CRESWELL – In a 4-3 vote, Vincent Martorello has been appointed to serve as the next city manager for the City of Creswell.
The decision was made public just after 3:30 p.m., after the city council convened at 8:30 a.m. for candidate interviews and deliberations in an executive session that spanned the entire day.
There was no discussion. The council cut to the chase. Council president Alonzo Costilla motioned Martorello’s appointment, with councilors Joan Morris, Clark Kent, and Mark Kremer voting in favor.
You can watch the video here. The meeting begins right around the 27-minute mark.
Smith and interim city manager Spencer Nebel will now negotiate an employment agreement with Martorello.
Monique DeSpain received three votes from Mayor Nick Smith, who motioned the candidate, along with councilors Staci Holt and Alan Dukes. The motion failed, lacking a majority.
ERIN TIERNEY-HEGGENSTALLER/THE CHRONICLE
Martorello resides in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cobleskill and a master’s in urban planning and architecture from the University of Michigan. He is the Parks and Recreation Director for Council Bluffs and has previously served as Superintendent of Willamalane Park and Recreation District in Springfield. He has prepared land use applications and municipal master plans while working at a consulting firm in Eugene.
He previously worked as superintendent of Willamalane Park and Recreation District in Springfield, Oregon, and as director of Facilities at Oregon State University in Corvallis. He has also prepared land use applications, municipal master plans, and wetland determinations for a consulting firm in Eugene.
“I want to make a positive contribution to a community and invest myself both professionally and personally into the well-being and vitality of this community. The City of Creswell offers me the opportunity to utilize my diverse background and experience to make a positive impact within a strong community such as the City of Creswell,” he said in his application.
The city manager serves as the administrative head of the City government, reporting to the Mayor and Council on the proper administration of City affairs. Responsibilities include appointing and supervising staff, organizing City departments, budgeting, and fostering cooperation among the council, staff, and citizens to build community.
The permanent appointment follows Michelle Amberg’s resignation in December 2024, who served in the position for a decade before abruptly resigning in November.
In a letter, she said her relationship with the council had become “irreparable,” and she believed her resignation would let the new council choose their own city manager instead of keeping the one they inherited. She did not wish to comment further.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
