Clawson council approves amended two-year extension of city manager's contract after contentious public comment

Joseph Raker, Clawson's city manager, will remain under an amended contract through March 2031 after the City Council approved a two-year extension and related changes on a 4'1 vote. Raker told the council he sought the extension, parity in sick-leave payout and a change to termination language to ensure continuity: "Contract extension of 2 years, which will extend it to March 2031," he said during the meeting.

Residents packed the council chamber and repeatedly urged elected officials not to act in a hastily called special meeting. Julie Beatty, a Clawson resident, told the council the proposed clause guaranteeing "a full year salary with benefits, even in cases of termination with cause, is deeply troubling," and urged postponement until the incoming council is seated.

Why it matters: opponents said the addendum would create a de facto severance that shields the city manager from accountability and that the timing—24 hours' notice for a meeting held four days before a new council takes office—amounted to a "lame duck" maneuver. Supporters said the changes provide stability after years of turnover in the city manager post and would help retain leadership through two future elections.

What the contract changes do: Raker requested four primary changes: a two-year extension to March 2031; payment of accumulated military compensation days upon separation; increasing sick payout from 65% to 100% to match the treasurer's contract; and making the "for cause" termination payout align with the "without cause" payout (a change that would have increased severance exposure). Council and the city attorney negotiated a clarification and then approved an amendment that made the addendum's termination provision (section D) "subject to" section 4(a) of Raker's original contract, the section listing egregious conduct such as fraud or conviction for illegal acts.

Council action and vote: After debate and an amendment narrowly focused on the termination language, the council voted to approve the amended addendum. The roll call recorded four yes votes and one no vote (final tally recorded in the meeting transcript: Mayor Millan and three council members "yes," the mayor pro tem "no"). The amendment creating the linkage to the original contract's section 4(a) had passed earlier in the meeting.

What residents said: Public commentators criticized the meeting timing and the substance of the payout language. Darlene McDaniel said the meeting felt like "a stunt" and urged tabling major decisions so the incoming council could act. George Georges, a resident who reviewed the city's bond modeling, said concerns about transparency and financial management increased the need to postpone any contract changes until questions about the budget and bond assumptions were resolved.

Next steps and context: The city attorney told the council the meeting was duly noticed and the council had authority to act until the organizational meeting. The approved amendment ties the addendum's termination payout to the original contract's definition of "for cause," which the attorney said includes convictions, fraud and similar egregious acts. The approval does not change other existing accountability processes; any further contractual edits would require additional council action.

Council and community reaction closed the meeting with appeals for civility and cooperation: several residents and council members urged incoming and outgoing officials to work together to sustain projects and public trust.