WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. May 13, 2004: George Gretsas, the city's peripatetic Executive Officer juggled handling a rebellion of the Parking Authority Board with familiarizing himself with the Fort Lauderdale area yesterday. In a telephone interview with WPCNR Wednesday evening, Gretsas said he had been down in the "Venice of America"  since Monday, having come down on his own, and was very impressed with the diversity of the city, its 1,000 acres of park, and the legendary waterfront intercoastal waterway.

George Gretsas: Shown at City Center Demolition, April, 2002. Photo from WPCNR News Archive.

Asked if he had been touring the area with city officials Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,  Gretsas said he had not met any of the Fort Lauderdale City Commission yet. Contrary to what WPCNR had been told was the itinerary by the Public Information Office, Gretsas confided he was starting his interviews with City Commissioners today (Thursday). He said the  process of interviewing would require him to remain for interviews in the city Friday as well. Gretsas said he would be attending the Fort Lauderdale "Meet and Greet" at the Riverhouse Restaurant this evening on the Riverwalk.

Mr. Gretsas said he had first learned of the position from an acquaintance one week before the deadline for applications for the position, when the New York Times advertisement describing the Fort Lauderdale City Manager position was handed to him by this person. Gretsas declined to identify his talent scout. Asked if this person was from city government, Gretsas did not say. Asked if the person was from out of New York State, Gretsas said "No comment."

WPCNR asked him if he had seen any areas where he would like to live in Fort Lauderdale, and Gretsas said that was premature.