Harbor Springs council establishes personnel committee and appoints two members

The Harbor Springs City Council voted to establish a personnel committee to provide advisory recommendations on city staffing matters, including future hires such as the parks and recreation director. The motion to form the committee passed by roll call after councilors discussed membership and transparency concerns.

City officials proposed a committee made up of two council members, the city attorney, the city clerk and the city manager. The interim city manager said the intent was to give council greater input and transparency over key personnel decisions while preserving that hiring authority remains with the manager. That manager noted the committee would only make recommendations to the full council rather than issue binding personnel decisions.

Mayor Tom Graham moved the follow-up motion to appoint the two council representatives; Councilperson Jeannie Benjamin seconded the motion to name Kathy Machel and Jamie Milky to the committee. The council voted unanimously to both form the committee and appoint the two members.

Supporters said the subcommittee will give council a role in screening and advising on personnel decisions without supplanting the manager’s administrative authority. Some councilors questioned whether forming a subcommittee of a five-member body of elected officials duplicated responsibilities; proponents said the goal was narrower: give staff a formal, transparent review step for sensitive personnel matters.

The council’s action puts the committee in place for convening on personnel matters as needed. The council emphasized that any recommendations from the personnel committee must still be acted on by the full council when appropriate.