The Council of San Benito County Governments hired county
Planning Director Rob Mendiola as the agency’s interim executive
director Thursday.
The Council of San Benito County Governments hired county Planning Director Rob Mendiola as the agency’s interim executive director Thursday.
Mendiola, who is scheduled to take the position on Feb. 10, will take over for George Lewis, who recently retired as Hollister city manager and is stepping down as COG director.
Mendiola, who works with the county’s planning commission, will hold the director’s post only until COG’s board has an opportunity to hire a full-time executive director.
Mendiola could not be reached for comment this morning on his selection as interim director.
During the years, the executive director has served as a part-time person sharing duties between COG and as a department head with a local government agency.
But now, COG wants someone full-time to oversee the growing responsibilities of the multi-jurisdictional agency.
“We’re looking at hiring a full-time person to do the work because it really has become a full-time job,” COG Chairwoman Pauline Valdivia said.
COG has contracted with the county to have its personnel conduct a search for the new executive director, Valdivia said.
“We need somebody who has experience and insight,” she said. “We will be working on the job description to get the right person for the job.”
COG members had considered naming Mendiola as interim director for several months following Lewis’ resignation, but the timing was not right, she said.
“We had decided to do this in August, but we held off because of the county’s hiring freeze,” Valdivia said.
The move to hire a new director comes almost exactly two years after COG selected Lewis in February 2000.
Lewis took over for COG Deputy Director Walt Allen who was named interim executive director shortly after Public Works Director Max Bridges stepped down as executive director in July 1999.
Valdivia said no matter who is selected as the permanent executive director, the person will have to work with a variety of government agencies, including the Local Transportation Authority, the Measure A Authority, the Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways (and the Airport Land Use Commission because they all provide funding for various local projects.
