Patrick O’Reilly has resigned as general manager of the Oceano Community Services District.

O’Reilly’s last day with the district will be Oct. 10, and he’ll start as business manager of the Port San Luis Harbor District — San Luis Obispo County’s largest special district — on the following Monday, he said.

“I’m leaving Oceano because there are conditions here which make it difficult for me to be effective in implementing the change that is needed,” O’Reilly said.

He submitted a letter of resignation to the district’s board of directors and made a public announcement at Wednesday night’s board meeting.

O’Reilly, 61, took the position as the OCSD’s top administrator in August last year, replacing interim General Manager Arnold Dowdy. Dowdy was hired by the district after former longtime General Manager Mitch Cooney resigned, amid pressure from the board and some members of the public.

Prior to coming to Oceano, O’Reilly worked for the Black Gold Cooperative Library System. He was also interim city finance director for Arroyo Grande in 2004.

His other jobs have included working for three California cities: finance manager in Novato, administrative services director in Coalinga, and finance director in Lincoln; and accounting manager for the North Marin Water District.

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Port San Luis Harbor Manager Steve McGrath said O’Reilly’s “depth and breadth of understanding of the public sector, finance, business operations and human resources” is what made him the top candidate for the port job.

There were 61 candidates for the Harbor District’s open business manager position, which was formerly called operations manager, McGrath said.

“(Patrick) will be a good fit with the Harbor District,” McGrath added.

The Harbor Commission — the elected body that governs the Harbor District — met O’Reilly during a special closed session and approved his hiring.

O’Reilly, a Grover Beach resident, said he’s looking forward to working for the Harbor District, where he’ll be in charge of all the port’s business operations.

“To remain effective, small special districts need to be forward-thinking and cohesive in their efforts to continually make progress,” O’Reilly said. “Attitudes at the Harbor District have created an environment that supports progress. I’m looking forward to helping move the Harbor District forward with the progressive changes they have planned.”

O’Reilly replaces former Port San Luis Operations Manager Casey Neilsen, who left the district earlier this year. His annual salary will be about $69,000, plus benefits.

September 29, 2008