Down and out at City Hall

Andrew Glazer

COSTA MESA -- They infiltrated City Hall two weeks ago and began taking

out scores of city workers.

The bugs -- most commonly appearing in the form of the stomach flu,

bronchitis and the ubiquitous cold -- hobbled more than a quarter of the

city’s 660 employees last month, according to the city’s personnel

department. Sick employees missed an average of two and one-third work

days because of their illnesses in January.

The normally unstoppable City Manager Allan L. Roeder was knocked out of

his frenetic routine with bronchitis for a few days in late January. He

tried coming back to work earlier this week, but relapsed.

“He’s a bit stubborn,” said Ann C. Shultz, his executive assistant.

Roeder’s assistant, Chris Herendeen, caught the bug and called in sick

Tuesday. And Deputy Dist. Atty. Donald Lamm was out all week with the

stomach flu.

But Shultz and secretary Donna R. Fagot have so far stayed healthy.

“We hang garlic on the door,” joked Shultz, who said she’s seen more city

employees home sick this season than in past years. “Actually, I’m so

busy here and at home taking care of my children that the bug couldn’t

possibly catch up with me.”

The Building and Safety Department was hit pretty hard, said Cheryl

Hansen, a receptionist for the Planning Department down the hall.

She didn’t know how many people from the department were out sick

Tuesday. And the two supervisors from the department who would normally

know were home sick themselves.

Perry Valantine, a city planner, explained why his department has fared

better than its plagued neighbor this season.

“We’re just happier over here,” he said. “And pure of heart.”