Public commenter accuses Detroit Lakes of age discrimination as council advances code change eliminating 'city planner' title

A longtime city employee told the Detroit Lakes City Council he believes the council’s planned reorganization of planning functions is forcing him out of his job and amounts to age discrimination.

"I am being discriminated against based on my age," public commenter Larry Remen said, telling the council he had secured more than $10.5 million in grants, $9.2 million in loans, and overseen extensive annexations during 35 years of service.

Later in the meeting staff presented Ordinance 545, a proposed amendment to city code section 204.10 that would remove the existing city planner/community development director title and create two separate job descriptions: a planning and zoning director and an economic development director. Staff said the ordinance’s effective date was revised from publication to Jan. 1, 2026. The council gave first reading to Ordinance 545 on a majority vote.

City staff described the ordinance as an administrative change to align job titles with current practice; staff said the community development director functions have in practice been carried out under different titles. The transcript does not record details about personnel actions, specific severance or timelines for individual employees beyond the ordinance reading. Mr. Remen asked the council to leave his position intact until his planned retirement at the end of 2028.

The council’s first reading of Ordinance 545 advances the code amendment process; a second reading and formal adoption would be required to finalize the change. The council did not record any formal personnel action against an identified employee during the meeting; Mr. Remen made his statement during public comment.