LAKEPORT – Lakeport's new city manager is officially on the job this week, getting settled, acquainting herself with staff and preparing to jump into the budgeting process.
Margaret Silveira's first day on the job was Monday, and she was introduced by the Lakeport City Council on Tuesday.
Silveira, 53, comes from the city of Gustine, where she had her first city manager job.
She takes over from interim City Manager Kevin Burke, who since August 2008 has done double duty managing the city in addition to his regular duties as police chief.
Burke took on the duties in August 2008 when then-City Manager Jerry Gillham left for a deployment with the Oregon National Guard, as Lake County news has reported. Gillham resigned last year following health issues suffered while on active duty.
In a Thursday interview Silveira said that Burke was credited with doing a good job for the city as its interim manager, and was offered the job permanently, but declined.
She has spent much of her life in the Central Valley. Born in the Azores in Portugal, she and her family came to the United States when she was 3 years old, initially moving to Humboldt County, where her uncle worked in the Scotia lumber mill.
About a year later, her family moved to Gustine, a city about the size of Lakeport which is home to a large Portuguese community. The area's main industries revolve around dairy farming, as well as other forms of agriculture like tree crops, including almonds, she said.
Silveira has a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership from Chapman University in Orange, and an associate's degree from Modesto Junior College.
She was the director of housing and economic development for the city of Riverbank, located in Stanislaus County, from May 1999 to November 2007 before becoming Gustine's city manager, according to her resume.
In those administrative positions she has gained experience in redevelopment, and noted that Gustine was in the process of accepting its first redevelopment area project when she chose to come to Lakeport.
“I was happily working where I was at,” Silveira recalls.
Then a flyer came across her desk for the Lakeport job. Silveira has two grown children, daughter Loni and son Neil, and she said that Loni – who is married with a 3-year-old daughter – liked the Lake County area and had been talking about wanting to move here, so Silveira decided to check it out.
She called Burke, had a good conversation, and visited the community to check it out before applying.
“It's a beautiful community and the people are very friendly here,” she said.
Silveira arrives just as some of the city's departments – at Burke's direction – have begun putting their 2010-11 fiscal year budgets together. The city has has financial challenges in recent years due to less revenue in the forms of sales tax and permits.
However, Silveira notes, “Lakeport's not unique,” when it comes to challenges, and she suggests that the city actually is in a better situation than some other areas.
Getting a full picture of the city's finances will be one of Silveira first big tasks, she said.
Moving from an area of mostly dairies to one that has a mix of agriculture and tourism offers Silveira some new challenges. The sales tax and tourism aspects between the two communities are a huge difference, she said.
“This is going to be very interesting, a new adventure for me,” she said, adding that she's looking forward to the new learning experience.
Helping her along the way will be the city's staff, which has impressed Silveira for the depth of its experience, expertise and knowledge.
On Tuesday, members of the Board of Supervisors appeared at the meeting, with Supervisor Rob Brown presenting her with a welcome basket of products produced around the lake.
He joked that Kelseyville may not have a college – referring to the effort to win Mendocino College's Lake Center campus, which is settling in Lakeport – but it has other offerings, like good wine.
“It was a very nice surprise,” she said.
She met County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox during one of her interviews with a community interview panel. Silveira said she and Cox are scheduled to talk more soon, and she's looking forward to getting to know local leaders.
Silveira pointed to the importance of local governments working together.
In the midst of her move to Lakeport, Silveira's son got married. Daughter Loni is jealous of her mom's move and, if the right job opportunity comes along, more members of Silveira's family might make the move.
Silveira said the city is planning a community reception for her at a future, as-yet undetermined date.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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