HUNTINGTON BEACH : Finance Boss to Shift Into Treasurer’s Post
The city’s finance director will fill in as the city treasurer at least until March, when voters decide whether the office should be appointive or remain elective.
Dan Villella will take on the responsibilities Dec. 29, replacing Don Watson, who recently retired.
Robert Franz, deputy city administrator of the Administrative Services Department, will serve as acting finance director.
The council this week also approved increasing Villella’s salary to $88,176 from $79,416 as compensation for the additional duties assigned to the city treasurer.
Villella is expected to step down from the treasurer’s office after the March 26 special election, said Richard Barnard, also a deputy city administrator.
If the treasurer remains an elected office and Villella returns to his old job, the council must appoint a person to fill the position until November, when Watson’s term officially expires. Voters in November would choose a new treasurer.
If the office becomes appointive, an interim treasurer would be selected to serve until the term expires in November, at which point a permanent selection could be made.
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