted colleagues by announcing he was leaving Southern California to be near his aging parents who live in Fresno, 200 miles from Culver City.
At other times of the year, Closing Day, even for the CEO, would barely be of passing interest.
But with the budget-debating season under way and the prospect of no one in the chief’s seat to take charge, the date is crucial.
In an emotional deficit environment, when layoffs and salary reductions are in the air, Mr. Scott’s temporary replacement won’t have the luxury of a learning curve.
He or she will have to run at full speed to cover the last six weeks of the budget season. Since familiarity is critical, sources speculated that the interim choice would be a present or former employee.
