Amigos Director Fired in Dispute Over Its Future

HUNTINGTON BEACH — The Amigos de Bolsa Chica fired its longtime executive director in a disagreement over the environmental group’s future, a city councilman said Thursday.

Adrianne Morrison had been executive director of the group nearly 12 years before being fired Wednesday, said Huntington Beach City Councilman Peter Green, a former Amigos president.

“I think it will be less of a dynamic organization without Adrianne,” said Green, who learned of the news from Amigos President Tom Livengood.

Neither Morrison nor Livengood could be reached Thursday for comment. Green said he believed Morrison and the organization’s current board of directors may have been at odds over what the Amigos should do now that their original mission has been accomplished.

The group formed 21 years ago with the avowed purpose of protecting and restoring the Bolsa Chica wetlands next to Huntington Beach. That goal was reached in February, when the state Lands Commission bought 880 acres of the wetlands for preservation.

Since then, the Amigos board of directors has been wrangling over whether to align itself with the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, which is fighting to preserve the adjoining Bolsa Chica mesa where the Koll Co. is planning a 2,400-home development.

“For the last year and a half there has been some friction between Adrianne as executive director and the changing composition of the board,” Green said.

“I suspect they find themselves more sympathetic with the Land Trust,” Green said, while Morrison’s focus remained on the wetlands.

Green said Morrison was “upset” over the firing but confident she will find another job.

Green said the firing may have been over philosophy, but it will ultimately help the group’s financial situation. He said he believes the Amigos won’t replace Morrison, but instead hire a lesser-paid office manager and rely more on volunteers.