By Mary Owen
Appointed by Mayor Scott Vigil and approved by Stayton City Council, Finance Director Christine Shaffer has stepped in as the city’s interim city administrator.
“I am looking forward to assisting the mayor and city council in the recruitment process for the next city administrator,” Shaffer said.
“It is a very important position for the city and finding the right fit for our community is critical.”
Shaffer plans to continue as finance director once a new city administrator is hired.
Long-time city employee and former city administrator Don Eubank retired in June, leaving the position open.
At a work session prior to the July 15 city council meeting, Shaffer said the council discussed the points for a recruitment profile.
Shaffer said she will present a final draft for approval at the Aug. 5 council meeting.
“We’ll be looking for someone with minimum of a bachelor’s degree in public administration,” she said. “Someone with at least five years in a municipality as public works director, planning director, finance, assistant city administrator or such capacity.”
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated strong ties to the community, including working with public and private nonprofit entities, she added.
“We also want a candidate that can help us with economic development, especially focusing on our commercial core,” she said.
The position will be posted in the week of Aug. 19 in numerous statewide and one national trade publication, as well as with two colleges that have graduate programs in public administration, Shaffer said.
“The goal is to have the new city administrator in place by Jan. 1,” Shaffer said. “We’re really excited about getting that fresh face for our community, someone who will work well with the city leaders and can pull us all together.”
Shaffer said the selected candidate will have to fill big shoes.
“Don was a great leader in his five years as city administrator,” she said. “He took the city from when we were at a standstill to a great place. He put some good leaders in place and let them do their jobs. Everyone was working for one common goal.”
Shaffer said the appreciation staff and city councilors have for Eubank goes deep.
“His quality of leadership was really something great for our city,” she said.
Interested individuals will find the recruitment profile, once posted, on the city website, www.staytonoregon.gov. For information, call 503-769-3425.
