Boyne City commissioners hear Michigan Municipal League proposal and agree to solicit five interim manager candidates

Boyne City commissioners on March 14 heard a detailed recruitment proposal from the Michigan Municipal League (MML) for a permanent city manager search and agreed to solicit updated materials from five interim candidates as an immediate next step.

The proposal, presented remotely by Jerry Richards of the MML, laid out a multi-phase search process: community profiling and brochure development, a 30-day advertising period (state and national outreach), initial screening and reference checks, closed-session review of candidates for confidentiality reasons, followed by open interviews and a conditional offer. Richards said the League typically fields 15–25 applications and that most candidates (about 70 percent) come from within Michigan but that the search can draw nationally.

"We provide the recruitment brochure," Richards said. "We do the background checks, we check references — and then we'll put together a short list for you to interview." He emphasized the League’s experience working with smaller Michigan communities and said MML includes a warranty: "In the highly unlikely event that the incumbent vacates the position within one year of placement, the League will offer another search."

Commissioners pressed MML on procedures and transparency. One commissioner asked whether all resumes would be shared with the commission or only those MML recommended; Richards said the firm will share the full applicant pool and that his process is designed to summarize and present the strongest candidates for commission review.

Following the presentation and a long question-and-answer period, commissioners returned to immediate hiring needs. The commission identified a top-five list of interim candidates drawn from prior vetting and staff outreach: Jeff Thornton; an identified ‘Pentwater’ candidate with marina experience; Nate Geiser; Dwayne O'Neil; and a candidate referred to as 'Ted.' The commission directed administration to send each of the five a formal request for an updated resume, a minimum of three references, date of availability and salary expectation. Commissioners agreed on a 10-day response target so the commission could discuss the replies at the next scheduled meeting.

Mayor said the interim outreach is intended to be pragmatic: "If someone can't respond to a specific request for qualifications in the near term, that is a sign about their availability for short-term interim work," the mayor said.

Why it matters: The city is managing both the immediate need for an interim manager to stabilize operations and a longer-term search for a permanent city manager. The commission’s decision to solicit updated materials from a narrow interim shortlist preserves choice while enabling faster action to fill a leadership gap.

What’s next: Administration will send the formal request to the five candidates, collect responses, and post materials for commissioners to review prior to the next meeting. Commissioners also asked staff to solicit formal proposals from several executive-search firms (MML, GovHR, Pivot, Walsh and others) for comparative review of fees, timelines and warranty provisions.