Collins, Carrozzo mend rift
Angelique Flores
FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- Tempers have cooled among the City Council members
since the Dec. 19 council meeting, when Councilman John Collins and Mayor
Guy Carrozzo exchanged harsh words over Carrozzo’s appointment to the
Orange County Sanitation District board.
The uproar between Collins and Carrozzo was sparked when Carrozzo won the
appointment with a 3-2 vote, kicking Collins out of a seat he held for
nine years.
Collins accused Carrozzo of securing council votes weeks before the
appointment.
Carrozzo didn’t stay silent.
“I will not sit back and have you take pot shots on me and others on the
council,” he said.
Now, the pair said the matter is behind them.
“There was no power struggle,” Carrozzo said. “I have no animosity.”
The day after the meeting, Collins approached Carrozzo at a luncheon and
wished him a Merry Christmas.
“The decision is done. My focus is to operate effectively for the
citizens,” Collins said.
Until last year, the mayor appointed the delegate. Now the appointment
must be decided by a council vote.
In 1995 when Carrozzo became mayor for the first time, he handed the
position over to Collins because, as a first-time mayor, he didn’t want
to overburden himself.
“Now as mayor for the year 2000, I want to do everything and get involved
with everything,” Carrozzo said.
Though Carrozzo doesn’t have the nine years experience with the district
that Collins has, he said he’s prepared to read up on the issues and
projects, inquire about what he doesn’t know, and listen to anyone who
can help him.
Collins said he will stay involved with the Sanitation District by
lending a hand to board members when asked. And Carrozzo said that if he
has any questions, he will consult Collins.
When the council has disagreements, it’s important the members don’t
harbor any hard feelings, Councilman Larry Crandall said.
“We’ve always been able to agree to disagree,” said Crandall, who is
hopeful that they will move forward without any hurt feelings.
And Collins and Carrozzo said they’re ready to move on.
“We have to put this behind us and look out for the people,” Collins
said.
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