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Zeeland BPW appoints Robert Mulder as next general manager, subject to employment agreement
Summary
The Zeeland Board of Public Works voted Dec. 9 to appoint Robert Mulder as its next general manager, effective on the date of Andrew Boatright’s retirement, and authorized the chair and vice chair to develop an employment and compensation agreement; the appointment follows a closed‑session review and an open interview.
The Zeeland Board of Public Works voted Dec. 9 to appoint Robert Mulder as its next general manager, effective on the date of current General Manager Andrew Boatright’s retirement, subject to Mr. Mulder agreeing to and entering an employment agreement.
The board convened a closed session at 4:56 p.m. to review confidential applications for the general manager position, returned to open session at 5:10 p.m., and interviewed Mr. Mulder, who is currently the BPW’s Power Supply and Market Operations Manager. The motion to appoint, made by Commissioner VanAst and seconded by Vice Chair Cooney, carried with all voting aye.
Why it matters: the board is filling its top executive post from internal staff. Mr. Mulder has served in his current BPW role for seven years and holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University, details he provided during the interview. The appointment is conditioned on the board and the Zeeland City Council approving an employment agreement and on Mr. Mulder signing that contract.
Board action and next steps: the board also voted to have the chair and vice chair develop and propose an employment agreement that would allow Mr. Mulder to serve as a general‑manager designee with limited authority during an interim period and thereafter as general manager upon Boatright’s retirement. The motion to develop the contract was made by Commissioner Cooney, seconded by Commissioner Walters, and carried with all voting aye. The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
The record does not specify the effective date of Andrew Boatright’s retirement; the appointment language ties Mr. Mulder’s start to Boatright’s retirement date and requires the formal execution of an employment agreement and any required City Council approvals before Mr. Mulder assumes the full duties of general manager.
