City manager to remain in Sisters

City Manager Eileen Stein will be staying in Sisters.

Stein was one of two finalists for the position of director of the Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) in Eugene. Interviews were held last week.

In an email to members of the city council sent late Friday evening, Stein said that, "After yesterday's round of interviews for the LCOG executive director, I was informed the LCOG board decided to offer the job to the other candidate. I'm told the board struggled with the decision, that it was pleased to have two strong candidates to choose from and that I was the candidate with the stronger administrative experience. However, given the direction the board would like to go with the organization, they felt the other candidate's existing connections in the Eugene/Springfield metropolitan area would allow the board to achieve its objectives more quickly.

"This was a coincidental opportunity to be explored. I remain as committed as ever to working with the council under our new operating principles and the goals and objectives in my performance evaluation."

After nearly four months of very public contention over the relationship between Stein and the Sisters City Council, all parties recently signed off on a final performance review and agreed to move forward under new operating principles. Stein is developing a "work plan" as part of the agreement.