Council fires village manager

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

PENTWATER — The Pentwater Village Council voted 5-2 to terminate Village Manager Chris Brown’s contract without cause at the end of a regular meeting Monday evening, March 11.

“My contract was terminated by a vote of the council without cause — so there is no reason,” said Brown in a phone interview Tuesday. “Technically, right now I’m on 30 days of administrative leave, and then I get three months of severance.”

Brown has been the village manager for nearly seven years. He was paid an annual salary of $84,000, and his contract was valid until July of 2025, he said.

Chris Brown – Pentwater Lake Association photo

Although he was shocked by the abrupt termination, the council has the authority to end the contract at any time.

“That’s the terms of it — it’s real pure and simple in the first paragraph that the manager serves at the pleasure of the council and can be terminated at any time with or without cause. Without cause, then I get severance, and with cause, they would have to have valid reasons and they would have to defend those.”

Small town politics seem to be at play with the council’s decision. Controversy has been brewing over transitioning Pentwater from a village to a city.

“Our jobs are political to some degree even though we’re non-partisan. Sometimes that plays a part in it. My job is to serve the council, and whatever the council votes, that’s what I do.”

Brown said he did not feel blindsided, but shocked. “I was shocked at the process of how they chose to do it.” He did not receive any formal written paperwork in regard to his termination, he said

Councilman Dan Nugent made the motion to terminate the village manager’s contract, and Pro-Tempore/Vice Mayor Jared Griffis and council members Kathy O’Connor, Don Palmer and Dave Bluhm voted in favor. Casting “no” votes — against the motion to fire Brown — were Village President/Mayor Jeff Hodges and councilman Phil Frame.

An amendment was made to the agenda at the beginning of the meeting to “discuss the manager’s contract,” said Brown. 

“Pentwater is a beautiful community, and I’ve enjoyed serving the community. There are a lot of good people in Pentwater. We got a lot accomplished in my tenure, and I’m proud of the accomplishments. It will be a new chapter.

“We’ve gotten more done in Pentwater in the last seven years than any given time in the history of Pentwater, and it’s been a lot of fun.” Highlights to his career include the new village hall, new police station, a water taxi service, community center renovation, work on “securing the largest grant in the history of Pentwater” — a $2.5 million water project; road, water and sewer improvements; streetscape; park improvements; and marina updates. Brown served during historically challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic and environmental high water issues. “Through all this, we improved our financial condition in many, many ways through our fund balance.”

As village president, Hodges takes on the “executive responsibility” of filling in during Brown’s absence until a  replacement is hired.

“I was extremely disappointed in the process that we used last night. He deserved better than that. It was a very bad process.” Hodges said he was unaware that the motion to terminate Brown was brewing. “I didn’t know this was coming.

“Physically, our village has not been in any better shape in at least 50 years. Financially, our village is very strong as well — much of that is due to the work of Chris Brown.”

OCP was unsuccessful in immediately reaching council members who voted in favor of terminating Brown. Updates will be provided if OCP hears back from the council members. They are encouraged to call the phone number provided.

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