Jeff Maltbie was unanimously appointed the new city manager of San Carlos Monday night after four days of closed session deliberations. Councilmember Andy Klein was absent from the meeting, making the final vote 4-0.
“I grew up in city government and this is certainly a dream,” said Maltbie, who sat in the lobby of City Hall dressed in a dark grey suit as the City Council decided on the final details of Maltbie’s contract in closed session.
Maltbie, 38, who lives in Pacifica, will earn $197,000 a year in the new position. Included in his contract will be a nine-month severance package should he be terminated without cause within the first year, and a six-month severance package for each following year, as well as a $250 per month automobile allowance.
A legacy of sorts, Maltbie’s father, John, served as a city manager of Milpitas and Glendale, AZ, and then as San Mateo County Manager. This appointment, Maltbie said, made his father very proud.
“Like any father, I’m very proud of Jeff and am thrilled to see him achieve his dreams,” said John Maltbie, as his son posed for pictures with his family and colleagues. “He’s worked very hard for this.”
Since mid-December, Jeff Maltbie has served as interim-city manager and was the lead architect in contracting out police services to the county.
Maltbie was the front-runner in the selection process that included a six-month search assisted by the consultant firm Bob Murray & Associates, and six other candidates. Assistant City Manager Brian Moura was not in the running for the position. Maltbie replaces the retired Mark Weiss.
“Jeff’s been filling the role for several months now,” said assistant city manager Brian Moura. “He was integral in the police contracting with the county, he’s been with us for 10 years, and I think his accomplishments with the budget were particularly attractive to the council.”
Maltbie received a BA in public administration from San Jose State University and began his career in public service as an analyst for Daly City.
Mike Garvey, San Carlos’ city manager at the time, hired Maltbie in 2001 as a senior management analyst. Maltbie then moved into the position of deputy city manager in 2005, and then became the city’s administrative services director before taking on the role of interim city manager.
“Every city manager I’ve worked with has had their own style,” Moura said. “Mark [Weiss] was more low-key, Mike [Garvey] was more extroverted, Warren Schaeffer was very analytical. I’d say Jeff is closer to a Garvey than a Weiss, but he definitely brings his own persona to the job.”
Maltbie enters the position with a full-schedule, as the city continues to struggle with budget issues, and searches for a solution to its fire services troubles.
“We still have fire services to deal with,” said Maltbie, adding that it’s an issue the city has struggled with for months and one Maltbie recognizes will be his first major challenge to deal with. “First and foremost, we need to figure out fire and we need to balance the budget. If we can achieve those two things this year, it’ll give us the time we need to change our thinking from constant budget cuts to how to best utilize our resources.”
Curious to know who the six other candidates were? City Attorney Greg Rubens will reveal the six people who were not selected for the job Tuesday afternoon.
