Gustine Police Chief Doug Dunford will wear two hats for a while, serving as both the city’s top public safety officer and its chief executive. In a unanimous vote Wednesday, the City Council appointed Dunford to the city manager job. He’ll earn $144,348 a year as city manager, with annual salary increases of 2 percent. According to Transparent California, he took home $167,406.55 including benefits as police chief last year.
Dunford’s duel performance as police chief and city manager will be evaluated quarterly, according to deputy clerk Melanie Correa. He was one of four finalists for the job.
Gustine is a city of about 5,700 located in the San Joaquin Valley. Its last city manager, Sean Scully, is now working as the top administrator in Riverbank.