Talent city manager to retire March 3; council appoints Alex Campbell as city manager pro tem effective Feb. 10

City Manager Gary announced during the Talent City Council meeting on Feb. 5 that he will retire effective March 3 and will begin a reduced work schedule through February. The council voted unanimously to appoint Alex Campbell as city manager pro tem effective Feb. 10 and directed the city attorney and city manager to work with Campbell on an employment agreement for council approval.

The move, presented by Gary, is intended to provide a managed transition and maintain continuity as the city moves forward on multiple large grants and projects. Gary said he will work limited days in February and recommended bringing on a pro tem immediately to “ensure a good transition of management over the next 3 to 4 weeks.”

Councilors spent substantial time interviewing Campbell on Feb. 5. Campbell said he would continue the city manager practice of a weekly written report and regular meetings with council leadership, and emphasized stakeholder engagement and staged project updates to keep the council informed. “Part of good project planning is identifying stakeholders very early,” Campbell told the council.

Councilor Perry Miller moved to direct the city attorney and city manager to work with Alex Campbell on an employment agreement and to appoint Campbell as city manager pro tem effective Feb. 10; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll-call vote with all present members voting yes. Council discussion noted the need to quickly establish a timeline of workload and key grants so the pro tem transition preserves momentum on ongoing projects.

Mayor Flood and several councilors praised Gary’s leadership and described the appointment as an opportunity for a “warm handoff” that would reduce the risk of interruptions to grant administration and other active projects.

Campbell, who described prior work with state agencies and regional recovery efforts, told the council he is “excited to jump in” and would prioritize communication with elected officials and staff during the interim period.

The council asked Gary and Campbell to coordinate on a recommended interim timeline and a grants/workload schedule to present at an upcoming meeting and to consult with RVCOG as appropriate. No permanent appointment was made; the motion directs staff to prepare an employment agreement for council consideration.

Actions at the meeting regarding this topic included a formal motion to appoint Campbell and to have the city attorney and city manager develop an employment agreement for later council approval.

The council did not set a date for any subsequent recruitment or permanent appointment during the Feb. 5 meeting; decisions about the length of an interim assignment and any recruitment process were left to future council discussion.