Document text
- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 25, 2004 Acting city attorney offered permanent spot By Steve Zimmerman Ashland Daily Tidings Mike Franell, who has been Ashland's assistant city attorney for the past year, has accepted the position of city attorney, pending city council approval at a special meeting Tuesday night. Former City Attorney Paul Nolte officially retired Wednesday. Franell takes over July 1 if approved. The city attorney is appointed by the mayor. Franell said he came to Ashland after his position was eliminated in Ontario, Ore. "When I moved over here after budget constraints caused Ontario to eliminate the city attorney's position, I knew I would be a city attorney again one day," he said. "When I was told Paul was going to retire, I knew I would apply for the job here." Franell said he has grown to love Ashland, as has his wife, Teri and three of his five sons still at home, Devin, M.J. (Michael Jr.) and Darrion. Franell served for 12 years as city attorney in Ontario. He also was the acting city manager there for a short time. Franell said his past experience has helped him prepare for his new position. "It allows me to understand the big picture sometimes," he said. "My experience in land-use law also has come in handy. Since I arrived here, we have had a lot of land-use issues." He remembered how Nolte told him the city had not had a land-use appeal to the Land Use Board of Appeals in nearly six years. This year alone, the city settled one-land use case involving the National Guard Armory before it went to LUBA and is preparing to appear before LUBA on the Bemis Project appeal. Franell said Ashland is different from Ontario in one distinct way. "Ashland has a lot more complexities than Ontario," he said. "The complexity of issues here is greater because of the education level of its residents. Residents of Ashland are much more involved in issues and, while that surprised me a little, it is a good thing. The education level of residents of Ontario is not as high, and so there is less involvement in city government." Gino Grimaldi, city administrator, said the selection process took place over a two-month period. "We advertised in the State Bar Journal and other journals," he said. "Then we conducted interviews with the final five candidates with the mayor and city council." Grimaldi said it was Franell's experience and character that made him the obvious choice. "He has great knowledge of Oregon law," he said. "And he has experience working as a city attorney and was also planning and development director in Ontario. Another aspect of Mike's experience was his ability to understand issues that were specific to Ashland. His associates in other cities where he has worked describe Mike as a person with great integrity and honesty." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams