Port’s New Manager to Take Helm July 1

The property manager of the Ventura Port District will become its general manager July 1, overseeing a newly consolidated district and receiving a higher salary for the job’s expanded responsibilities.

Oscar Pena had been appointed general manager by the Port District Commission. He will be paid $103,000, almost $20,000 more than his predecessor, Ed Wohlenberg, who resigned in March.

The salary reflects the broadened responsibilities of the port district’s general manager, who oversees the harbor’s maintenance and safety but now will also have oversight of Ventura Harbor Village, an area of shops, restaurants and other businesses.

Pena served as Harbor Village property manager for eight years. The village’s 20 staff members, who previously worked for a separate property management company, will join the port district’s 15 maintenance workers and harbor patrol officers as port district employees.

By not replacing Pena as property manager and eliminating two full-time and two part-time maintenance positions, commissioners expect to cut about $150,000 from the port district’s annual payroll.