Nome city manager to resign

NOME — City Manager Tom Moran announced his resignation Monday night after a three-hour closed executive session of the city council.

"I think that we have made mistakes as an organization, and it is probably time for a change in leadership," Moran told the council. "So effective tonight, when I go upstairs after this meeting, I will send you in writing, each of you, a copy of my resignation letter. (It is) effective 30 days from today."

All members of the council were present and accepted Moran's resignation, with Councilman Adam Martinson attending via telephone.

Moran has been public about his desire to move on from his post. His previous contract ended Sept. 15, but he signed a six-month extension.

During the City Council meeting on Aug. 27, he said he thought it best to stay on until the new chief of police was trained. Robert Estes was sworn in as the new Nome police chief on Sept. 15.

At this time, there is no candidate lined up to fill the city manager position. Councilman Gerald Brown explained the temporary solution Monday night:

"The intent is to identify a temporary city manager, either locally or through the 'M-L,' and that person will run things until we find a permanent (hire)."

The "M-L" is the Alaska Municipal League, a nonprofit network of municipalities. Cities may use the league to find contacts for individuals who can specifically serve as interim city managers.

The search for a new city manager was underway before Moran's resignation announcement, with the position having been posted Sept. 11 to the job boards at the Alaska Municipal League and the International City Council Management Association. John Handeland, a former mayor of Nome, had previously been assigned the responsibility for the search and continues to hold that responsibility.

Editor's note: Tom Moran is a member of the KNOM Radio Mission Board of Directors.

Note: This article was originally published at KNOM.org and is republished here with permission.