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Process for Appointment of Interim City Manager
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Milton-Freewater Outlines Process for Appointment of Interim City Manager
Milton-Freewater, OR — October 29, 2025 — At the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on October 13, 2025, the Milton-Freewater City Council voted to terminate the employment of the existing city manager. During the same meeting, the Council also voted to authorize Mayor Mike Odman to appoint an interim city manager to ensure the continuity of city operations during this transition period.
Since receiving that authorization, Mayor Odman has worked diligently to identify qualified candidates for the interim position. He utilized the Oregon League of Cities’ Interim City Staff Candidate Listing, reached out to potential candidates from that list, locally, and referenced the Oregon League of Cities’ Guide to Recruiting City Managers to help guide the process. Throughout this process, Mayor Odman has consulted with city attorneys to ensure that all actions align with Oregon State Law and the Milton-Freewater City Charter.
After evaluating potential candidates, Mayor Odman identified Tim Johnson as a qualified interim city manager candidate and presented him to the Council for consideration. Along with the presentation, Mayor Odman provided Mr. Johnson’s resume, a proposed work plan for the City of Milton-Freewater (submitted by Mr. Johnson), and a draft employment agreement that had been prepared by the City Attorney.
Councilors were given the opportunity to review the materials and ask questions before a motion was made to appoint Tim Johnson as interim city manager for a six-month term. No contract was approved at that meeting. Mr. Johnson requested the opportunity to consult with his own legal counsel prior to finalizing the terms of employment. This motion allows the negotiations to take place between the city and the candidate subject to final approval of the Council at a future Council meeting.
The Council has the legal authority to appoint an interim city manager without an interview, provided it acts through a lawful meeting (publicly noticed, with a quorum, and recorded action in the minutes).
The mayor will act as the representative to negotiate contract term and salary for the City. Once a tentative agreement has been reached between the City and Mr. Johnson, the proposed employment agreement will be presented to the City Council for consideration in open session at a properly noticed public meeting.
Additional Steps:
- Council reviews, discusses contract terms and potentially votes to approve the final contract in open session.
- If approved, then the city will compose a Conditional Offer Letter and Criminal Background Authorization Form
- The City will conduct a Criminal Background Check upon receiving the signed Authorization Form.
- After receipt and satisfactory review of a Criminal Background Check, a Final Offer Letter is provided to the interim CM, and a start date/orientation date is set.
The absence of a city manager has a significant impact on the City’s ability to conduct business efficiently. Additionally, the absence of a city manager leaves staff without direct leadership and a clear direction forward.
The purpose of appointing an interim city manager is to stabilize city operations, provide consistent leadership for staff, and assist the City Council in identifying the desired traits and qualifications for the next permanent city manager. The interim city manager will also play a key role in supporting the recruitment and onboarding of qualified candidates to ensure a smooth and successful transition for the organization.
The City’s goal remains to restore operational stability, support staff, and maintain transparency and public trust throughout this process.
For additional information, please contact:
City of Milton-Freewater
City Hall – 722 S Main Street
Milton-Freewater, OR 97862
(541) 938-5531
