FOSTER CITY -- The director of public works has joined a long line of senior officials who are stepping down in this quiet bayside community.

Ray Towne, who has been with Foster City since 1999, announced this week he will retire Dec. 28. The city is recruiting a replacement.

"Ray has seen the city through this challenging economic time," City Manager Jim Hardy said in a statement, "ensuring that the services our community has come to expect continue in the same high-quality manner."

Towne's retirement will be the seventh among Foster City's managerial ranks in the last two years. Police Chief Craig Courtin will step down Oct. 9. He is preceded by two fire chiefs, a community development director, an assistant city manager and a finance director.

The departures have allowed the city in some cases to consolidate positions to save money. The city is grappling with a structural deficit last estimated at $1.6 million.

Towne counts among his favorite moments receiving a book on Foster City by T. Jack Foster, whose family built the community from scratch, inscribed with the words, "Foster City looks great -- keep up the good work." Towne said he plans to relax for a few months and then do some traveling with his wife.

Contact Aaron Kinney at 650-348-4357. Follow him at Twitter.com/kinneytimes.