Ashland City Manager Joe Lessard on the Ashland Plaza.

Ashland city manager Joe Lessard has resigned.

After one year and 10 months on the job, Lessard has resigned from his position, according to an agenda item for a special meeting of Ashland City Council on Friday, Oct. 27, posted Tuesday on the city’s website.

The special meeting will include an executive session on “Termination of employment,” according to meeting materials. The meeting will also include information about Lessard’s severance package agreement with the city.

Lessard was the first regular hire to fill the city manager role after Ashland residents voted to move to a city manager form of government in the special election of May, 2020, according to a statement on the city of Ashland’s website posted at the time of his hiring in December 2021.

After an extensive interview process involving council and community stakeholders, Lessard was chosen and appraised at the time as “a visionary, goal-oriented leader with a collaborative style and approach to complex issues,” according to the city’s statement.

His previous work experience includes multiple periods of work as an independent contractor, vice president of the firm Knudson LLC, senior vice president of Kucera companies and assistant city manager for the city of Austin, Texas, for nine years.

The special executive session is scheduled for 6 to 6:45 p.m. Friday, followed by a special business meeting regarding “Leave, Resignation and Severance Adjustment Agreement with City Manager” at 6:45 p.m. Both meetings will be in the council chamber at 1175 E. Main St.

According to Oregon public meetings law, a governing body meeting in executive session must return to public session before taking final action.