Stroud City Council held a special meeting on Aug. 27 to discuss the contract of new city manager Jeff Wilbourn, though it ultimately took no action on it at the time.
Before going into executive session, the Council listened to several members of the public speak on the issue, with most asking the Council to pause and reconsider offering the position to Wilbourn over recent concerns surrounding his position in Meeker.
It was this sentiment brought up by resident Melanie Williams.
“Since this process began, serious concerns surrounding Mr. Wilbourn’s administration in Meeker have become a matter of public controversy,” she said, adding that there is now a formal citizen request that he be removed from his position in Meeker. She continued, saying that she wasn’t declaring him guilty of anything. “Those matters deserve to be investigated and resolved on their facts, but that’s precisely my point. Theyaren’tresolved.Why would Stroud voluntarily place itself in the middle of that uncertainty?”
Another resident, Teresa Lawrence, asked that before they approve the employment contract for Wilbourn they go back to their own words to describe who should have the position.
“YousaidStroudwanted aleaderwhodemonstrates patience and compassion, who genuinely listens to citizens, communicates respectfully and calmly, even in challenging situations, treats every resident with dignity, fairness, and most importantly, cares deeply about the people who call Stroud home,” she said.
She said that Stroud deserves a city manager that tells them that he is Stroud proud and whose actions should already have proven that.