Prosper Portland‘s board of directors on Friday appointed longtime agency manager Lisa Abuaf as interim executive director.

Abuaf takes the agency’s reins following the resignation of former interim Executive Director Shea Flaherty Betin, who clashed with Mayor Keith Wilson and members of the City Council as the group considered a proposal to strip the agency of general funds amid a budget crunch.

Abuaf has served in various roles since joining Prosper Portland (then called the Portland Development Commission) in March 2006. She was most recently director of development and investment.

“Many thanks and much gratitude to Lisa for stepping into this role,” board Chairman Gustavo Cruz said Friday.

Much of Friday’s unusual board meeting was given over to expressions of support for Betin, who led the agency for eight months.

The board unanimously approved a resolution stating, in part: “In a time of critical transition for the agency, Shea Flaherty Betin led with both compassion and practicality, providing a steady hand during the hiring of a new executive director, and maintaining the agency’s mission and work.”

Former Executive Director Kimberly Branam called Betin “an absolutely ideal colleague.”

“Shea, we are all better, and the community is better, and Portland is better for having had the privilege of working with you,” Branam said.

Prosper Portland officials have defended the agency as a newly enlarged and empowered City Council has raised questions about what works and what doesn’t in city government while trying to cut the budget.

Board Commissioner Felisa Hagins alluded to Betin resigning under pressure from city leaders.

“I’m embarrassed, and I’m very embarrassed for our city,” she said. “I think that there are the right ways and the wrong ways to do things, and I think this was not the right way.”

Betin will receive 12 months’ salary, totaling $212,992, as severance. He said he would take some time off before finding a new role.

“I’ve given everything of myself to this place and this city, and I’m looking forward to taking a break and finding out how I fit into this tapestry that is this city and this place,” he said. “But I love you all. Thank you.”

Prosper Portland’s board is in the final stages of hiring a permanent executive director. The agency has extended an offer to a candidate with the expectation that this person will assume the executive director position in August, subject to the board’s approval, spokesman Shawn Uhlman stated in an email.

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