Tim McLean, assistant city manager for the City of Jonesville, apparently will be Wayland’s next city manager.
The City Council will meet in closed session Monday night to discuss terms of a contract it will offer to McLean, who turned out to be the only one of four candidate finalists to be interviewed Saturday for the job.
McLean has five years of experience in city government, one as an assistant to the city manager in Troy and four in his post in Jonesville.
“I consider myself to be open and accessible,” he told council members during his interview. “I’d like to identify priorities over the next 90 days and get myself familiar with local organizations. I will be active and visible in the downtown.”
McLean succeeds Mike Selden, whose last day will be Nov. 20 after a little than three and a half years on the job.
The new city manager has experience in budgeting through his year in Troy and he said it was a difficult time in the wake of the Great Recession. He played a major role in helping Jonesville transition from a village to a city, a move he championed to have the community avoid paying both and village and township taxes.
McLean added that Jonesville has not increased taxes in 10 years.
He promised not to be a micro-manager and to nurture relationships with downtown businesses.
McLean said he believes public safety and infrastructure to be the core services for municipal government.
“We reorganized the police department and had to eliminate two positions, and some people had to take furlough time,” he said, noting that Jonesville has a population of about 2,300 and a city hall staff of only four.
He said his greatest accomplishments have been associated with his role in making Jonesville a more walkable community and he regards his approach to government as progressive.
“I am impressed that Wayland has a Main Street program and a Main Street manager,” he told the council. He said he also likes Wayland having a façade program through its Downtown Development Authority.
He is no stranger to bargaining with labor unions. He was on the negotiating team while at Troy.
“I think a city manager has to be available to the council at all times,” he said. “I am not a 9 to 5 guy.”
He noted Jonesville does not have a city chamber of commerce like Wayland, but it has been pursuing a rails-to-trails program along the St. Joseph River. Wayland is considering the same program for what used to be in the interurban.
Another local accomplishment has been aiding development of an apartment building out of an old abandoned factory that made buggies and sleighs.
About Wayland, he said, “I see this community as being in a position to succeed.”
McLean said the biggest challenges ahead are growth, finances and infrastructure, “but I’m very excited by all the things I’ve seen in Wayland. I’m looking forward to making a 10- to 15-year commitment.”
The City Council originally intended to interview four candidate finalists Saturday. One withdrew about a week ago, another, Durand, Wisc., City Administrator Josh Eggleston, declined to be interviewed, and word was received late that
Michael Session city administrator of the City of Morenci, didn’t wish to be interviewed.
So McLean, who is unmarried and has no children, was the last man standing. He said he plans to move into the community, perhaps as early as January.
When Selden was hired in April 2012, he received an annual salary of $72,000.
PHOTO: Tim McLean (left), likely the next Wayland City Manager, chats with former Mayor Burrell Stein after the conclusion of his interview in City Hall Council Chambers.