Schnirman is new Long Beach city manager

The new Long Beach City Council has chosen Jack Schnirman, former chief deputy supervisor for the Town of Brookhaven, as the new city manager.

Schnirman, 34, will start the job on Jan. 3, replacing current city manager Charles Theofan, the council announced Wednesday. Schnirman, a Democrat, was the top deputy in Brookhaven from 2006 to 2008. He most recently was vice president of management consulting at Bowne Management Systems.

Schnirman and new councilors Fran Adelson and Scott Mandel, both Democrats who will take office Jan. 1, inherit a city government with $48.3 million in general obligation debt and myriad financial issues. Moody's Investor Services on Tuesday downgraded the city's general obligation debt to Baa3, the lowest investment grade rating.

Council members and Theofan will meet with Schnirman Thursday. He agreed to a salary 5 percent below the $166,304 Theofan is paid, Adelson said.

Schnirman was chosen, in part, for his experience in Brookhaven, which at the time had issues similar to those in Long Beach, incumbent Councilor Len Torres, a Democrat, said.

"Long Beach presents a really fantastic challenge," Schnirman said. "It's really a great city and a great part of Long Island . . . but on the government side it's facing some serious challenges."

He said his first steps would be "to figure out as quickly as possible how deep the crisis is, what our options are and chart a path forward to make the tough decisions necessary to put the city's finances on the road to recovery."

Councilors said they reviewed more than 200 applicant resumes from around the country.

The lone Republican councilor, John McLaughlin, and Theofan, a Republican, both approved of the choice.

"His experience says he should be a success," McLaughlin said of Schnirman. "I sincerely want him to succeed, because that means the city is succeeding."