Mangano hires ex-Long Beach city manager

Despite an ongoing hiring freeze, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano has hired the former Long Beach city manager, who served under the former Republican-controlled city council and was in charge when the city's credit rating sank to a notch above junk.

Mangano aide Brian Nevin confirmed that Charles Theofan started Friday as Mangano's deputy county executive overseeing the county attorney's office, housing, community development and planning. Theofan, a Freeport Republican who made $166,303 when he left Long Beach when Democrats took control in January, will be paid $90,000 annually, Nevin said.

Mangano also hired the former press secretary and chief of staff to former Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury). Nevin said Fran Evans, a Huntington Democrat who has worked for the Town of Huntington and the New York Power Authority, started Friday as a part-time press aide earning up to $30,000 annually. She declined to comment.

"There continues to be a nonessential hiring freeze," Nevin said. "Certain positions must be filled when vacancies occur to ensure that government continues to function."

Asked the reason for the hirings, Nevin pointed to a report by Grant Thornton, an auditing firm that analyzed Nassau's operations: "Consistent with the . . . report, the county is implementing managerial changes that do not add to the cost of government. These individuals will simply replace two employees that left the payroll."

Through layoffs and retirements, Mangano has cut more than 900 positions than were authorized in the 2011 budget, officials said.

The new hires "are not essential positions," said PBA president James Carver, who opposed Mangano's plan to cut some 100 police positions as part of a precinct reorganization. "It sends the wrong message to workers of the county. They continue to hire these ordinance positions while workers' salaries are frozen and they are closing precincts."

Theofan, who could not be reached, was hired as Long Beach city manager in 2004. In December, Moody's Investors Service downgraded the city's credit rating from A1 to Baa3 with a negative outlook. Theofan blamed the cash crunch on cleanup costs from Tropical Storm Irene and delayed tax payments from a large property owner.

The Long Beach City Council declared a fiscal emergency in February. The city does not have departments of planning or economic development.