The head of the Portland city department that handles neighborhood issues has resigned after a brief leave of absence.
Office of Community & Civic Life Director Michael Montoya announced the decision on Tuesday in an email to city staff, noting that “There is nothing remarkable or scandalous in my resignation.”
Montoya made the unexpected decision to take a leave of absence in March to “attend to some personal matters,” and staff were told he would be returning by the summer. Montoya didn’t explain his resignation on Tuesday.
A memo Montoya shared with city staff before taking leave in March may offer some explanation.
On February 27, Montoya wrote a multipage letter to several city leaders, including City Commissioner Dan Ryan, who oversees the Office of Community & Civic Life. Montoya detailed significant issues in the beleaguered office – including securing insurance coverage for neighborhood groups, personal attacks from an embattled neighborhood group and conflict of interest concerns.
Portland City Hall, September, 2022.
MacGregor Campbell / OPB
T.J. McHugh, an advisor in Commissioner Ryan’s office, previously served on the Kenton Neighborhood Association board, and Montoya said he believed McHugh may still be using his influence to help the North Portland group.
Montoya also raised concerns about his rapidly changing responsibilities. In January, Mayor Ted Wheeler moved several city programs out of the Office of Community & Civic Life and into other city departments. These programs – liquor, cannabis and noise control – all contributed to the Office of Community & Civic Life’s revenue, creating budgetary gaps for the small office.
“The issues above are not ones that can be deferred or rushed, and they occupy a great deal of our staff energy,” concluded Montoya in his February letter. “My concern is that the many directives we have been given by you and your staff could result in time delays in resolving these critical issues and/or failed implementation of these improvements to our service delivery.”
Montoya did not acknowledge any of these issues in his resignation letter to staff.
“There are no words to express my humble gratitude for having had the privilege of working with such talented public servants,” he wrote. “Even in our differences, which there are in all communities, I learned so much from each one of you.”
Montoya was appointed to lead the office in May 2021. The office’s previous director, Suk Rhee, resigned following a scathing report on dysfunction within the city agency.
It’s not clear if Montoya was paid while on leave.
Commissioner Ryan did not directly comment on Montoya’s resignation, but provided a statement following the announcement.
“I have staff in place who are focused on bringing the Office of Community and Civic Life back to its core mission as an objective convener—and building civic capacity for all Portlanders,” Ryan said. “I am proud of what the team has accomplished over the past two months and the foundation they have created for rebuilding the office.”
McHugh, of Ryan’s office, currently serves as the interim director of the office of Community & Civic Life. McHugh did not respond to requests for comment.
