A reception will be held Aug. 1 for outgoing City Manager Ed Gordon, who announced last month that he will retire.
The reception will be held from 3-5 p.m. at the Bartlesville Community Center.
Gordon has been employed with the City of Bartlesville since 1991 and has served as Bartlesville city manager since 2006. He served previously as Wastewater Department supervisor (1991-2000) and Public Works director (2000-2006).
He faced a life-threatening medical crisis last fall but returned to work on a limited basis in February. Administrative Services Director/CFO Mike Bailey began serving as acting city manager in October 2017, following Gordon’s illness. Bailey was appointed to the permanent position (effective Aug. 1) by the City Council during a council meeting on Monday.
Gordon took the city manager’s chair for what was perhaps the last time during the meeting, thanking the council for their patience over the past several months.
“Over these last eight or nine months and my not being here, this council, in particular, has had the endurance of a government mule,” he said. “I appreciate your patience, the visits, the telephone calls from you all. Thank you for your endurance. I am grateful for the trust that I’ve earned and I’ve been given.”
Several councilors thanked Gordon for a job well done and his years of service to Bartlesville.
“I can tell you that something like this city does not happen because of the five of us sitting here,” Copeland said. “It does not happen because of the decisions we make. Certainly, we try to be a part of that, but the city manager sets the tone, the direction, the overall morale. As a friend and as a leader in this community, I would like to thank you for your service. You have left the City in a wonderful position and made our jobs much easier to do, and I thank you for that.”
“A sign of great leadership is to create an environment where people prosper and, in certain cases, if somebody has to step out, for whatever reason, the job continues on as well as it did,” said Ward 3 Councilor Jim Curd. “I credit you for having that in place. I think that’s a sign of great leadership.”
“In life you only get so many times to work with such great gentlemen as Mr. Gordon,” said Ward 4 Councilor Alan Gentges. “I hope that we can continue our friendship even though you will not formally be with the City.”
Gordon will officially retire Aug. 1. The public is invited to attend his reception.