Carrozzo, Collins clash over board appointment

Angelique Flores

FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- A rift between Mayor Guy Carrozzo and Councilman

John Collins surfaced Tuesday night when the City Council appointed

Carrozzo to the Orange County Sanitation District board, booting Collins

from a post he held for nine years.

Carrozzo clinched the seat with a 3-2 vote (Collins and Councilwoman

Laurann Cook dissenting), despite the letters and phone calls the council

had received from other elected officials requesting that Collins be kept

on the board. And during Tuesday’s meeting, representatives from the

sanitation district and the county water district appeared before the

council asking the same thing.

“I ask you to consider not removing John from the district because

it’s a critical time,” said Jan Debay, who serves on the Newport Beach

City Council and chairs the Orange County Sanitation District.

In an emotional speech, Collins accused Carrozzo of securing votes

from other council members weeks before the appointment.

Carrozzo fired back.

“I will not sit back and have you take pot shots on me and others on

the council,” he said.

Carrozzo and Councilman Larry Crandall said they felt the position had

traditionally been held by the mayor. And while they did have

conversations about the appointment, the comments were made only in

passing, and nothing was done in secret.

“I didn’t need the votes, I only asked for input,” Carrozzo said. “I

was going to assert my right told by the manager and clerk that I’d have

the position.” Council members expressed concern over the division,

with Councilman Chuck Conlosh being the only one refraining from comment.

“No one has made this a personal or political issue but you,” Carrozzo

said to Collins.

When Collins asked to speak again, he was abruptly refused by

Carrozzo.

“In my nine years here, I’ve never seen a council member refused to

speak,” Collins said.

Some council members felt that others were not being truthful in their

statements.

“This is the biggest disruption this council has had,” Collins said.

Over the next year, several of the district’s programs will need to be

revised or developed, principally the ground water replenishment system.

In May, the board’s director, Don McIntyre, will retire.