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Residents and volunteers urge North Plains council to back City Manager Bill Reid
Summary
Multiple residents and community volunteers told the City Council they value continuity under City Manager Bill Reid and urged the council to consider renewing his contract so he can complete major projects; commenters also called for clearer financial reporting and auditor access.
At the May 4 City Council meeting, multiple residents and community volunteers urged the North Plains Council to support City Manager Bill Reid and preserve stability after a recent period of turnover. Russ Sheldon, a North Plains resident, said the city is "functioning well" and noted Reid had navigated the city through recent personnel changes while keeping services on or below budget.
Susan Brown, a 97133 rural resident, praised Reid’s ability to explain municipal matters clearly and said she learned he had taught government at Portland State University. "Small towns rarely have the benefit of someone with his qualifications, and North Plains is lucky to have him," Brown said, adding that she had observed a shift in tone by the Council beginning in early 2025 that, in her view, had led to staff being "publicly criticized" in ways that hurt morale.
Lisa Fry, a member of the North Plains Economic Development Commission, and Chi Miller of the Planning Commission also spoke in support, crediting Reid with keeping commissions engaged and informed during the pandemic. Former Councilor Robert "Butch" Kindel urged the Council to renew Reid's contract so he could complete projects including the Urban Growth Boundary expansion and the Glencoe Road project, telling the Council: "It takes a special kind of person to weather such humiliation."
Speakers emphasized continuity and institutional knowledge as central reasons for their requests. The public comment period also included a separate request from Strong Towns North Plains that the Council ensure auditor access until audits are current and consider color-coded monthly financial statements to improve public transparency.
Later in the meeting the Council convened an executive session under ORS 192.690(2)(i) to discuss employee performance evaluations and contracts; attendance inside the closed session was limited to Council members and the City Attorney. The meeting adjourned at 9:01 p.m.; the next City Council meeting is scheduled for May 18, 2026.
