County Appoints Community Services Chief

The Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed George Chapjian the county’s new director of the Community Services District, which oversees parks and the Housing and Community Development department. Chapjian comes from the City of Long Beach, where he currently works as the director of the Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department; he previously worked for the City of Glendale. In his current position, Chapjian manages a $52 million budget and 1,300 employees. In his new role — starting on June 29 — he will be in charge of 100 employees and a $20 million budget. Chapjian will take over for Assistant County CEO Renée Bahl, who has helmed the department since former director Herman Parker left in April 2014.