Medford, OR. — The Medford City Council on Dec. 3 will review three actions that set the course for the city’s leadership transition and the hiring process for a new permanent City Manager.
Mayor Michael Zarosinski has appointed former Public Works Director John Vial to serve as City Manager Pro Tem effective Nov. 25, following the resignation of City Manager Rob Field. Field’s resignation became effective Nov. 24, but the Council must formally ratify the agreement as part of its procedural requirements.
A second item before the Council would grant the City Manager Pro Tem authority to hire and dismiss employees, with the exception of department directors and deputy directors. According to a press release “[t]he measure is intended to allow routine personnel decisions to proceed efficiently while keeping top leadership appointments under Council oversight.”
The Council will also consider a resolution establishing Medford’s roadmap for selecting the next City Manager. Under the City Charter, the city must appoint a new manager within one year of adopting the resolution. Staff project the full recruitment process—choosing a search method, completing procedural steps, and conducting candidate evaluations—could take about nine months.
Agenda materials and staff reports are available online, and the meeting will be livestreamed for the public.
About the Author
