WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. May 19, 2004: City Executive Officer George Gretsas received heartfelt congratulations from members of the White Plains Common Council on his landing the City Manager job in the City of Fort Lauderdale Florida. A sheepish Mr. Gretsas handled sensitive questions with aplomb and tact from Councilmembers and WPCNR  in an impromptu news conference after Wednesday afternoon's Special Meeting on the Cappelli project.

Councilmembers Robert Greer left, and Rita Malmud congratulate Executive Officer George Gretsas on his new Fort Lauderdale City Manager Offer Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Gretsas said he had not been made an offer yet by the City of Fort Lauderdale and expected to receive a contract from Fort Lauderdale Thursday. He said he had not prenegotiated the contract and that at the present time he was his own negotiator. He said his new city wanted him as soon as possible. He noted that any successor of his would be appointed by the Mayor, and indicated a nationwide search would not be conducted. He said he researched the Fort Lauderdale job between April 17 when he was notified by the Fort Lauderdale search firm he was one of the seven finalists and when he went down to Fort Lauderdale last week. He said he did not own land in Fort Lauderdale and that he had just inquired about a deck at the city's Building Department to get a handle on city procedurals. Asked how the Fort Lauderdale City Commissioners seemed compared to the White Plains Common Council members, Mr. Gretsas grinned broadly and diplomatically said each group was equally distinguished. Asked how he planned to approach his assignment in Fort Lauderdale, Gretsas said he would seek his direction from the City Commissioners and carry it out. Councilman Benjamin Boykin noted to WPCNR that Gretsas' selection was a tribute to what he accomplished in White Plains and our city's progress. Photo by WPCNR News