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Benton Harbor adopts revised finance director job description amid debate over authority
Summary
After debate about reporting lines and minimum qualifications, the commission adopted an updated finance director job description intended to attract qualified candidates; opponents warned the changes could reduce the director's independence and raised concerns about downgrading the degree requirement.
The Benton Harbor City Commission voted Dec. 1 to adopt an updated job description for the city's finance director, a personnel change proponents said is intended to attract qualified applicants and opponents said could alter the director's authority.
Commissioner Clyde Griffin said he opposed the changes, arguing they would "give the finance director less assets and less power to make decisions" and questioned language that appeared to direct the finance director to operate under the city manager. Griffin said the city charter, written decades earlier, names the commission as the director's boss and warned against weakening the position's independence.
Commissioner Shannon Henderson and others said clearer written duties were necessary so candidates understand responsibilities and reporting relationships. The personnel/finance committee told the commission it had revised the original job description and added minimum qualifications intended to match local needs; the committee also distributed candidate resumes to commissioners.
A substantive concern during debate was a proposed change that would allow the position to be filled with a bachelor's degree plus experience rather than requiring a master's degree in a related field. Proponents argued downgrading the degree requirement would widen the candidate pool after a long vacancy; opponents said the charter and oversight responsibilities needed to be clarified and recommended HR attorney review of the language.
By roll call the motion (moved by Commissioner Shannon Henderson and supported by Commissioner Edward Isom) passed with five votes in favor and two opposed. The commission directed staff to proceed with recruitment under the adopted description and to ensure legal review as appropriate.
