Josephine County commissioners return airports manager to duty after executive session

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners voted to return Airports Manager Michael Crissafulli from administrative leave, the board announced after an executive session on May 11, 2026.

Commissioner Gary Richardson said, upon returning to open session, that Crissafulli "would be returned from administrative leave effective 8:00 a.m. the following morning and would report directly to Commissioner Richardson until further direction from the Board of Commissioners." The board directed staff to proceed without objection.

The action followed an executive session convened under Oregon statute ORS 192.660(2)(b), which allows local governments to meet in private to consider the dismissal or discipline of a public officer or employee. The board entered executive session at 3:01 p.m. and adjourned that closed session at 3:34 p.m.; minutes from the executive session were filed separately, the meeting record says.

Chair Ron Smith called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Commissioners Colene Martin and Gary Richardson were listed as present. The meeting record lists additional attendees including Michelle Shaw from human resources and reporters from the Daily Courier and Grants Pass Tribune.

The meeting record notes the board returned Crissafulli to duty effective the next morning at 8:00 a.m. and that he will report directly to Commissioner Richardson "until further direction from the Board of Commissioners." The record does not show a separate roll-call vote or a formal written motion in the public minutes; it states the board "directed staff to proceed without objection." The meeting adjourned at 3:35 p.m.