On the one year anniversary of city Community Development Director Richard Thompson’s temporary promotion to interim city manager, the City Council Tuesday unanimously approved Dave Carmany to the appointment of Manhattan Beach’s new city manager starting Jan. 10.
“I’m humbled and honored to be chosen as city manager of Manhattan Beach,” Carmany said.
For the past three years, Carmany has served as the city manager of Seal Beach, and before that for the cities of Pacifica, Malibu and Agoura Hills. He also worked as a regional manager for Public Agency Retirement Services.
“We settled upon a veteran city manager with over three decades of management experience,” said Councilmember Mitch Ward, who served with Mayor Pro Tem Nick Tell on the transition team that was tasked with sifting through over 90 applicants for the city manager position in the past year.
Carmany’s three-year contract with Manhattan Beach includes a $213,220 salary, a $400 a month car allowance and a city contribution of 4.5 percent of his salary in deferred compensation. Should he decide to move to the city — he lives in Huntington Beach with his wife Lori — it also includes a moving reimbursement of up to $5,000 and a market rate loan from the city for a home that costs no more than $1.2 million. The city would acquire ownership interest in the home, according to Ward.
Seal Beach Mayor David Sloan accompanied Carmany during his appointment to city manager at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
“He’s a true professional, a man of integrity and has a fantastic work ethic,” Sloan said of Carmany. “He leaves a large void for Seal Beach, but is the right fit for Manhattan Beach.”
Carmany’s contract will automatically renew every year unless he or the city gives 12 months written notice. The agreement also includes a severance pay of 12 months of Carmany’s salary should the city ever terminate the contract without cause, but not if he resigns or if the city fires him for reasons that include misconduct or breach of contract.
The council thanked Thompson for stepping into the role of interim city manager for the past year, overseeing such projects as Sand Dune Park, a downtown parking study, parking meter replacements, the Six-Man Volleyball Tournament, the new library and vitality city projects, and the creation of the Centennial 2012 Committee.
Councilmembers unanimously approved a one-time $70,000 performance payment to Thompson for what will be 13 months of work as interim city manager that they said was outside his customary role as director of Community Development. The bonus will not be included in Thompson’s retirement pension.
“There is so much he did,” said Mayor Richard Montgomery. “If we paid somebody outside to come in [for the past year], it would have cost a lot more. He did a good job for us and it was money well spent. Richard, you deserved it.”
Cohen says ‘no’ to second term
After weeks of speculation over whether she will run for reelection to City Council in March, incumbent Councilmember Portia Cohen announced Tuesday that she will not run for another term.
“As honored as I am to serve as your city councilmember, I am not going to seek a second election,” she said.
Cohen served on the city’s Planning Commission before she won a vacant City Council seat in the March 2007 elections. She served as the city’s mayor from March 2009 to December 2009.
Councilmember Mitch Ward will be termed out in March, leaving two open seats.
Manhattan Beach Unified School Board member Amy Howorth and former Planning Commissioner Kathleen Paralusz, who is also the sister-in-law of Mayor Richard Montgomery, both pulled papers last month. Planning Commissioner David Lesser and resident Viet Ngo both pulled papers last Friday.
So far only Paralusz has filed papers, according to the city’s website.
With no incumbent running, the deadline to file papers has been extended until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15.
For more information, contact the city clerk at (310) 802-5056. ER
