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Harper Woods appoints acting manager as city manager and approves severance changes
Summary
The council unanimously appointed Acting City Manager John Szymanski as city manager and amended employment agreements to add 12 months retirement-eligible severance for him and the city clerk; the move drew public comment urging delay because of pending litigation and questions about recruitment and severance terms.
The Harper Woods City Council voted unanimously to appoint Acting City Manager John Szymanski as the city’s permanent city manager and to amend the employment agreements of both the city manager and the city clerk to provide 12 months of retirement-eligible severance if the city terminates their agreements.
Why it matters: The appointments and severance changes formalize a leadership transition that council members said brings continuity while some residents urged delay until pending litigation is resolved and asked that the city run a more open recruitment process.
Szymanski told the council he was requesting the appointment effective immediately and asked that his existing agreement be amended to provide a year’s salary as retirement-eligible severance if terminated. “I am requesting that the vacancy of the city manager position be filled by me effective immediately,” Szymanski said during the city manager’s report. He also requested identical severance treatment for the city clerk; the staff estimate cited approximately $123,622 for the city-manager severance and $89,525 for the city-clerk severance if those provisions were triggered.
Several residents who addressed the council during the public-comment portion urged caution. Theresa Foster and others said they were concerned that the timing of the appointment and the severance provisions appeared sudden and asked why the city had not conducted a broader search earlier. Sheila Hakim raised concerns about pending litigation related to the city’s cannabis licensing process, noting that plaintiffs had alleged Open Meetings Act violations in filings; she urged the council to wait for further clarity from the courts before finalizing the appointments.
Council members discussed comparative severance practices in other Michigan municipalities. One council member cited examples of managers receiving multi-month or multi-year severance packages and said the proposed 12-month retirement-eligible severance was consistent with regionally common practice. Another council member said several department heads and staff expressed support for Szymanski’s leadership and noted the desire for stability during planned succession and ongoing projects.
The resolution to appoint Szymanski and amend the employment agreements included direction to immediately advertise for a deputy city manager to ensure a trained successor and continuity. Councilmembers said the deputy position will be advertised broadly (Michigan Municipal League and other outlets) and that the new hire will be trained under Szymanski to provide a seamless transition when he retires.
Outcome: The council approved the appointment and the severance amendment by roll call vote. Recorded yes votes included Councilwoman LaPratt, Councilwoman Sawicki, Councilman Tucson, Mayor Pro Tem Williams, Mayor Kendall, Councilwoman Constantino and Councilman Jenny; the resolution passed unanimously.
Discussion vs. decision: The appointment and severance change are formal, council-approved actions. The record shows public commenters asked for delay and expressed concern about pending litigation; the council proceeded with the appointment and directed staff to advertise for a deputy city manager.
Next steps: City staff will place deputy-city-manager job advertisements, continue work on succession planning and provide the council with information on recruitment results and ongoing legal matters as appropriate.
