Reminder, La Grande to appoint city manager pro-tem tonight

LA GRANDE – A reminder to La Grande residents, the La Grande City Council will be appointing a city manager pro-tem during tonight’s meeting, along with a formal declaration of intent to appoint another city manager. These constitute new business items ‘a’ and ‘b’ on the agenda. An explanation listed on the council action form for the pro-tem appointment reads: 

“Following the termination of City Manager O’Brien, the Office of City Manager is now vacant. Pursuant to Section 25(2) of the La Grande City Charter, when a vacancy occurs in the Office of City Manager, the City Council shall appoint a City Manager Pro Tem to assume the powers and duties of the City Manager.

The appointment will provide for continued administrative leadership and oversight of City operations while the City Council works toward filling the City Manager position.”

The explanation for the declaration of intent also reads:

“Pursuant to Section 22(5) of the La Grande City Charter, whenever a vacancy occurs in the Office of City Manager, the City Council is required to adopt a Resolution of its intention to appoint another City Manager at its next meeting following the vacancy.

Following the recent vacancy in the Office of City Manager, Council consideration is requested to adopt a Resolution of Intent to Appoint Another City Manager. The Charter further requires the Council to fill the vacancy by appointment within six consecutive months.”

These items follow the decision by the La Grande City Council to formally terminate the employment agreement with, now former, City Manager John H. O’Brien during a special session on Thursday, October 29. O’Brien was initially hired by the city council in July of 2025, with all bUT two members of the council voting in favor of terminating his contract. The city’s official statement on the decision reads:

“During a special meeting and accompanying executive session of the La Grande City Council on the evening of Thursday, October 29, the council officially moved to terminate the employment contract of City Manager John O’Brien, along with the authorization of a severance package. 

Initially hired by the council in July of 2025, this public decision to terminate O’Brien’s contract followed a multi-hour executive session, where-in council members deliberated amongst themselves and the city’s legal council and came to an informal consensus prior to resuming the public portion of the meeting. During the session, O’Brien was brought in to join the council and speak for approximately fifteen minutes.

The decision to terminate O’Brien’s contract was voted in favor by most city council members, with the exception of Molly King and Denise Wheeler. The decision to approve the severance agreement was approved by all council members. The council will make a decision to appoint an interim city manager during a future session.”

Please note that the majority of deliberations and discussion surrounding the decision occurred in an extensive executive session during the special meeting on October 29, in which John O’Brien was himself briefly brought in to speak to council members. While members of the media (including an Elkhorn Media Group reporter) were present during the meeting, details discussed within the executive session cannot legally be disclosed. 

Tonight’s city council meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. in the council chambers of La Grande City Hall, 1,000 Adams Avenue. Members of the public may attend in person or watch a livestream on the city’s YouTube channel at: youtube.com/@cityoflagrandeoregon7161

---

---

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

---

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

---

Elkhorn Media Group