After only six months at the post, San Juan Bautista City
Manager Jennifer Coile submitted a letter of resignation at
Tuesday’s City Council meeting, citing recent health problems
within her immediate family.
San Juan Bautista – After only six months at the post, San Juan Bautista City Manager Jennifer Coile submitted a letter of resignation at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, citing recent health problems within her immediate family.
“It came as a bit of a shock to the city,” said City Councilman Charles Geiger.
Coile submitted her resignation in closed session Tuesday night, citing a “significant and sudden change” in the health of her family, and gave the city a 30-day notice.
“When I interviewed for the job of San Juan Bautista city manager, I told the City Council that I hoped to be in the job at least 10 years,” Coile stated via e-mail. “I was totally surprised by a sudden change in my family’s health this month and a few days ago made the decision to resign based on information provided by a Salinas Hospital doctor in the ICU. To protect the privacy of my family, I will not elaborate on the details.”
Coile declined to say who in her family has health problems.
The Tuesday night closed session had originally been held in order to review Coile’s performance as city manager, and her announcement effectively turned the meeting around, according to Geiger.
“The discussion turned to how best to phase her out, while we still have her,” he said.
City Council members believe that Coile’s 30-day notice will provide ample time to find, hire and train a replacement city manager before her resignation takes effect – negating the need for a possible interim manager. Coile took the city’s reins July 1, three months after former City Manager Larry Cain was fired amid much controversy. Cain did not return phone calls for comment.
Coile’s reorganization of her department will make her successor’s transition much easier than her own, six months ago, Geiger said.
“To her credit, she’s a hard worker,” he said. “She went into that office when it was in a state of chaos and organized the file cabinets. She made it workable for someone new.”
“She was doing a great job,” Councilman Art Medina stated via e-mail. “Her accomplishments were many and in a very short period. Her learning curve was unbelievable. I was very saddened by her resignation.”
For the duration of her contract, Coile stated she worked to improve what she believed were San Juan’s four major priorities: increasing revenue sources, economic development, customer service for city residents, and the city’s relationship with the San Benito County Water District. San Juan and the water district are co-grantees of a $3.8 million federal grant intended to repair the city’s dilapidated water and sewer system. However, tension has been high over the past several months between city and water district officials after water board President John Tobias sent the federal government a letter stating San Juan was not abiding by the terms of the grant. The feds in turn suspended the grant.
In October, the lines of communication were opened between city and water board officials, and both agencies said they were trying to work together toward a resolution. Albeit, San Juan officials have said they’re still looking at moving forward on the infrastructure project without the water district’s financial backing.
“It seems like this is becoming an ongoing battle,” said Ken Perry, a water district board member. “But if Jennifer Coile is leaving, we’ll work with whoever they send to us. We worked with Larry Cain before her, and we’ll work with who’s next.”
Coile fielded criticism for her handling of the federal grant during her tenure. Supervisor Anthony Botelho, who is adamantly against San Juan forging ahead without the help of the water district, said at one time he didn’t believe Coile understood the grant at all. However, he wished her luck Wednesday in all her future endeavors.
“We don’t necessarily agree on everything,” Botelho said. “But the idea has always been to work together to best serve the city of San Juan.”
But through it all, Coile seemed pleased about her time as the Mission City’s manager.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working for the City of SJB, which I first visited and fell in love with in 1981,” wrote Coile. “I have no regrets and would not change anything about my experience.”
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or ds****@fr***********.com
