Goleta Gets New Public Works Director

Rosemarie Gaglione, who has served as the City of Goleta’s interim Public Works director since March, will lose the “interim” from her title and assume the permanent position, city spokesperson Valerie Kushnerov announced on Wednesday. Gaglione — selected for the job by new city manager Michelle Greene — bested 30 other applicants and brings with her seven-plus years of experience working for the city.

“We are fortunate to be able to promote one of our existing employees to this important position. Ms Gaglione has been a critical member of our Public Works team for the last 7.5 years and has provided leadership for our ambitious program of capital improvement work,” said Greene, who the city council unanimously voted in as top administrator earlier this month. Upon her own appointment, Greene — also an internal hire — expressed urgency at filling the Public Works director position.

Gaglione started her career with the city in 2007 as a top-level project manager and shortly thereafter was chosen to be the Capital Improvement Program Manager. At the end of 2012, she assumed the role of assistant city engineer. Prior to overseeing projects in the Good Land, Gaglione — a Cal Poly SLO alum — was the Capital Improvement Program Manager for the San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department.

As the head of the city’s Public Works arm — previously lead by Steve Wagner, who left in the spring to take the second-in-command post of the Goleta Sanitary District — Gaglione will earn $163,780 a year.