SAN FERNANDO : Official Temporarily Fills Margarito’s Post

City officials moved quickly this week to fill gaps and repair damage done after the firing of controversial but well-liked parks chief Jess Margarito.

Margarito, a former councilman and mayor of San Fernando, was fired from his post Monday amid allegations that he falsified city records and misappropriated funds.

City Engineer Jerry Wedding has taken over the helm of the Recreation and Community Services Department, said City Administrator Mary Strenn. The City Council will decide on a permanent replacement, but the topic has not yet been placed on its Jan. 17 agenda, she said.

“We do not plan on this being a long-term thing,” she said of Wedding’s transfer.

Wedding formerly headed the Public Works Department in the city of Fillmore and worked on an improvement plan for San Fernando’s Las Palmas Park, Strenn said.

Strenn said she has been meeting with employees to ensure there are no problems. “I’m confident that their first concern is providing good service,” she said. “They did it well before, and I think they’ll do it well in the future.”

Some employees expressed shock and surprise at Margarito’s firing Tuesday, and some were in tears.

But so far, Wedding said, there has been no evidence of factions or animosity among the staff.

Meanwhile, parks caretaker Pedro Dominguez remains on administrative leave, said Strenn, who would not elaborate. Investigators alleged that both Margarito and Dominguez signed falsified time cards for convicts assigned to work off sentences in parks, according to a search warrant affidavit.

Dominguez said earlier this week that he was placed on leave after refusing to speak to investigators without a lawyer present.

JoAnn Carey, Margarito’s secretary, remains on duty, said Strenn. The warrant affidavit sought her records along with Margarito’s and alleged that she prepared a false complaint against another employee.

Wading into the midst of the quagmire Monday was Christine Manriquez Lissik, the city’s newly appointed personnel director. A former personnel management specialist for Cal State Fullerton, Lissik so far has kept a low profile during the transition.

“I really have had no involvement at all,” Lissik said. “My goals are to continue with the fine standards of my predecessor, Bill Hamilton.”

Hamilton, an interim director and private consultant, ends his contract with the city this month.