Milton-Freewater City Council extends offer for city manager position

The Milton-Freewater City Council offered the city manager position to Charles “Chad” Morris, deputy city manager of Niceville, Florida, on Tuesday, March 26.

The unanimous decision followed a community meet-and-greet on Monday, March 25, interviews with three candidates and an executive session to deliberate on Tuesday.

The council offered an annual salary of $160,000 and a to-be-decided moving allowance, along with other benefits, which Morris accepted, providing the rest of the contract can be negotiated.

The position was open after the retirement of Linda Hall, who started with the city in 1993 and has served as city manager since 2007. City recorder Leanne Steadman has served as interim city manager since February.

The city contracted with Issaquah-based recruitment firm Prothman to recruit candidates for the position, and Prothman representative Cliff Moore was on hand during interviews and negotiations Tuesday.

The council authorized Moore to meet with Morris to talk through the contract, which will also be reviewed by the city attorney before it goes before the council for final approval on Monday, April 8.

The council also directed Moore to notify the other candidates — Benjamin Burgener, city manager of Stanfield, Oregon, and Aaron Palmquist, city manager of Irrigon, Oregon — that an offer had been made.

Morris has worked for the city of Niceville since 2001 and has been the deputy city manager for just over a year. He has a master’s degree in public administration from Troy University and a business administration bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of West Florida.

His other roles in Niceville included director of information systems, director of purchasing and project manager.