Following announcements last month of the resignation of several key members of the McCleary municipal government, Jon Martin has joined the city as a city administrator.

Welcomed by residents at the council meeting, Martin said he’s going to do his best to learn fast and help the city to keep the city running and navigate the upcoming budget season after Mayor Chris Miller reached out and brought him in following the staff exodus.

“Being part of McCleary was not something that was on my list of things to do, but I received a phone call from the mayor,” Martin said to the council. “(Miller) was pretty up front about some of the difficulties and relationship issues there.”

Martin said he’s here to keep the city running as it works to replace key positions.

“What was laid out to me was when you’re losing key people, you have to keep the city running,” Martin said. “Finding people for McCleary is a little difficult because of the reputation the city has.”

Martin said he was going to make sure the city kept running.

“Making sure power’s on. Water’s running. Things are fixed. I’ll be up front if I don’t know what the answers are. I’ll try to get the answers,” Martin said. “My goal is to get my hands around the budget as quick as possible.”

Martin assured councilors he was there to work with everyone, with experience as an elected member of a city council, as a mayor pro tem, as mayor of Ocean Shores, and most recently as the interim head of Greater Grays Harbor, Inc.

“I have a history of working with councils. Councils are very important,” Martin said. “I’m here to work with your guys.”

Martin added that he’d been made very welcome by town residents and staff and had been meeting with city employees since he started last Tuesday.

“My goal is to do the best for the city of McCleary and work collaboratively. Staff and the citizens of McCleary have been the nicest people. I feel very welcome,” Martin said. “I’m here to try to take the temperature down a little.”

Martin stated that he understood the fraught relationship between the mayor and the council was of a particularly sharp vintage.

“(Miller) was up front that he hasn’t been attending council meetings,” Martin said. “It’s hard to get things done if you’re not talking about stuff.”

With the departure of Chief Sam Patrick, Sgt. Randy Bunch of the McCleary Police Department will be acting as interim chief until an official replacement is sorted. Councilmembers passed a motion to reactivate the city’s cameras, a source of contention earlier in the year following allegations of misuse by the mayor, with Bunch stating he believed that the department was the only ones with access to them.

“I assure you I have no interest in watching city employees,” Bunch said. “But if something happens I have an interest in watching more than a black screen.”

Councilmembers thanked the departing employees for their service to the city, while mulling the circumstances that have seen brisk turnover in the small town.

“We need to figure out why people are leaving and try to resolve that,” said Councilor Brycen Huff. “It’s something we’re looking into.”

Changing a tense, toxic workplace could be the answer, said Councilmember Andrea Dahl, stating that good employees don’t leave workplaces if things are going alright.

“It’s sad to see good employees leave,” Dahl said. “Twenty-five now have left in 28 months, something like that.”

The openings for many of the now-vacant positions are open on the city website.

Councilor Jacob Simmons also warned that the budget is looking ominous, with Dahl terming the outlook “not rosy.”

“It’s worse than less year,” Simmons said.

Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or michael.lockett@thedailyworld.com.