SEQUIM — The Sequim City Council voted Monday night to reinstate the employment contract for City Manager Charlie Bush indefinitely. Bush had previously planned to resign his position on April 17 for personal reasons, and the Council was in discussions with Assistant City Manager Charisse Deschenes to take on an Interim City Manager position.

Deschenes says in a statement sent out Monday night that she considers Bush a mentor and she is “elated that he is willing to stay in the role of City Manager.”

Bush announced in early February that significant events in his life over the past year led him to the conclusion that stepping away from the position was his best option, and began preparations to hike the Appalachian Trail, an endeavor that can take 6 months or more. But with the spread of coronavirus, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy began urging hikers to get off the trail and to postpone their trips indefinitely, causing Bush to cancel his plans.

The vote to reinstate Bush’s contract was 5-1, with councilman Troy Tenneson abstaining and Jennifer States’ position still unfilled since her resignation.