Following an investigation by the Daily Courier and a series of public records requests, the city of Grants Pass admitted it violated public meeting law with behind-the-scenes emails about hiring a facilitator to finish the city manager's performance evaluation.
The facilitator would then issue a "report suitable for public release." According to the Courier, such a report would thwart the ability of the press and public to view individual performance evaluations of City Manager Aaron Cubic written by the eight members of City Council.
The Courier's request for the performance evaluations is pending. The evaluations will be released after a vote to finalize and adopt them is made at the City Council meeting Wednesday, according to the city recorder.
This week, in response to an Oregon Public Meets Law violation grievance filed by the Courier with the city, City Attorney Stephanie Nuttall sent a response to the Courier.
The city's admission said, "The City admits that the emails of the governing body on November 26, 2025, on the topic of whether to hire a facilitator to finalize the City Manager's performance evaluation constituted a violation of Oregon Public Meetings Law. Specifically, that a quorum of Council members engaged in email deliberation involving an intermediary."
