PIEDMONT — Retired city administrator Paul Benoit got a lively sendoff Monday at Piedmont Community Center, with co-workers, former mayors and residents — about 50 people — to wish him well. Benoit’s family is the focus of his move after serving Piedmont for five-plus years.
“I’ll be in the July 4 parade, then pack up the car the next day and head out,” Benoit said.
Benoit still has a house in Astoria, Oregon, to which he will return. He’s thrilled that two of his sons are there as well, with four grandchildren to spoil. His third son just got engaged.
“I’ll have plenty of things to keep me busy, and I have hobbies as well,” he said, one of which is bonsai.
Retired Alameda city attorney Carol Korade was there to rib Benoit and bring him a bucket of fireball candies. It had significance.
“I told him if you can hold five fireballs in your mouth without crying, you’ve got the job,” Korade said.
Benoit worked in Alameda after many years as Astoria’s city manager. He returned to Astoria, then took the job in Piedmont.
“Coming to Piedmont was one of the best decisions of my life,” Benoit said. “I would look forward to work every day. It was an honor and a privilege. … Piedmont has been a really special place, with a sprinkling of eccentrics. The City Council stood out, hands-down. Volunteerism here was off the charts. It was time to leave before I got cranky,” Benoit kidded.
Mayor Bob McBain saluted Benoit sporting a black eye.
“I got into it with Sara (the new city administrator),” McBain quipped, admitting the black eye was the result of a softball game.
“Paul exceeded our highest expectations with his incredible leadership,” McBain said. “You don’t get those things in a textbook. He coached our great city staff and was out in the community. I never expected him to leave until I was off the council. But I’m happy for Paul.”
An emotional Vice-Mayor Teddy King said that “His departure is poignant. I have profound admiration for him. He taught me how to run a city of this size and caliber.”
Frequent council meeting speaker Dmitri Maganes wished Benoit well and said choosing recreation director Sara Lillevand as the new city administrator was a wise move.
“She has a personal stake in the community with four kids in the Piedmont schools,” Maganes said. “She knows how to manage people and listens to residents.”
Lillevand grew up in Piedmont and lives there. She and her parents were at the reception. She will take up her post July 15. Deputy city administrator John Tulloch will fill in the interim.
“Sara has the right intuitions; we’ve been meeting over the last month. She has good advisers,” Benoit said of his successor.
He was gifted with a replica of the iconic blue exedra that graces Piedmont as his gift from the city.
He said he will miss the California weather, the city’s beauty and pride and the helpful, friendly people, but that going back to rainy Astoria his family is fine by him.