Tom Ristau

In a brief telephone interview with City Manager Tom Ristau, who has recently resigned to take a position with the City of San Fernando, he had these thoughts to relate. Mr. Ristau has been employed by the City of Fillmore for about 19 years, nearly 5 of those years as City Manager. He took over from his mentor, former City Manager Roy Payne. Ristau looks back with considerable satisfaction for his part in the completion of our new, long awaited, state-of-the-art swimming pool-tennis complex. He was responsible for organizing all planning and for overall supervision of the project. Perhaps his greatest achievement is to be seen in successfully maintaining a 40 percent reserve in the city’s general fund. The fund is expected to exceed a 40 percent surplus this year, an
enviable achievement in such difficult times, when other cities are running deficits. One reason motivating his resignation was a substantial disagreement with new positions taken by the newly elected council. Upon leaving, Tom wishes “...the best of luck to the city and its employees. I have enjoyed my tenure with the City of Fillmore
and the years I have served as its manager.”

Tom's Resignation Letter:

March 3,2009
TO:City Council
I hereby submit my resignation for the position of City Manager for the City of Fillmore. I respectfully request that the City Council waive the three (3) month notice period required under section 11 of the City Manager Employment Agreement entered into August 18,2005.

I am leaving the City with a balanced budget, a projected positive ending cash balance for the general fund and a general fund reserve approaching 40%. The City of Fillmore is arguably in the best financial position it has ever encountered.

As the City Council determines how they will fill the City Manager vacancy I would recommend that Ms. Barbara Smith be appointed interim City Manager. Ms. Smith is the only staff person with the experience, ability and most of all the respect of other employees to qualify as the interim City Manager.

I am requesting that the City Council allow my resignation to become effective Saturday March 28,2009.