Updated on 6-30-2010

Sequim City Manager Steve Burkett has hired former Battle Ground City Manager Dennis Osborn as a contractor through December to help with several of the city council's projects.

Osborn said his first steps are putting together timelines and a framework for the city's downtown plan and the council's goals, such as finding uses for the Guy Cole Convention Center, and securing funding for annexation of Battelle Marine Science Lab into the city limits.

"(Osborn) had some good experience in cities similar to us and he has quite a bit of experience in planning as well," Burkett said.

Battle Ground city manager cut

From November 2002-February 2010, Osborn worked for Battle Ground before city councilors voted to end his employment.

Controversy arose after Osborn fired the city's police chief James McDaniel on Dec. 17, 2009, and police officers and citizens protested and backed McDaniel.

Osborn told the Sequim Gazette he let McDaniel go for ethical reasons.

Battle Ground city councilors approved a performance audit of Osborn, which led to a suspension and eventual passage of a resolution for his release.

He now is contracting his services, which led him to Sequim.

Work history

He served as Battle Ground's deputy city manager before a promotion in 2006 to city manager.

Osborn facilitated the construction of a new community center and established Battle Ground's first parks department.

He also worked in Chelan and Leavenworth as a community development director, as a planner for Chelan County and as an engineer for Whatcom County.

Osborn grew up in Port Angeles and lived in Sequim for one year after his Navy service, working for Interwest Bank.

Since coming to Sequim he has gotten in touch with old high school friends and said the experience feels like coming home.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.