Front Page, Oakridge/Westfir

Oakridge city administrator calls it quits following latest rancorous clash with adversaries on council

Share this article
bryan cutchen,oakridge city council,resignation
‘It is apparent the current city council majority and I have diverging views on the current condition and future of Oakridge,’ City Administrator Bryan Cutchen said in his letter of resignation Friday. Doug Bates/The Herald

By DOUG BATES/Editor/The Herald — After weathering months of insults and innuendo questioning the integrity of his budgeting, Oakridge City Administrator Bryan Cutchen announced Friday that he has had enough.

“A working relationship lacking trust and respect” led to his decision to resign, effective Feb. 28, he said in a brief written statement just hours after another in a series of tumultuous city council meetings (see separate story).

Cutchen declined The Herald’s request for further comment on his decision. It drew expressions of sorrow from his two supporters on the council, including Mayor Kathy Holston, who said the former Navy commander’s character “is unimpeachable.”

The council’s five-member majority, however, has been criticizing Cutchen’s budget work for months — some of them casting vague aspersions and one of them, Councilor Dawn Kinyon, posting on social media Thursday night that she thinks “something fishy is going on” at City Hall.

Kinyon, who is the council’s budget committee chair, abruptly left Thursday night’s virtual (Zoom) council meeting before making that accusation on Facebook. She has produced no evidence that supports it.

Councilor Bobbie Whitney offered strong words of support for Cutchen after his resignation.

“I personally feel this will be a huge loss for our community,” she said in a written statement to The Herald. “Bryan, as an individual, is a strong positive representation of the amazing people we have in our community. As an administrator, he is what we needed to help us be fiscally responsible and move forward to build a stronger and healthier community.”

Council majority bloc stays mum

All five members of the council majority were also asked for comment, and only Councilor Audy Spliethof responded. “No comment,” he said.

The bloc of five is led by Council President Christina Hollett, who has clashed with Cutchen repeatedly since he took the Oakridge position in 2019. She has bristled at his proposals to rein in spending on emergency services, particularly the highly expensive ambulance service that the cash-strapped city is obligated to provide to a sprawling region intersected by one of Oregon’s most dangerous highways.

Hollett receives stipends from the city as an emergency medical technician. She is married to Scott Hollett, the Oakridge Fire Department captain whose extensive overtime pay has made him the city’s highest-paid employee. In fiscal year 2019-20 the two of them collected just shy of $200,000 in compensation from city coffers.

The remaining four members of the council majority — Kinyon, Spliethof, Michelle Coker and Melissa Bjarnson — won election to the council in the fall of 2020. They ran as a slate, supported and in some cases recruited by Hollett. Bjarnson works with Hollett as an EMT, also collecting city stipends.

Kinyon’s husband has been training to be a city ambulance driver, also eligible for stipends. She posted that information on the Facebook group site that she controls along with Hollett and Bjarnson. Critics of their conflict of interest, including The Herald, have been blocked from their chat site, one of several they control.

In a closed, executive session last March, members of this majority bloc discussed their unease with Cutchen’s austerity proposals involving emergency services, and they appeared to favor terminating him by voting against renewal of his contract. After The Herald reported on those discussions, about two dozen community leaders spoke up in Cutchen’s defense during an emotional public meeting on March 11, and his contract was subsequently renewed — but for just one year rather than the standard two years.

In the months since that outpouring of community support for Cutchen, the council majority bloc appeared to change its strategy, seeking his resignation rather than termination.

Cutchen’s starting salary was $90,000. Since then he has waived raises, citing the city’s budget squeeze.

He was hired by the city in early 2019 after retiring from a distinguished military career. He was a Navy pilot who rose to the rank of rear admiral, responsible for budgets far larger and more complex than any that the city of Oakridge has ever produced.

Oakridge city administrator’s statement

Here is the complete text of Cutchen’s letter of resignation:

“In accordance with my contract dated July 15, 2019, and subsequently amended March 24, 2021, I respectfully resign as the Oakridge City Administrator with an effective date of February 28, 2022.

“Since the November 2020 election, it is apparent the current city council majority and I have diverging views on the current condition and future of Oakridge. It has resulted in a working relationship lacking trust and respect. For the good of the city, the city council should find an administrator more aligned with their vision.

“During the transition, I am committed to keeping the priority projects on track and providing my successor what they need to affect a seamless transition.

“I am grateful to the city staff for their support, expertise, and tireless work ethic during my tenure. I wish the citizens of Oakridge all the best during these financially challenging times for the city.”

Oakridge mayor’s statement

Here is the complete text of Mayor Holston’s statement Friday evening:

“It was with great sadness and unwavering respect that I read today’s letter of resignation, effective Feb. 28, from City Administrator Bryan Cutchen.

“This period of Oakridge has been filled with great opportunity and much angst.

“When we hired Bryan Cutchen as CA, the possibilities for Oakridge were tenuous indeed.  We faced a financial situation that was unclear, an accounting system that was not up to standards and morale in our city staff that was dubious.   Despite my efforts to bring stability to our governance, it took the strong leadership of Mr. Cutchen to correct our financial course, establish sound accounting principles and bring stability to our workforce.  His straightforward and honest communications to council and the community on the state of  Oakridge were welcomed.

“I have great respect for his judgment and character and even greater respect for his honest and true appraisal of our city’s current status and future.

“Mr. Cutchen has stood his ground all his career, knowing how to choose a fair and equitable path and how to stick to it. He has done the same here.  His character is unimpeachable.

“So it was with incredulity and embarrassment on behalf of my community that I have watched and listened to elected officials, specifically Councilor Kinyon, Councilor Hollett and Councilor Spliethof, systematically and deliberately attempt to tarnish his character through snide comments, innuendo, false statements and untruths and inappropriate social media behavior.

“My greatest respect to him as a human being, a city administrator and a fellow target — and my deepest apologies on behalf of my community for their behavior.

“His resignation came as a surprise to me, but was not surprising.  I am sure it was not done without soul searching.  It comes at a time when Oakridge is moving forward on all aspects, with new employment opportunities, new opportunities for social development, and new economic vitality.  It comes at a time when we are attempting to create fiscal stability within our emergency services.  All of this is due to the leadership of Bryan Cutchen and the support I have received from him to pursue growth and opportunity for our community.

“Where we are failing is in politics.  It is the politics of distrust, underhandedness, and in my opinion dereliction of duty from some of our elected officials — that is their failure.

“I offer only respect and genuine gratitude to Mr. Bryan Cutchen for his service to Oakridge and my THANK YOU for a job well done.”

Councilor Whitney’s statement

Here is the complete text of Councilor Bobbie Whitney’s statement on Cutchen’s resignation:

“I can say that I’m not surprised and that I don’t blame him. This council has not shown a willingness to trust professional opinions nor respect the leadership of our administrator.

“I personally feel this will be a huge loss for our community. Bryan, as an individual, is a strong positive representation of the amazing people we have in our community. As an administrator, he is what we needed to help us be fiscally responsible and move forward to build a stronger and healthier community.

“His loss will have a resounding impact on Oakridge and will be felt by many. My hope is all the efforts made by community members will continue to have forward momentum in spite of our current circumstances.”

+ posts

📣 Support Your Local News Publication: Donate to Highway 58 Herald! 📣

The Highway 58 Herald is your trusted source for all things local, from community events to breaking news. But we need your help to keep delivering the stories that matter most to you. Your generous donation ensures we can continue providing in-depth reporting and vibrant coverage of our community.

Every dollar helps us maintain high-quality journalism and keep you informed. Please consider making a donation today and support the voice of our community. Donate today!

Thank you for helping us keep Highway 58 Herald strong and vibrant!

Comments are closed.

Saxon Insurance Medicare Advantage Plans Oakridge Oregon
Lane County Libraries The Power of Partnership throughout Lane County Oregon

graphic: Classifieds

GARAGE SALE: Tell folks about your upcoming garage sale here.

LANDSCAPING SERVICES:  It’s that time of year.  Let everyone know what services you have to offer.

JOB OPENINGS: Need to let the community know that you need help. Post your job openings here.

 

OFFICE SERVICES AVAILABLE:  Copying, Scanning, Emailing & Faxing Services are now available at The Herald’s office in Oakridge.
CLICK HERE for details.

graphic: Classified Ad Posting is Now Available - For Sale • Help Wanted • Landscaping • Rentals • Homes for sale • Repairs • Remodeling • and More! - Post your classified ad with us today.

Follow H58H on Social Media

The calendar is temporarily disabled due to a rendering error. Please reload the page.