Morgan Hill city manager Ed Tewes announced to City Hall employees Monday that he will resign as of Dec. 28.
Tewes, 61, has been the city manager of Morgan Hill for 13 years. He sent a private letter to the five City Council members Friday notifying them of his intent to resign, and made the decision public Monday with an e-mail to all city employees.
Tewes did not specify why he is resigning in either letter. In the letter to the council he wrote, “My decision to end this phase of my local government career was made after careful consideration, and comes with both anticipation and some anxiety.”
He told city employees that they have made his job “much easier.”
“I have enjoyed the opportunity to join you in serving our community,” Tewes’ e-mail to city staff said. “The employees of Morgan Hill are an often under-appreciated strength of Morgan Hill’s unique character.”
The e-mail, as well as the letter to council members, added that wanted to give the City Council enough time to consider his replacement, and help with the transition to a new city manager by making the announcement four months in advance of his resignation.
“There is still work to be done over the next four months and I intend to carry my share of the load,” Tewes’ e-mail to staff said.
Mayor Steve Tate was a city councilman when the elected body hired Tewes as city manager 13 years ago. He said Tewes’ announcement was not “totally unexpected,” as he has been thinking about the possibility for about the last year or so.
Tate said Tewes has been a “fantastic leader” for the city. His “financial acumen” in dealing with difficult budget and financial challenges in recent years struck Tate as one of Tewes’ biggest contributions to the city.
“He could squeeze blood out of a turnip,” Tate said. “We’ve been able to do so much with so little because of how he manipulates the finances. He’s been a phenomenally successful city manager.”
The mayor added that Tewes has hired “wonderful people” to work for the city during his Morgan Hill tenure.
Councilman Larry Carr’s first year on the council was 2000, shortly after Tewes was hired as city manager. Before that, he collaborated with Tewes and the city as president of the Morgan Hill Unified School District board of trustees.
Carr was more surprised than the mayor to learn Friday that Tewes planned to resign. Carr praised Tewes’ intellect and his ability to quickly resolve complex issues and problems.
“He’s an extremely intelligent and committed person,” Carr said. “He loves his work. He’s been a great advisor to me, and the council, and a very good friend. I’m going to miss working with him on a regular basis.”
The City Council will likely start to discuss how to replace Tewes at a retreat scheduled Aug. 24, Tate said.
There are already some city staff members who are “more than adequate” to take the helm as city manager, but the council will also recruit outside the city to ensure they reach out to the highest-qualified available candidate, Tate said.
In 2011, Tewes’ total compensation, including allowances, benefits and leave payouts, was about $263,500. That includes regular wages of about $189,000.
Carr added that it’s unlikely that the council will be able to “replace” Tewes, but they will seek a new city manager who is proficient in devising budget solutions and is a “great leader of people.”
