In-house attorney and public works director are hired

Two new staffers joined West Linn City Hall July 23 — Megan Thornton as the new assistant city attorney, and Lance Calvert as the public works director.

Thornton fills a newly created position of an in-house attorney to deal with the day-to-day issues that arise at city hall.

She was the assistant city attorney for the city of Ashland for the last three years, the last nine months of which she was acting as interim city attorney.

Thornton compared Ashland to the size of West Linn. There she dealt with city contracts, cable franchises, municipal crime, code violations, planning issues, Land Use Board of Appeals cases, employment law and real estate transactions, to name a few.

“What you would call routine government law questions,” Thornton said.

Thornton said she was attracted to the new West Linn position because “the city has a forward-looking perspective.”

“West Linn was one of those cities you could just tell they were planning for the future,” she said.

Thornton looks forward to being available to city staff for the more routine questions and issues that are sometimes hard to resolve quickly with a contract attorney.

“I’m pretty sure the staff is going to take advantage of it,” she said.

Thornton said having an in-house attorney can help increase workflow and can bring better attention to legal matters before they become issues.

“It should be very interesting working with the administrative team here,” she said.

In her free time, Thornton enjoys running, playing volleyball, scrapbooking and spending time with her three nieces. She lives with her husband in St. Helens.

Calvert joins the city hall staff as the public works director, filling the role of Gene Green, whose contract was not renewed back in February.

Calvert comes from five years as a city engineer and public works director in El Mirage, a suburb of Phoenix, Ariz.

Prior to that he worked 10 years as public works director and village engineer in Chicago suburb Burr Ridge.

“We liked Chicago, but the weather was too cold and the commute too long,” Calvert said.

Then, after five years of the Phoenix heat, Calvert and his family decided to seek a more temperate climate.

He said they were attracted to West Linn because of the school district. Calvert and his wife have a 10-year-old and a 12-year-old.

“The schools here are incredibly better than in Arizona,” Calvert said. “West Linn is a great community.”

Calvert claims to enjoy all aspects of public works and engineering.

“Engineering and public works are something I’ve grown up with. It all excites me,” he said. Former projects Calvert has led include a police station, water plants, parks and road construction.

“Everything here is a great opportunity,” he said. “I think it’s great here because people participate and are engaged. You get to hear the feedback. People here are very proactive.”

Calvert enjoys spending time with his wife and children, and looks forward to exploring the state.

“So far it’s been great. It’s really a breath of fresh air,” Calvert said.

As a result of the new hire, Ken Worcester, who has been acting as interim public works director, will return to his role as parks and recreation director.