SLO County CSD hires new general manager to replace official that resigned. Who is he?

Cambria Community Services District has a new general manager — a paramedic who has worked in the area since 2008.

On Thursday, the district’s board of directors voted 4-1 to hire Matthew “Matt” McElhenie, 47, for the GM job. He started his new job at noon Friday.

In a letter to the community Friday, McElhenie said he’s spent 18 years working in emergency services, including 15 years working part-time as a Cambria Community Healthcare District paramedic. He also spent two years as a reserve firefighter and paramedic for the Cambria CSD.

McElhenie replaces acting general manager Ray Dienzo, who continues in the district engineer/utilities manager jobs he held while also holding down the top post.

Dienzo was filling in after previous GM John Weigold left in November after becoming engaged and relocating to the Santa Barbara area.

According to McElhenie’s employment agreement, he will earn $14,583 per month, or $175,000 annually, plus benefits for the first six months of his employment.

A staff report indicated his annual salary, based on the results of his six-month performance review, would then increase to $180,000 plus benefits the following year.

“I’m committed to transparency, to open communication and to inclusivity with our citizens, staff and board … with an open-door policy,” the Cal Poly graduate said during an in-person presentation to the board.

“I won’t be hiding in an office,” McElhenie added. “I plan to be out in the public.”

In addition to his work on the Cambria ambulance crew, McElhenie is currently program director for paramedic or emergency medical technician programs at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, UC Santa Barbara and Hartnell College in Salinas.

He previously was a fire engineer/paramedic for Cal Fire in Half Moon Bay and Fort Hunter Liggett.

According to his resume, his responsibilities as program director include financial analysis, public administration, economic community engagement and grant writing.

McElhenie holds a doctorate of public administration degree from California Baptist University in Riverside, a master’s degree in public safety administration from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, and a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Cal Poly. He served as a Marine Corps reservist from 1998 until 2006.

Cambria CSD board’s vote for new general manager

The board’s vote came after McElhenie’s verbal presentation, and CSD administrative analyst Haley Dodson reading of a parade of letters of support for McElhenie, mostly from former colleagues, and public comment.

Director Tom Gray voted no on the contract, explaining before the vote that he’s concerned about some gaps in McElhenie’s experience, including some areas of the CSD’s purview such as water and wastewater.

Gray also expressed concerns about McElhenie’s continuing employment with Hartnell College in Salinas.

McElhenie’s contract as CSD general manager calls for him to be within district boundaries five workdays a week unless he has teaching commitments. During those weeks, he’ll be in the district at least three days a week, while staying available by phone, email and video conferencing on the other work days.

“You’re energetic, outspoken, personable and a very good person for a job like this,” Gray told McElhenie at Thursday’s meeting.

However, Gray said, “The experience you have is limited and you face a steep learning curve.”

“We want to have more of you here,” Gray added, “and we’re not doing you a real favor by giving you time for this other job, which takes away time you need to settle in and learn a job so complex.”

Director Harry Farmer noted that Weigold also had outside employment.

McElhenie stressed that he’s accustomed to working long hours for several entities at a time.

He said the CSD has had fairly high turnover in the general manager position recently and added that keeping his foot in the academic world for a while will help insure his family’s financial security.

“That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t leave the teaching position at a certain age,” McElhenie said, but he has to “provide for my four children, my wife and our financial obligations.”

He, wife Melissa and their children Morgan, 17, twins Madden and Mallory, 15, and son Maverick, 12, live in Arroyo Grande.

“We will allow our children to finish their high-school journey, and graduate with their close friends,” he said in an email reply to The Tribune late on Friday. “Once that is said and done, we would love to entertain the opportunity of potentially moving to Cambria.”

Director Michael Thomas said he relates to McElhenie and his work ethic.

“Thirty years ago, I was working 60 hours a week, working on my MBA and raising three kids,” Thomas said. “I understand the challenge (of this job) and … I got the impression that you’re all in for Cambria.”