Council authorizes Walsh Municipal Services to recruit city manager

Harbor Springs council authorized the interim city manager to sign a contract with Walsh Municipal Services to conduct the city's city-manager recruitment.

The decision followed a public exchange in which council members raised questions about Mr. Walsh’s availability (he currently serves as the Branch County administrator) and the contract terms, including the expected search timeline and a one-year placement guarantee. Mr. Walsh, appearing on Zoom, acknowledged problems in one prior nine-month tenure and said he had learned from it. He described decades of municipal service and said his firm routinely conducts recruitments while holding other public-facing roles.

Mr. Walsh told council he planned to promote the Harbor Springs search at the state city managers' conference Jan. 20–23 and had already fielded early interest from potential candidates. Council members pressed for contract language that would protect the city’s interests; Mr. Walsh and staff said the RFP language in the contract already included the one-year guarantee and that they would add clarifying language if council desired.

Councilors then moved to authorize the interim city manager to execute the agreement with Walsh Municipal Services. After discussion, the motion carried by roll call.

The contract authorizes Walsh Municipal Services to prepare recruiting materials, solicit candidates, screen applicants and present finalists for council consideration; staff said a 90–day search target had been discussed but the timetable would be flexible because signatures and conference timing shifted the schedule. The city stressed it would confirm that the recruiter’s other obligations would not prevent timely performance of the recruitment.