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Grand Rapids commissioners appoint interim city attorney Phil Stro to permanent role
Summary
The Grand Rapids City Commission voted by voice to appoint Phil Stro—who had been serving as deputy and interim city attorney—as the permanent city attorney after commissioners indicated unanimous support; the appointee was not present and public comment briefly questioned his absence.
The Grand Rapids City Commission moved to make its interim city attorney permanent after commissioners signaled unanimous informal support and approved a motion by voice vote.
The meeting opened its second round of consideration with the chair proposing that commissioners indicate their preferred candidate without a formal roll-call vote to reveal majority support and allow further advocacy if no clear majority emerged. The chair then said their choice was the city's deputy city attorney, Phil Stro.
Several commissioners followed. Commissioner Kilgore said his choice was the interim city attorney, Phil Stro. Commissioner Knight and Commissioner Belch each voiced concurrence. Commissioner Purdue praised all candidates from the prior day's interviews and said she was ready to support "Mr. Strong" (transcript variant) today. Commissioner Sassi also said she concurred.
A motion was made to appoint the interim city attorney as the new city attorney; the transcript does not clearly identify who moved or seconded the motion. The motion was restated as "to appoint our deputy city attorney, Phil Stro, as our permanent city attorney." Commissioners approved the motion by voice vote; multiple "I" responses were recorded but the transcript does not give a numerical tally.
During the public-comment period, a speaker asked, "So, where where is he?" and another replied that he had "asked to not be here." No public speaker raised substantive objections to the appointment on the record.
The commission did not conduct a roll-call vote; the appointment was carried by voice vote and commissioners proceeded to public comment. The transcript does not specify the effective date of Stro's appointment or any details about employment contract, salary, or transition timeline.
