Red Bank city commissioners chose Martin Granum as the new city manager at a special meeting Wednesday.
The decision was unanimous, though Commissioner Ruth Jeno was absent and one of the two final candidates withdrew his name from consideration before the vote.
Jeff Burton withdrew himself as a candidate after he was told that the pay would be similar to the former city manager's $110,000 annual salary and that the new manager's salary may even be closer to $100,000 because the former city manager had a dual role as public works director.
Salary was not previously discussed during the hiring process. Once commissioners narrowed their options down to the two finalists last week, they requested that Honna Rogers, the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service municipal management consultant who assisted with the hiring process, inform the candidates of the salary expectation before Wednesday's vote.
"He said that his salary was too far from what he was willing to do," Rogers said. "He did not think negotiations would be fruitful."
Burton's 2020 salary as director of the Community Redevelopment Agency in Palmetto, Florida, was $105,134, according to public records.
Granum, who serves as manager of facilities and parks services in Washington County, Oregon, said he has worked for that county for 15 years and before that had a career in the U.S. Air Force. In June he completed a four-year term as a representative on the Hillsboro School Board in Hillsboro, Oregon.
He describes Hillsboro, near Portland, as similar to Red Bank in that it's a small town bordering a mid-size city.
"I'm just filled with optimism and joy," Granum said, when asked for comment on his selection by the commission.
Wednesday's vote authorized Mayor Hollie Berry and City Attorney Arnold Stulce to begin negotiations with Granum, which Stulce said could take between 45 minutes and several days.
Until the new city manager is officially on board, Financial Director John Alexander will continue to serve as interim city manager as he has since the departure of former City Manager and Public Works Director Tim Thornbury.
Thornbury, who wrote in his April 14 resignation email that he sensed a desire among some newly elected commissioners to take city administration in a different direction, continues to serve as a consultant to the city manager as part of his separation agreement.
Contact Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6508.