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Grosse Ile board adopts changes to hiring policy for nonunion positions
Summary
At a special April 23 meeting the Grosse Ile Township Board approved revisions to Chapter 3.6 of its personnel policies to return screening authority to commissions and formalize internal-first hiring options for nonunion positions; the vote followed a heated discussion about transparency and nepotism.
The Grosse Ile Township Board on April 23 approved revisions to Chapter 3.6 of the township personnel policy governing hiring and promotion for nonunion positions, voting 4-2 to adopt the changes the township manager displayed at the meeting.
Board members said the revisions restore screening authority to the relevant commissions and formalize that commissions, together with the township manager or a designated department manager, will screen, interview and recommend candidates. The new language also gives commissions the option to solicit internal candidates only, external candidates, or both; if an external solicitation is agreed, vacancies will be posted publicly, including in newspapers and appropriate job sites.
Supporters said the changes clarify a policy that has been in place in some form since the 1990s and restore a more transparent process. “I move to accept changes to the policies and procedures chapter 3.6 in accordance with the currently displayed modifications made by township manager Derek Theel,” Jamieson said as he made the motion. Proponents noted the change removes a special review committee and reassigns screening to the department commission and township manager, while preserving the board’s final authority to reject candidates.
Opponents argued the draft still allows commissions to conduct internal-only solicitations, potentially excluding residents and reducing public transparency. Several board members cited concerns about past appointments that raised questions about favoritism and called for public postings to protect taxpayers and discourage nepotism. One board member said public postings typically cost “a minimum of approximately $500” and argued that cost and morale for internal candidates should be balanced.
Board members said they had sought legal advice before the vote. The township manager and two labor attorneys reviewed applicable labor law and, according to comments at the meeting, advised that the township is not legally required to publish positions externally; the Michigan Townships Association also advised that public posting is in the taxpayer’s interest. That exchange was part of the debate but did not change the board’s decision to adopt the displayed language.
Vote at a glance: the motion to adopt the displayed Chapter 3.6 revisions passed 4-2. Roll call during the meeting recorded Jamieson (yes), Mickey (yes), Margaret (yes), Joe (yes), Kevin (no) and Mark (no). The motion was moved by Jamieson and seconded from the floor.
The board said the adopted text will be the township’s policy for Chapter 3.6; members noted amendments can be proposed later and the board may revisit language if needed. The township manager will finalize the written draft to align the policy text with the board’s vote and implementation procedures.
