Document text
Two city staffers promoted to top posts By JIM DAVIS Two longtime Medford city employees have been promoted to fill top managerial positions at Medford City Hall. Cathie Davis was promoted to the newly created position of deputy city manager and Beverly Sandblast was promoted to city recorder. City Manager Michael Dyal, who has been on the job since June, said Davis will have an expanded role in helping with the day-to-day running of the city, allowing him more time to work in the community with residents and businesses. "I'm getting a very strong right arm," Dyal said. "As a new city manager, that's a boost to how I operate this office." He said that he gets hundreds of e-mails, telephone calls and letters every day. Davis will be able to respond to some of those calls. Davis, a 28-year veteran at City Hall, has worked most recently as an assistant to the city manager, doing projects such as the city's quarterly newsletter. In her new job, Davis will have more authority and responsibility. Her old position will be eliminated. She eventually may be called upon to supervise departments at city hall, Dyal said. Dyal said Davis was earning approximately $55,000 in her old position, and will make $69,000 in her new post. He said the extra money will come from the city's general fund. Sandblast has already been taking over some of the duties of city recorder. She fills the position left vacant when longtime recorder Kathy Ishiara died of cancer in August. Sandblast has worked for the city for nearly 15 years and started at city hall as a temporary worker. She most recently worked in the city manager's office as executive aide/deputy recorder. Dyal also announced that Jim Pulliam was hired as the information services director, a technical and information position. Pulliam fills the job of Steve Reusel who left in December 1997. The position had remained open during the city's appointment of a new city manager this summer. Dyal said that Pulliam will be able to focus on new technology and looking at the best use of the city's computer system. Since his arrival this summer, Pulliam has worked on training new employees, studied the possibility of video arraignments for municipal court and looked at the city's compliance with the Y2K bug, a concern that computers will fail at the beginning of the year 2000. Pulliam comes from Berrien County, Mich., where he also held the position of director of information services. Rounding out recent changes in the city manager's office are the promotion of Judy Parton from secretary to executive assistant and the hiring of Glenda Owens to serve as deputy recorder. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA