Seal Beach City Clerk Robin Roberts is scheduled to retire Friday, Dec. 28. However, like all city employees she will have a day off on Christmas Day (which is also her birthday). Last Friday, Oct. 19, was the last day of recruitment for her successor. It was not known at press time how many people had applied for her job.
“We have not formalized a retirement/recognition event to date,” said Assistant City Manager Patrick Gallegos.
Roberts said she is basically going back to the private sector after 15 years in public service.
Roberts came to Seal Beach in late 2015.According to the City Clerks Association of California website, “The City Clerk is the local official for elections, local legislation, the Public Records Act, the Political Reform Act, and the Brown Act (open meeting laws). Before and after the City Council takes action, the City Clerk ensures that actions are in compliance with all federal, state, and local statutes and regulations and that all actions are properly executed, recorded, and archived.”
Roberts succeed the previous permanent City Clerk Linda Devine, who retired in late October 2014.
In November 2014, Seal Beach voters approved a charter amendment that changed the city clerk’s position from an elected office to a city staff position.
In December 2014, there was discussion among city officials about whether the city clerk should report to the council or to the city manager.
In March 2015, the Seal Beach City Council voted 3-to-2 have the city manager hire and supervise the next city clerk. Council members Gary Miller (who has since termed out of office) and Mike Varipapa cast the dissenting votes.
The city announed the decision to hire Roberts in a late September/early October 2015 press release that said, in part, “Roberts brings to Seal Beach more than 10 years’ experience in the city clerk’s profession, most recently serving as the city clerk administrator in the City of Fountain Valley. She has also served the cities of Westminster and Huntington Beach. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration and a Master Municipal Clerk designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.”
Roberts resigned from her Westminster job in January 2015.
In June of that year, Roberts filed suit against Westminster, accusing the city of violating the Brown act and retaliating against Roberts, among other allegations.
In November 2015, Roberts signed a settlement agreement with the city of Westmisnter in which Westminster denied any wrongdoing. Roblerts received a settlement of $150,000.
