Salem, Ore. – Effective April 1, 2025 through August 1, 2025, Gretchen Bennett will serve as the Acting Community Services Department Director. The Community Services Department includes Salem’s Public Library, Center 50+, Parks and Recreation programs, and Neighborhood Services.
In mid-March, Deputy City Manager for Community Services Scott Archer announced his plans to leave the City of Salem on April 11 to become the Parks and Recreation Director for Oregon City. The City plans to leave the Deputy City Manager position vacant until July 1 and will eliminate the position as savings measure in the FY26 Budget, which will be released on April 9, 2025. The City of Salem will present its balanced budget proposal to the Budget Committee on April 16, 2025.
“I have asked Gretchen Bennett to step in as the AIC Community Services Director from April 1st through August 1st,” said Interim City Manager Krishna Namburi. “This leadership transition is about maintaining stability for Community Services while ensuring continuity in essential programs and services. I am excited to work with Gretchen in this new capacity and greatly appreciate the expertise she brings to the role.”
Gretchen Bennett currently serves as the City’s Homelessness Liaison, Human Rights Manager. Ms. Bennett joined the City of Salem staff twelve years ago and has worked in the Mayor and City Manager’s Office and in the Community Services Department. Ms. Bennett’s responsibilities have included homelessness response coordination, support to the City’s Human Rights Commission, Community Police Review Board, and civil rights compliance. Gretchen has been in the public sector for over 30 years with work at the non-profit, county and state level. Prior to her service at the City of Salem, she served as Executive Director for Liberty House, our area’s child abuse assessment center. Gretchen graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
The City is expected to make additional organizational changes to support Ms. Bennett’s transition into this role with an eye toward streamlining processes and creating efficiencies. For example, some of Ms. Bennett’s current responsibilities, such as work with the City’s ADA program will shift to the Public Works Department. Additionally, a resource within Community Services will be freed up from other duties to assist Gretchen with federal compliance, homelessness response coordination and other responsibilities. She will also receive support from the two Executive Assistant positions in the City Manager’s Office to help facilitate administrative and operational needs.
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