Farmington Hills council enters closed session, acknowledges city manager resignation amid public outcry

Farmington Hills City Council convened a special meeting on Jan. 7, 2026, to consider attorney‑client privileged communications and personnel matters related to City Manager Gary Mechchen. After public commenters criticized the timing and transparency of the meeting, the council voted to enter closed session and later acknowledged the city manager's resignation.

Residents filled the chamber for the unexpectedly scheduled session and several used the earlier public‑comment slot the council moved up by vote. Longtime resident Sue Khan praised city services and thanked police while warning the council about community impacts; another commenter, identified on the sign‑in as "PG," criticized the meeting as unnecessary and said, "Nobody in this room speaks for me as an African American woman." Eugene Greenstein, a 39‑year resident, said the meeting felt like "a political coup orchestrated by the mayor," and former mayor T R Carr called the process "not good government" and lacking transparency.

Attorney Steven Schwartz, representing the city manager, asked the council to permit him to attend the closed session portion that would cover the manager's performance so he could advise his client. The city attorney presented two alternative draft motions: both combined the attorney‑client and personnel purposes into one motion but differed on whether Schwartz would be included among attendees. Councilmember Bridges read a motion that would allow limited attendance by the city clerk, city attorney and specified legal counsel and moved the council into closed session "under section 8 1 h of the Open Meetings Act for the purpose of discussing written attorney‑client privileged communications ... and under section 8 1 a of the Open Meetings Act for the purpose of considering personnel employment matters relating to the city manager."

The council took a roll‑call vote on the motion to go into closed session. The clerk recorded the votes as: Boulware — yes; Bridal — yes; Dwyer — yes; Knoll — no; Starkman — yes; Aldred — no; Mayor Reich — yes. The motion carried and the council moved to closed session in the community room.

When the council returned to open session, staff introduced item 4, described in the agenda as "consideration of personnel employment matters relating to the city manager." A motion to accept the resignation of the city manager was referenced; the mayor indicated the matter was resolved and the council adjourned. The transcript does not record a roll‑call or public tally for that resignation motion.

The meeting underscored public concern about the speed and timing of personnel actions; multiple speakers urged more transparent procedures, formal performance review steps and caution about costs and staff morale if leadership changes proceed without a clear, documented process. The council scheduled its regular meeting for the following Monday.