Special Session Administrator Interviews (Minutes)

The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners convened a special session on May 30 and 31, 2024, to conduct interviews for the position of County Administrator. The meeting, held at the Government Center in Suttons Bay, Michigan, was led by Chairman Ty Wessell and included participation from all commissioners, with the exception of James O’Rourke who was initially absent but present by 11:00 a.m. on the first day. The session began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence, followed by the introduction of the agenda, which focused on interviewing candidates for the County Administrator role. The first candidate, Ahmed Abou-Ismail, withdrew from consideration, and the remaining candidates were interviewed over the two days, with breaks and recesses to ensure the smooth operation of the session and the live stream.

Throughout the interviews, candidates were given opportunities for opening statements and to ask questions of the Commissioners. The process was structured to allow for a thorough evaluation of each candidate, with questions distributed among the Commissioners and a rating sheet provided for optional use. The interviews were conducted both in person and via Zoom, accommodating candidates such as Anna Nelson and Robert Reinshuttle who participated remotely. After completing the interviews, the Commissioners discussed the candidates’ performances and decided to advance four candidates—Mark Justin, Kip Belcher, Michael Belsky, and Tracy Byard—to a second round of interviews. This decision was formalized through a motion that passed unanimously.

The session concluded with logistical planning for the second interviews, scheduled to start on June 10 at 10:30 a.m., with each interview allocated 1.5 hours, including time for staff interaction with the candidates. Discussions also touched on the need for reference checks and background checks. The meeting ended with a reminder from the County Clerk about the implications of the Open Meetings Act (OMA) regarding electronic communications during sessions. The session was adjourned at 1:41 p.m. on May 31, 2024, with the next steps clearly outlined for the continued search for the County Administrator.

https://leelanau.gov/meetingdetails.asp?MAId=2743#video
https://leelanau.gov/meetingdetails.asp?MAId=2743#handouts