Current staff take over Green's work after she retires

In light of Orchard Lake City Clerk Janet Green retiring at the end of June, current staff members are ready to share the work load.

Assistant City Clerk Rhonda McClellan and Building Official/Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Gerry McCallum have been tapped to assume Green’s duties.

McClellan will earn the title of City Clerk, but the reporting and organizational structure would be modified so McCallum would fill the role as acting supervisor under the title of Director of City Services, should the Orchard Lake City Council approve the restructuring.

“Nothing is formalized yet,” McCallum said.

As Director of City Services, McCallum would be responsible for the following duties: those of his current role as building official; planning and zoning; DPW-related matters; budget/finance; street administrator; contract administrator; litigation issues; insurance administration; and supervision of clerical staff.

McClellan would handle elections; bookkeeping/finance; record keeping; meeting minutes; legal publications; and payroll.

“The intention initially is to put the title of city clerk in my basket, but Rhonda handles much of the clerk duties and I need to be out in the field,” McCallum said. “We will be equals here.”

Due to McCallum’s multi-faceted role currently in the city, administrative staff would be needed to shoulder some of the overflow.

McCallum agrees with the council that the clerk should be an identifiable person in City Hall and said he is confident McClellan will perform the duties satisfactorily. He also predicted that he and McClellan would work well together.

“We know what our jobs are and we have open dialogue between us to make sure City Hall will run as it should,” McCallum said.

Based on Green’s recommendation, the City Council agreed at the April 18 meeting to allow staff to collaborate with the Personnel Committee to develop a proposal.

The council plans to review the proposal at a Monday, May 16 meeting.