2023-12-14 Press Release - City Manager Recruitment Suspended

 

2023-12-14 Press Release - City Manager Recruitment Suspended City Manager Recruitment – A number of months back the City began a recruitment process for a City Manager. Electronic interviews were held with candidates in mid-November and two finalists were selected. Both candidates have many good qualities and qualifications, and both were very patient as the City navigated through the recruitment process during the holiday season.

On December 7th the finalists were interviewed by a community panel and the city’s director team and that evening the City hosted a Meet and Greet to allow citizens to meet them. On December 13th the City Council held an Executive Session and had individual interviews with the two candidates.

City Council reviewed comments from the community panel, staff, and citizens who attended the Meet and Greet. After the council's individual interviews and the review of the comments, the Council has decided that neither candidate was the right fit for the Lebanon City Manager position.

The Council has decided to continue with an Interim City Manager to help manage and maintain our City staff and services while the council regroups and works on a plan to find the right individual that would fit well into the City organization.

Mayor Ken Jackola would like to express his appreciation to both of the candidates for their patience working through the lengthy recruitment process and to all of those that participated in the process. While it is a bit of a setback to have not found the exact person this time, it is more important that we make the right decision rather than a hasty decision.

City Engineer Ron Whitlatch has been Interim Manager since August 2023 and will continue in that role until a City Manager can be chosen.

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