During the Jan. 10 meeting of the City of Salem Board of Aldermen, Sally Burbridge raised her right hand and swore that she possessed all the qualifications for city administrator, that she will support the constitutions of the United States and the state of Missouri, the laws of the state, and the ordinances of the city, and that she would faithfully demean herself in office.
Burbridge, who has been functioning as temporary city administrator since September, was sworn in as the official city administrator, followed by a round of applause. Earlier, the board of aldermen had offered kind words before unanimously approving the appointment.
“It takes a special person with a particular devotion to public service, and it’s Sally’s dedication to the City of Salem that really made her the clear choice for the city administrator position. I just want to thank Sally for stepping up to the temporary city administrator role during challenging times for the city, and I’m excited to see what you can do for the city with you in this new role as city administrator, and I look forward to serving with you,” said alderman Shawn Bolerjack.
“It takes a certain person. Godspeed,” said alderman Kyle Williams.
Mayor Greg Parker also offered encouragement.
“I’d like to also thank Sally. She plays a very important role within our city. (In her role as) the temporary city administrator, she has created change. It is a change for the good; I am very thankful that she did step up to the plate, she brings a true definition to the city administrator role. The work that I’ve seen Sally do with staff the past two weeks Is remarkable. I am thankful that she’s here and that she chose to take up this position, especially in our greater time of need.”
Burbridge grew up in Bunker but spent most of her adult life in New Mexico. She relocated back to Dent County in 2018 before beginning her work as economic development director in November of that year. Most notably, she served as mayor of Aztec [New Mexico] for 10 years.
She was selected as temporary city administrator in July, appointed by mayor Greg Parker after the board of aldermen decided not to renew the contract of former city administrator Ray Walden, which expired Aug. 31.
The official appointment was announced Dec. 27, following a closed session of the board of aldermen. Burbridge continued to function in her temporary role while the city and the city’s attorney, James K. Weber, drafted the final employment contract and terms.
Burbridge told The Salem News in a July interview that in the 10 years she spent as the mayor of Aztec, her team completed between $35-40 million worth of infrastructure upgrades, a fact that Burbridge thinks is relevant given the many challenges that Salem’s aging infrastructure poses.
“I do have some ideas based upon my past experience about how the budget could be set up [and] how it could be presented to our committees so that they better understand it.”
“She’s my hero,” said Mayor Parker in a July interview. “Her expertise is exactly what we need. She is smart and dedicated. She has the strong structuring background that the city needs right now.”
