The city of Westlake Village’s planning director has been selected as the finalist to become Buellton’s next city manager.
The Buellton City Council is poised to approve the new city manager’s contract Thursday night.
Scott Wolfe, who also serves as Westlake Village’s deputy city manager, will replace Buellton’s current leader, Marc Bierdzinski, who previously announced his retirement plans.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work for a well-run city with such tremendous potential to enhance the quality of life for its residents, and to foster economic development for its businesses,” Wolfe said. “I am equally excited to bring my family to such a beautiful small town, where we can become as much a part of the community as we have become over more than 30 years in our current community.
“I look forward to working with the City Council and city staff to provide professional, ethical, and transparent government to the residents of Buellton.”
After growing up as “a military brat,” Wolfe settled in Ventura County, where he attended California Lutheran University, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration.
He is working to obtained his doctorate degree in public administration from Valdosta State University in Georgia.
Wolfe is also a member of the American Planning Association, the American Institute of Certified Planners, and the International City/County Management Association, and has served on various policy committees of the League of California Cities.
He has more than 30 years’ experience working for and with local governments in California, arriving in Buellton after 19 years in Westlake Village.
He has also worked for the cities of Palmdale, Thousand Oaks, and Moorpark, and has worked with many other governmental agencies in both the public and private sectors.
Wolfe is married to Jennette, his wife of 17 years. Together they have raised three grown children, and are currently raising two boys (14 years old and 12 years old), and two girls (2 years old and 10 months old).
The Buellton City Council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday in City Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246.
The council will consider approving a 3-year contract calling for an annual salary of $175,000 plus benefits.
If the city terminates the contract without cause, he would get six months salary.
Wolfe is set to begin his new job July 1.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
