SAN DIEGO: Mayor Jerry Sanders' office sent a memo yesterday to the Southeastern Economic Development Corp., telling the agency not to hire an interim manager or a search firm until a new board is seated.

The SEDC is scheduled to discuss those two items at its meeting today.

Sanders nominated four new members last week to the nine-member SEDC board. A few more names will be released in the next couple of weeks, said mayoral spokesman Darren Pudgil. The City Council is expected to vote on the nominations next month.

Councilmen Tony Young and Ben Hueso have asked Sanders to keep three of the seated board members. Pudgil said Sanders is “willing to work with” the councilmen on that issue.

Longtime SEDC President Carolyn Smith was fired last month after revelations that she had been giving herself and her staff large bonuses above and beyond their city-approved salaries. –J.S.