Hamtramck council approves Dr. Adel Adlani as city manager after extended debate
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Summary
The Hamtramck City Council voted to appoint Dr. Adel Adlani as city manager on Feb. 10, 2026, following a contested discussion about the subcommittee process, candidate vetting and the creation of a deputy manager. Roll-call voting, as recorded, showed multiple yes votes and one no.
Hamtramck — The Hamtramck City Council on Feb. 10 approved Resolution 2026-24 appointing Dr. Adel Adlani as the city’s new manager after an extended public comment period and a long council debate about process and timing.
Mayor Elsmarin, describing the interview and vetting process, told the council that the interview panel and HR recommended Dr. Adlani. “The interview panel confidently recommends Doctor Adlani as new city manager,” the mayor said, citing Adlani’s academic credentials and public-administration experience.
Several councilmembers pressed for additional time to vet candidates and asked about the posting period, background and reference checks. Council members opposing the pace of the process cited past turnover in the city manager position and warned of potential lawsuits and budget consequences if the hire proved problematic. Council proponents said a subcommittee, HR and legal counsel had run interviews and recommended the candidate.
The clerk completed a roll-call vote after discussion. The recorded responses in the meeting transcript were: Councilman Al Samaria — “Yes”; Councilman Musa — “Yes”; Councilman Hassan — “Yes”; Councilman Chaudhry — “No.” The mayor declared Resolution 2026-24 approved.
Council discussion during and after the vote also covered a companion personnel item: whether to create or fill a deputy city manager role. Several speakers urged that the council recommend a deputy to the incoming manager rather than unilaterally create a new ongoing paid position immediately.
The meeting record shows the council authorized a closed-session follow-up to address remaining personnel items after the public meeting. The council directed staff and the acting city manager (Alex) to follow up on procedural questions raised in public comment and by council members.
Next steps: the hire becomes effective per the terms set by the adopted resolution; council members said they will pursue administrative follow-up and background or contract details in closed session or through staff reports.
