The Salem City Council has unanimously voted to hire Public Works Director Annette Sola as Interim City Manager.
The decision came following a 40-minute closed session Monday night to discuss how to handle the resignation of City Manager Rex Barbee last week.
The $155,000 appointment will run through the end of 2024.
Mayor Nic Farley explained the decision.
“She is somebody that is very familiar with our community. She knows a lot of the areas and has worked under multiple city managers so she knows what works and doesn’t. She has the full support of the city council in this interim period. I truly believe she was the best choice for this interim position as we transition into finding our next city manager.”
Sola will initially hold both the public works and interim city manager positions.
“It is just a way right now to help the city bridge a gap. Our existing city manager’s resignation last week, we are going to be looking forward to continuing on with what we have been doing. We will immediately begin the search for a new public works director. Once that position is filled, then we will start our search for a new city manager. The intent for me is to fulfill these goals as I get ready to enter retirement myself.”
Sola expects a busy year with $ 3 million in road resurfacing projects along with new sidewalk and natural gas line replacement plans.
“We are really lucky right now that we have a really good team. I’m excited to work with them and I see absolutely no problems in moving forward.”
Sola has been with the city of Salem for 24 years in April. She started as city hall receptionist and moved to public works three years later where she served as Assistant Public Works Director for 18 years under John Pruden before being appointed Public Works Director in March 2021 after Pruden retired.
Farley says when the search for a new city manager begins they will cast a wide net for candidates. While they would like to select a regional candidate, he feels the top priority is finding a person who fits the culture and values of the city.
