Riverbank hires away Gustine’s city manager

Sean Scully reportedly is preparing to leave his job as Gustine city manager to take the same position in Riverbank, a larger city in a neighboring county.

The Riverbank City Council met behind closed doors Monday to discuss hiring Scully, who previously worked as an assistant planner in Turlock. The council emerged without a formal announcement, but Riverbank Mayor Richard O’Brien said the council members agreed on terms and Scully’s appointment will be announced at a Nov. 22 meeting.

The Modesto Bee was unable to reach Scully on Tuesday at his office in Gustine, which has about 5,842 people and is on Merced County’s northern border, 38 miles from Riverbank. Although some ballots from the Nov. 8 election remain uncounted, Gustine voters appear to have changed mayors; challenger Mel Oliveira, with 58 percent, was leading incumbent Dennis Brazil at the last count.

Riverbank, in Stanislaus County, has about 23,913 people, the California Department of Finance says.

Scully’s annual salary was $105,000 when he was hired in Gustine in September 2014. His base pay in Riverbank will be $140,000, according to a draft contract.

He will succeed Jill Anderson, who after 4 1/2 years at the helm took a job in Oregon in August to be closer to her boyfriend. She was making $155,000 a year in Riverbank.

Finance Director Marisela Garcia has filled in as interim city manager in Riverbank. She is expected Nov. 22 to become assistant city manager, a job just created by the Riverbank council, with a $130,000 base salary.

This story was originally published November 16, 2016 at 4:09 PM with the headline "Riverbank hires away Gustine’s city manager."