The former director of the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District has been named Canby’s new city administrator.
Scott Archer replaces former Canby City Administrator Scott McClure, who was terminated in February after barely four months on the job.
Archer has spent four years as director of NCPRD, a network of more than 75 parks and recreational opportunities in Happy Valley, Milwaukie and the surrounding areas. He will start in his new position on Nov. 9.
Until then, the city government will be led by City Attorney Joe Lindsay, who has been serving in the role of interim city administrator since Sept. 2.
“I have total confidence in Scott’s abilities,” Mayor Brian Hodson told The Canby Current Wednesday night. “I believe this is a great fit for our city, and I think he’s going to do a great job. He has a great skill set coming from Clackamas County, and I think it will serve him really well in this new role.”
NCPRD serves over 116,000 residents and includes the six-mile Trolley Trail, Mount Talbert Nature Park, North Clackamas Park, Hood View Sports Complex, Milwaukie Center and Aquatic Park.
Archer was the only local finalist for the position — the other two being from Maryland and Texas — and said during an Aug. 18 meet and greet with the other two candidates that he and his wife had been planning a move to Canby anyway.
“So, whether I’m your city administrator or not, you may be stuck with us anyway,” he had joked. “We love spending time here. We love coming into Canby and visiting the restaurants and shops and all that.”
At that event, he said he would continue the proactive approach that he has already seen the city take over the years.
“I really have sensed strongly that this town in particular has about knowing that growth is going to happen but being sort of cautiously wary of that,” he said. “But at the same time, growth will happen, and so instead of fight it, you can work with it and get ahead of it.”
Archer previously spent 12 years with the City of Oregon City, most recently as its community services director, where he oversaw the pool, Pioneer Adult Community Center, a 55-acre cemetery, 37 parks and even historical properties like the Ermatinger House.
From 2009 to 2012, Archer served as a board member for the National Recreation and Parks Association’s Pacific Northwest region, and is a former president of the board of directors for Oregon Recreation and Parks Association.
Prior to his work for Oregon City, Archer served as parks and recreation director for the cities of Medford, Ore., and Ellensburg, Wash.
Archer has a bachelor of science in health and human performance, and sport science management.
