Deputy city manager departing Salem, leaving two top roles vacant
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Deputy Salem City Manager Scott Archer will leave Salem for a new job in Oregon City next month, the second city leader to depart his post in as many months.
The resignation means the city’s community services department is without a leader as city officials are seeking voter approval for a property tax increase to avoid sweeping cuts to its services.
Former City Manager Keith Stahley hired Archer two years ago into the role to manage parks and recreation, Center 50+ and the city library. His new job starts April 21, according to a news release from the city.
City spokeswoman Kathy Ursprung said Archer’s annual salary is $203,444 and that his last day with the city of Salem is April 11.
Archer’s departure was first reported by the Statesman Journal.
His resignation leaves vacant two of the city’s three top leadership posts. Stahley was ousted from his job in early February following an audit report that faulted his leadership.
Krishna Namburi, the city’s other deputy manager, was appointed interim manager earlier this month. She will now lead the city through a difficult budget cycle as Salem confronts a $14 million deficit.
City councilors also voted earlier this month to delay recruitment for a new city manager until at least September.
Archer has spent three decades working in local government in Oregon, including 12 as Oregon City’s community services director. He came to Salem from Canby.
Reporter Joe Siess contributed reporting.
Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.
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Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers education, economic development and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade and is a past president of Oregon's Society of Professional Journalists chapter. Outside of work, you can often find her gardening or with her nose buried in a book.
