By Adam Smith
MME recently teamed up with MML and ICMA to put on a workshop in Holland at the Michigan Municipal League’s annual Convention focusing on Council-Manager Relations. The workshop was “sold-out” weeks prior to the Convention and the audience was beyond capacity, with many people standing during the 3-hour event. From Houghton to Hamtramck and Ludington to Lapeer, nearly 100 elected officials and municipal executives from across the state came together at the CityVu rooftop event space to better recognize their respective roles in building better communities. Community representatives, large and small, with populations of 100,000+ to those with less than 900 participated in the most attended Convention session this year.
Attendees ascertained firsthand the appropriate roles for elected officials and executives, what strategies could be put into place to help build more productive relationships, and heard examples directly from the panel’s experienced elected officials and managers.
Kathie Grinzinger, lead executive recruiter for the League, kicked off the morning session with a Council-Manager Form of Local Governance Primer that focused on roles and responsibilities along with various aspects of the Council-Manager partnership. That was followed by Daryl Delabbio, PhD, ICMA Midwest Regional Vice President, speaking about the importance of professional development, networking, ethics, and leadership from an ICMA perspective. Adam Smith, MME’s advocacy chairperson, brought the conversation full-circle with the central challenge we all face: “Relationships are difficult. Perspectives will vary.” He provided his top ten (Figure 1) along with the rundown on MME.
In concluding the workshop, MML Board of Trustees President Catherine Bostick-Tullius (Commissioner-Lapeer) was joined by Trustees Rusty Showalter (Councilmember-West Branch), Marcus Peccia (MME-Cadillac), and Rebecca Fleury (MME-Battle Creek) for a panel discussion with the attendees in which numerous questions and scenarios were discussed in an interactive format.
If we helped just one Michigan community enhance their Council-Manager relationship, we helped to build a better community and a better Michigan. And based on the evaluation feedback, we did just that…
“Great topic of discussion.”
“Thank you for putting this on!”
“Each speaker was very well prepared and informative.”
“Much needed information.”
“Wish my fellow commission members were here to hear this too.”
“Thank you everyone who presented.”
A special thank you to the MML Board and Executive Director & CEO Dan Gilmartin for allowing us to have this imperative conversation during the 2017 Convention.
Adam Smith, City Administrator
City of Grand Ledge
Adam Smith was appointed city administrator of Grand Ledge in 2014. Previously, he served as the manager for Mackinaw City and the City of Jonesville. Smith also serves as chair of MME’s Advocacy Committee. You may contact him at 517.627.2149. ext. 11, or asmith@cityofgrandledge.com