NEWPORT BEACH : City Still Seeking Utilities Director

A replacement for Robert J. Dixon, the former city utilities director who confessed to embezzling $1.82 million from city coffers, is still being sought.

Candidates are being asked to apply by Sept. 30, when recruitment will close, Personnel Director Duane Munson said.

So far roughly 20 people have applied, but 100 are expected by the deadline, Munson said.

Competition will be stiff, Munson predicted, with candidates subjected to rigorous background checks including one for possible criminal violations.

“We’re going to be real careful,” Munson said, adding that interviews, character checks, drug tests, education and experience will be taken equally into consideration.

Dixon, the previous utilities director, confessed to embezzling from the Newport Beach treasury over a period of 10 years.

He is serving a four-year prison term.

When Dixon was arrested Jan. 13, Jeff Staneart, the city’s assistant utilities director, assumed the top job. Munson declined to disclose the names of applicants.

Finalists for the job will be chosen during the first week of October, Munson said, and the top three to five candidates will be interviewed by the city manager.

The job pays between $61,000 and $86,000 a year, depending on experience.

Munson said that whoever is chosen will supervise 60 full-time and part-time employees and handle an annual budget of about $20 million.

Candidates are required to have at least three years’ experience in management or administration, and a bachelor’s degree, preferably in civil engineering or related fields.