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South Lyon council adopts new city manager performance-evaluation process after heated debate
Summary
After more than an hour of discussion, the South Lyon City Council voted to adopt a new performance-evaluation process that requires a city manager self-evaluation followed by individual council reviews and a compiled report to be presented before the manager’s anniversary date.
The South Lyon City Council on July 28 adopted a new performance-evaluation process for the city manager after extended debate among council members and the manager.
The council voted to adopt the process as presented, with Council member Kurzweil moving the measure and a second from Council member Dilg. The roll-call vote was recorded in the meeting as unanimous; seven members voted yes and none voted no.
The adopted process calls for a city manager self-evaluation to be completed in advance of council review, with subsequent written feedback from each council member and a compiled document to be distributed before the manager’s anniversary date. Council discussion also agreed to adjust the initial target delivery date to August 18 (from the document’s original August 31 target) if practicable, while leaving the schedule flexible in recognition of other workloads. City Clerk staff will compile the submitted evaluations for council review.
City Manager Paul objected to the structure during the discussion, saying, “I don't necessarily think though that the way it's done or the way it's written here is, is the best way to go,” and urged that council members complete independent evaluations rather than relying primarily on his self-assessment. Council member Kurzweil responded that self-evaluations are a common practice for executives and described the tool as an opportunity for the manager to highlight accomplishments council members may not observe directly: “...use that as an opportunity, quite frankly, to toot your horn.”
Other council members spoke in favor of trying the new approach. Council member Doke said a self-evaluation “is a good idea” and likened it to common private-sector practice in which managers provide their own summaries prior to formal review. Council member Herzfeld urged patience with the change: “Sometimes change is difficult. And this is change.”
A member of the public, Annette LeBaron from Senator Runstead’s office, addressed the council during public comment and supported the use of self-evaluations and periodic touchpoints, saying, “Self evaluations are very common in the industry” and recommending midyear or quarterly check-ins to avoid surprises.
The council directed that the pilot be treated as a work in progress, with the expectation the format could be revised after the first cycle if it does not produce the intended benefits. The motion to adopt the proposed form passed by roll-call vote.
Council members and staff said they will attempt to meet the timeline tied to the manager’s October anniversary but agreed to allow flexibility if the manager needs more time to complete the self-evaluation.
