FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE October 7, 2026
PREPARED FOR Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY Heather Abrams, Town Manager
SUBJECT Adopt a Resolution Appointing Christine Foster Interim Town Manager Until another Interim Town Manager is Appointed by the Town Council
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Town Council adopt a Resolution appointing Christine Foster as Interim Town Manager, effective October 16, 2026, within the current Town Manager’s salary range until the Council appoints another Interim Town Manager.
BACKGROUND
Fairfax operates under a Council–Manager form of government. The Town Manager is appointed by the Town Council, carries out Council policy, and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Town, including preparing the annual budget and overseeing police, public works, finance, planning, building, and recreation and community services.
Heather Abrams has served as Town Manager since March 1, 2022. Ms. Abrams has accepted a more favorable Town Manager position in another jurisdiction, and her last day with the Town of Fairfax is Thursday, October 15, 2026. Her departure will leave the Town Manager position vacant, and an Interim Town Manager is needed immediately.
Applicable law and policy
• Town Code § 2.12.020 provides that the Town Manager is appointed by the Town Council “solely on the basis of his or her executive and administrative qualifications and ability” and serves at the pleasure of the Council.
• Town Code § 2.12.030 does not require the Town Manager to live in Fairfax. • Town Code § 2.12.060 provides that the Town Manager’s compensation is set by Town Council resolution. An Interim Town Manager is paid within the range adopted for the Town Manager. • The Brown Act (Government Code § 54953(c)(3)) requires the Council to report orally, in open session, a summary of the recommended compensation for a local agency executive before taking final action. Government Code § 54956(b) prohibits acting on executive compensation at a special meeting, so this item must be heard at a regular meeting.
DISCUSSION
On September 15, 2026, Ms. Abrams tendered her resignation and immediately began recruiting for an Interim Town Manager and a recruiter to help the Town fill the position. Approximately 10 qualified external and internal Interim Town Manager candidates have been approached, and only one has agreed to be considered.
Christine Foster’s experience with the Town has prepared her well for the Interim role, and she has expressed willingness to take on the role only temporarily while a new Interim Town Manager is recruited, who will eventually hand off the role to an ongoing Town Manager.
Should the Town Council approve an agreement on the October 7, 2026 agenda with the proposed recruiter, Ralph Anderson & Associates, they will search for a longer-term Interim Town Manager to lead the Town while a permanent Town Manager is recruited. Ms. Foster would serve until that longer-term Interim is located and in place.
Ms. Foster’s service to the Town
Ms. Foster joined the Town in May 2023 as Administrative Analyst and Deputy Town Clerk and was promoted to Assistant to the Town Manager and Deputy Town Clerk in 2025. Her current position is a department head-level role that assists the Town Manager in coordinating the activities of Town departments and has been responsible for managing the Town in the Town Manager's absence. In her capacity, Ms. Foster supports the development of Town-wide goals, policies, and priorities; confers with department heads on policy and operational matters; provides input on the budget; prepares reports and presentations for the Town Council; assists with intergovernmental relations; and manages the Town's civic engagement and public information program. Among her other responsibilities, Ms. Foster serves as the Town's Elections Official and manages the Town Council agenda process in compliance with the Brown Act. Before joining the Town, Ms. Foster served for six years as Public Information Officer and Digital Analyst for the City of San Rafael and then advised municipal clients as an independent consultant. In total, she has ten years of experience in local government.
Ms. Foster has built strong working relationships with Town staff, members of the community, commission and committee members, local businesses, and the Chamber of Commerce. As a primary point of contact, she is accessible, responsive, and direct. She conducts her work with integrity and holds herself to a high ethical standard. She has developed and maintained mutual respect with Councilmembers, staff, and residents, remaining even-handed and professional.
These qualities, together with her working knowledge of Town operations, will provide continuity during this transition period.
FISCAL IMPACT
During service as an Interim Town Manager, the candidate must be paid within the Town Manager’s adopted salary range. The attached Resolution sets the Interim Town Manager salary at the lowest end of the range ($21,264 per month). The total salary savings for the Town while Ms. Foster serves as the Interim Town Manager is approximately $7,774 per month or $93,288 per year.
ATTACHMENT
Resolution
Town of Fairfax
Resolution No.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF FAIRFAX APPOINTING CHRISTINE FOSTER AS INTERIM TOWN MANAGER EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 16, 2026 WHEREAS, the Town of Fairfax operates under a Council–Manager form of government, and Town Code Section 2.12.020 provides that the Town Manager is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Town Council; and
WHEREAS, Town Manager Heather Abrams has resigned, and her last day with the Town is October 15, 2026, leaving the Town Manager position vacant; and WHEREAS, Christine Foster, the Town's Assistant to the Town Manager and Deputy Town Clerk, has ten years of local government experience and working knowledge of Town operations, and is willing to serve as Interim Town Manager on a temporary basis while the Town recruits a longer-term Interim Town Manager; and
WHEREAS, Town Code Section 2.12.060 provides that the Town Manager's compensation is set by Town Council resolution, and a summary of the recommended compensation was reported orally in open session at this regular meeting in accordance with Government Code Section 54953(c)(3).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Council of the Town of Fairfax:
1. Hereby appoints Christine Foster as Interim Town Manager, effective October 16, 2026, to serve at the pleasure of the Town Council until the Council appoints another Interim Town Manager.
2. Sets the Interim Town Manager's salary at $21,264 per month, the lowest end of the adopted Town Manager salary range.
3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the Town Council of the Town of Fairfax on this 7th day of October 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
_____________________________
STEPHANIE HELLMAN
MAYOR
ATTEST
______________________________
LINDA KENTON
ELECTED TOWN CLERK