Salem Mayor Julie Hoy has been found in violation of Oregon’s public meetings law after the Oregon Government Ethics Commission issued a default final order concluding she helped convene a quorum of the Salem City Council outside public view while city leadership issues were being discussed. The case, listed as 25-159PJS, appeared on the commission’s April 10 agenda as a default final order with a recommended Letter of Education.
In the order, the commission found that between Feb. 1 and Feb. 14, 2025, Hoy participated in bringing together a quorum of council members through a series of in-person, written and phone communications, while also acting as an intermediary. The matters discussed, the order says, included the city’s leadership audit, former City Manager Keith Stahley’s performance, and whether to terminate his employment. The commission concluded those discussions happened without the public notice, minutes or recording required under Oregon law.
The order found one violation each of ORS 192.630(1), ORS 192.630(2), ORS 192.640(1), ORS 192.650(1), OAR 199-050-0015(4), and OAR 199-050-0020(1) and (2). In practical terms, the commission determined that council discussions on matters within the body’s authority took place outside the public process. For Salem, that finding adds another layer to the long-running debate over how key city leadership decisions were handled during the upheaval around the city manager’s office…