Michael Barnett has been hired as the new Department of Public Works Director for the Village of Lake Orion, and he will have six months to relocate within 20 miles of the Village.
The Village Council voted March 13 to hire Barnett at a salary of $49,400 per year, contingent upon him passing pre-employment tests and relocating.
Barnett was removed from this position with the Center Line DPW after a disagreement with the Council there over contracting out for snow removal.
The Village Council agreed to hire him after he was interviewed by Village Manager Jo Ann Van Tassel, and later by Council President Bill Siver and President Pro-Tem Ken Van Portfliet.
Van Portfliet said he and Siver talked to Barnett for about an hour, asking him a series of questions.
‘He appeared to answer them all with good answers,? Van Portfliet said. ‘He did ask how the government was run in the Village.?
Council member Michael Toth said he thought it was a good idea to have Barnett relocate within six months.
‘It’s sad we actually had to put that in there,? he said. ‘But, it’s a good idea.?
Van Tassel said that communities can not require department heads to move into the community, but could ask them to live within a 20-mile radius of it.
‘That’s a state law,? she said.
Siver said the reason for that was in case there was an emergency.
‘I think he’ll do a good job,? Siver said of Barnett. ‘I felt more at ease with him than past applicants.?
Council member Douglas Dendel said he was disappointed the DPW wasn’t being run ‘in-house.?
‘They’ve been operating for over a year without (a director), really,? he said. ‘I’m a little disappointed we’re not seeing if in-house can run it, and do it…It’s a shame.?
Van Portfliet said the Village does like to promote from within the departments, but in this case there was not a candidate.
He said Barnett has both the qualifications and the licensing that the Village needs.