IRVINE : City OKs Part-Time Treasurer Position

City Council members agreed Tuesday night to create a part-time treasurer’s job in response to the removal of an employee from that responsibility last month.

Jeff Niven, the city’s manager of fiscal services, was removed as treasurer by the council on April 25 after a review of a massive report on the city’s actions in relation to the county investment pool.

Niven and City Manager Paul O. Brady Jr. are under fire from a group seeking to recall Mayor Michael Ward and council members Barry J. Hammond and Paula Werner. Led by former Democratic congressional candidate Gary Kingsbury, the Irvine Recall Committee criticized Niven for encouraging the council to borrow $62 million last summer for an additional investment in the county pool, which collapsed last year after losing $1.7 billion in risky investments.

Niven has defended his investment decisions, saying he was misled by county officials. And the city investment report concluded that no city employees violated any laws or city policies. Niven continues to serve as manager of fiscal services.

Kingsbury criticized council members Tuesday night for making the position part time, saying the city’s mistakes as the largest municipal investor in the failed county pool indicate the need for a full-time treasurer.

“The city of Irvine is projected to have annual revenues of around $160 million,” Kingsbury said. “Please find me one company with that level of revenue that has a part-time treasurer. This city needs to deal with the aftermath of the serious investment crisis.”

But Human Resources Manager Susan Cannan told council members the position does not require a full-time employee, adding that the hours of the position can be expanded if necessary.