Dixon Council fills community development and city engineer positions

Article Launched: 09/30/2005 06:57:29 AM

Council fills two positions

By David Henson/Staff Writer

After months of searching for replacements in two crucial management positions, the Dixon City Council plugged holes in a leaking City Hall staff this week.

The council voted 4-1 Tuesday night to hire a new community development director and city engineer and increase the salary ranges for both.

Councilman Steve Alexander voted against the measures.

Royce Cunningham, a senior engineer in Vallejo, will take up duties in Dixon as city engineer Oct. 24. The salary range for the position was increased by 18 percent Tuesday night, and Cunningham will start with an annual salary of $124,368.

David Dowswell, currently the planning and building manager in Albany, will start as Dixon's community development director on Oct. 31. Compensation for that position was boosted by 25 percent, and Dowswell will receive $102,612 annually.

After an unsuccessful attempt to recruit a new city engineer this spring, the city decided that increases in salaries likely would be needed in order to recruit qualified candidates to handle the complex projects facing the city such as Dixon Downs.

The increased salary ranges for those positions could have implications on what City Manager Warren Salmons is paid. While not a contractual requirement, Salmons is supposed to be paid 15 percent more than other managers. Salmons' current base pay is $128,422.

David Henson can be reached at dixon@thereporter.com.