EAST PALESTINE Chief takes on new job

The interim manager could return to the police department in six months, but for the time being, he must choose an interim chief.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
EAST PALESTINE -- They called him Mr. Clark.
Police Chief Gary Clark wore an olive green shirt and tie at Monday's city council meeting, rather than the familiar white shirt, black tie and police chief's badge.
He sat behind the council table next to Law Director Bradley Allison, the seat among council that has become, in recent years, the city manager's spot.
Interim manager: Council voted 5-0 to appoint Clark interim city manager for six months. Councilman Daniel Wilkovich was absent.
Although Clark has been working with Manager Patricia Quigley, who is leaving, and attended in her place Monday, he doesn't officially take over the job until Friday.
Quigley resigned last month to accept a position as city manager of Woodstock, Ga., a community of about 13,000 residents north of Atlanta. Her last day is Thursday.
Clark will receive the same pay Quigley is receiving, about $58,000 annually. He must pick an interim police chief, but he will have the option of returning to the department.
He could return to the department as chief after the six months if council chooses someone else as manager, or if he decides he does not want the position permanently.
Good wishes: Because he does not officially take over as manager until Friday, Clark did not have a manager's report. He said, however, that he has received good wishes from numerous citizens since council announced it would probably select him as interim manager.
He said he has the support of council and looks forward to working as a team with council and city employees on the improvement and growth of the city.
Council members contacted after Quigley's resignation said they think strongly that council should consider local candidates this time. Three previous city managers relocated to the area. Ken Francis came from central Ohio, Kim Haws from Arizona, and Quigley from Oregon.