The Chelsea City Council formally put into motion the city’s plans to replace former City Manager Marty Colburn at its July 1 special meeting.
Mayor Jane Pacheco said Colburn has resigned his position, but no reasons were given for his resignation or for the June 24 resignation of Sue Montenegro, the assistant city manager.
Information in a press release issued by the city on June 27, said, “No further communication will be made regarding the personnel departures to protect their privacy.”
Police Chief Kevin Kayzak will hold a dual role as both police chief and temporary interim city manager. He assumed the position last week – when Colburn was placed on indefinite administrative leave – and is expected to hold this position for about three weeks.
A request for proposal has been issued to hire a full-time acting interim city manager and City Council hopes to interview and appoint a person to this position at its July 14 meeting. It’s expected that this person will step into this role at the end of the month until a full time city manager is hired.
In the meantime, Kayzak will be paid the equivalent of two hours more per day at his current salary. No additional salary amount was given at the meeting.
In addition, City Council unanimously agreed to change the dates of its two July regular meetings – from July 7 to July 14 and from July 21 to July 28.
In associated business, staff was directed to draft an RFP to hire a city manager recruiting firm that will result in a national search for a new city manager.
In addition, City Council appointed a transition team to assist the new manager once hired that will be composed of the mayor, Council Member Kate Henson, the city attorney, the acting interim city manager, the community development director, and a rotating senior staff member that will meet on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. for 12 weeks.
During a discussion about the next steps to find a full-time city manager for the city, council expressed agreement that they would put all the preliminary pieces in place to hire this individual, but leave the final decision up to the new City Council. Following the November election, there will be at least one new face on the dais. Pacheco said publicly at a recent City Council meeting that she does not plan to run for re-election.
In other business, the City Council adopted resolutions to appoint Operations Manager Chuck Stevens as a commissioner to the Michigan Public Power Agency and Scott Adams as the city’s alternate. Stevens was also unanimously adopted by resolution to act as the city’s member authorized representative to MPPA for the purpose of entering into Power Purchase Agreements with MPPA.
