El Segundo : Firing of Manager OKd

As expected, the City Council has voted to terminate suspended City Manager Nicholas Romaniello, effective July 8. Romaniello, the former planning director who was appointed city manager last May, was suspended with pay April 1 for allegedly trying to obtain confidential police files on a candidate in the April 8 election.

Last month the council rehired Arthur E. Jones, city manager for 18 years before he retired a year ago, to replace Romaniello. The city’s code prohibits the council from officially firing a city manager for 90 days after an election but does not prevent hiring a replacement. Romaniello’s termination was announced after a closed session Tuesday to comply with a city ordinance that requires 30 days notice be given to employees before they are fired.