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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 21, 2005 Gallagher leaves Medford planning post By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Citing frustrations with upper management, Medford Principal Planner Mark Gallagher is resigning from the department to take a job in the private sector. Gallagher, 53, a veteran of 23 years with the department, will leave Nov. 30 for a position with Ticor Title of Medford. He is the 16th staff member to resign or retire in five years. Gallagher said the Medford Planning Department lacks cohesion under Director Rob Scott and City Manager Mike Dyal. "It’s like having good individual athletes on a team but not having a complete program that brings them all together into an effective team," he said, adding that it was "demoralizing" to keep working in a difficult environment without hope of change. He said the solution is better management. Advertisement "The managers are the coaches of the team," he said. "If a team has good coaches, people will play their hearts out for them." Dyal said he agreed with Gallagher’s statement. "He’s been one of the coaches over there," he said. "I think those are good, hopefully insightful, comments." Gallagher said problems with upper management have led to the numerous resignations in the planning department. "I think that’s why some of us longer-term employees have had a hard time staying here," he said. "It’s just a different organization now than what we’re used to." Scott, who became director in 2000, said he doesn’t dispute that part of Gallagher’s concerns. "It is different. That’s the nature of different people and different styles," he said. Scott has openly acknowledged that the planning system is broken. "We have a plan and we’re working it," he said Thursday. In his position at Ticor, Gallagher will be a land-use planner to help developers navigate planning department regulations throughout the county. It’s a new position for the Medford office. "It just sounds like a fun place to work," he said, adding, "They called me, I didn’t call them." Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail Gallagher leaves Medford planning post ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Cheap Website Hosting Discount Hotel Reservations Online Pharmacy Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans High End Computers Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s