Former city manager moves on up in state government

Former City Manager Kathy Angerer

By Charles Sercombe
Former Hamtramck City Manager Kathy Angerer keeps moving on to bigger and better things.
Angerer resigned as city manager last July, after serving in that position for several years.
She went on to take a job as Deputy Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and has served in that role for six months.
Now, she has been appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who just won re-election to another four-year term, to be the Acting Director of that department.
The current director, Gary McDowell, is resigning at the end of the year.
Angerer is no stranger to state government. She previously served as a state representative for a district that included Dundee, where she lives.
The Review reached out for comment from Angerer and she said:
“It is my honor to build upon the work of the former director, and continue addressing the governor’s priorities for the agricultural industry in Michigan.”
In the meantime, Hamtramck is seeking to hire a new city manager. That job is currently being filled by Interim City Manager Max Garbarino.
There have been a number of other key resignations just before Angerer left, and after. The latest resignation came from Public Works Director Bill Diamond, who had been on the job for just several months. A key role of financial director had been filled recently, but within 24 hours that person decided to not take the job.
That position remains open.
Former City Attorney James Allen also resigned at the time Angerer left.
The posting for the city manager position is on the city’s website, and applications for the job are due by Jan. 10.
The list of qualifications for the job, which will pay $100,000 to $120,000, is lengthy.
For example, there are 48 “essential job functions,” some of which include:
o Develop annual budgets
o Oversee day-to-day operations
o Assess community needs
o Attend various meetings
o Oversee payroll processing
o Negotiate contracts
o Identify, monitor, and control nonconforming uses

Under the category of “desired qualifications,” there are 32 further points, which include:
• Have a master’s degree in public administration, public policy, or a combination of equivalent education and experience
• “Good” knowledge of the city charter
• Knowledge of modern office procedures
• Skill in taking minutes
• Knowledge of traffic calming measures
• Skill in operating office equipment
• Ability to maintain complex record-keeping systems and prepare comprehensive reports
Another qualification is that candidates have at least three years of experience as a city manager (or assistant city manager) in a city with a population of at least 10,000 people.
Posted Dec. 9, 2022