HUNTINGTON BEACH : Head of Community Development Hired

Melanie Fallon will become director of community development on Jan. 31, responsible for managing the planning, building and safety and zoning code enforcement for the city.

Fallon, who will be paid $98,532 a year, currently serves as deputy planning director of the city of Los Angeles.

She has been interim director of planning for Los Angeles and previously served as director of planning for Santa Ana. She has also worked in the planning departments for the cities of Inglewood, Manhattan Beach and Santa Monica.

She has a master’s degree in urban affairs and in planning from Boston University.

Fallon fills a position that was made vacant earlier in the year when Mike Adams, the previous director of community development, became director of special projects, a newly created position.

City Councilman Jim Silva criticized the action last week, claiming that it was “very irresponsible” for the council to add a $100,000-a-year position to the city payroll.

“In times of economic crunch, they shouldn’t be creating new jobs,” Silva said. “I’m sure she will do a very good job, but that’s not the point.

Mayor Linda Moulton-Patterson and council members Grace Winchell, David Sullivan, Ralph Bauer, Earle Robitaille and Victor Leipzig voted in favor of the hiring.

“I am very concerned about streamlining the permitting processes for businesses, and I think a person with Miss Fallon’s background will be very helpful to this goal,” Moulton-Patterson said Monday.

Moulton-Patterson also said the city is not adding a position but filling a vacant one.