FUNG

CRANSTON — As he prepares to take office next month, Republican Mayor-elect Allan W. Fung is looking to tap the talents of a diverse group of people — some with private-sector experience, and some with public sector experience in places such as Woonsocket and South Kingstown.

Two appointees may also be returning for a second tour of duty right here in Cranston.

Scheduled to take office Jan. 5, Fung has chosen Robin Muksian-Schutt to be his director of administration, coaxing former Mayor Stephen P. Laffey’s deputy director of administration away from her current job — director of administrative services in South Kingstown.

Muksian-Schutt will be paid $88,422 a year — $14,280 more than departing Democratic Mayor Michael T. Napolitano’s administration director, but the increase will be more than offset by savings on other positions in the mayor’s office, Fung said.

“Robin, obviously, was an easy choice,” Fung said. “She not only has experience with the city of Cranston but is dedicated and a hard worker willing to put in the necessary time to get the city back on the right track.”

Also looking to return is Laffey alumnus David Maher, who served as economic development director under the former Republican mayor and is now pegged to serve as Community Development Block Grant coordinator, a post that pays $56,967.

In all, Fung will be filling more than 20 positions — seven in the mayor’s office and the rest in other departments with posts that are appointed by the mayor, usually with the approval of the City Council.

In the mayor’s office, the appointments are expected to shave some $24,800 in annual salary costs, primarily by making two assistants part-time. The part-time positions are also expected to reduce pension and health-care costs, though one of the part-timers is married to a full-time city employee, which means the health-care savings in that case may be a wash.

Outside of the mayor’s office, Fung is tapping a former Cranston employee and current Woonsocket School Department employee to serve as the city’s finance director. Robert Strom, who served as finance director for the City of Woonsocket before taking the schools post, would make $95,000 a year if the appointment is approved by the City Council, the same as Corsino Delgado earned under Napolitano.

Other proposed appointees include:

•Lawrence DiBoni, a Cranston resident and business consultant, economic development director;

•Stanley Pikul, a former building official in West Warwick and Cumberland, building inspector;

•John Corso, a Cranston resident and business owner, highway superintendent;

•David Ventetuolo, a Cranston resident and construction supervisor, public buildings supervisor; and

•Jacques Dextradeur, who served in both the Army and in the private sector, workforce development coordinator.

Fung is retaining three people from Napolitano’s administration in their jobs: Public Works Director Anthony Sylvia, Parks and Recreation Director Anthony Liberatore and Senior Services Director Terry Murphy.

The only post that was advertised was that of the finance director, the Republican mayor-elect said.

In other cases, people simply called or sent in resumés, which were reviewed by a transition team.

Fung said he looked for experience and knowledge of the city as he filled the positions and noted that no one from his transition team is on the list of appointees.

“We did it in a very businesslike manner,” he said.

Several of the appointments will need approval from the all-Democrat City Council, including those of the finance director, economic development director, community development director and building official.

Councilman John E. Lanni Jr., who takes over as council president next month, said there will be “no rubber stamp.”

“There will be questions,” Lanni said. “It’s going to be based on their qualifications, and that’s basically it. If they’re qualified, I’m sure they’ll get approved.”

Ernest J. Carlucci, Napolitano’s chief of staff, did not dispute the Fung administration’s projected salary savings for the mayor’s office or a projected savings based on plans for Fung and Muksian-Schutt to forgo having city vehicles assigned to them.

Carlucci did say, however, that he was out at many events on behalf of the city, and was working, for instance, during this past weekend’s snowstorm.

“Maybe they’re not going to be doing that kind of stuff,” he said.

He added: “I think that anything you do on behalf of the city to save money is a good thing.”

redgar@projo.com