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Goldendale council confirms Doug Franim as public works director after heated debate over job description and contract
Summary
The council adopted Resolution 739 to confirm Doug Franim as public works director on a 5–2 vote following extended discussion about whether the advertised job description was outdated, contract terms around termination and performance, and whether changes were made during the hiring process.
The Goldendale City Council voted 5–2 on Dec. 2 to adopt Resolution 739, confirming the mayor’s conditional offer to appoint Doug Franim as public works director after several council members raised procedural and contract concerns.
Council members debated whether the job was advertised using an antiquated job description and whether the hiring process had proceeded before the full council had an opportunity to approve updated job specifications. One member argued the city had advertised the position with a job description that was “so antiquated” it should not have been used; others defended moving forward because the position had been open for months and Franim had been performing many duties in recent months.
At the heart of the debate were several contract clauses and performance-accountability provisions. Council member Danielle (first referenced on the record during roll call) asked detailed questions about the employment agreement, including a provision that the employer may (at its option) discharge the employee and pay salary through an indicated notice period, and whether termination without cause would still require continued pay. She said the contract lacked language that would make poor performance a basis for cause and worried the city could be obliged to pay “$100,000–$150,000” if a department head did not meet expectations: “I think we're putting the city in a bad spot.”
Supporters of the appointment pointed to staff recommendations and letters of reference included in the packet. A council member who had worked with Franim said his “expertise and knowledge is second to none” and that Franim had effectively kept operations running during a period with interim management.
Council discussion also clarified that any amendment to an employment agreement requires written signature from all parties; as one council member noted, if the contract is signed and later amended both the city and the employee would need to sign the amendment.
Despite unresolved questions about job-description wording and post-hire contract language, the motion to adopt Resolution 739 passed, 5 ayes to 2 nays. The council directed staff and the public works committee to continue work on the public-works job description and on clarifying contract provisions for future hires and amendments. The resolution confirms the mayor’s hire but does not itself substitute for any subsequent written amendment that would require agreement by the appointee and the city.
