By Susan Bromley
Staff Writer
Ortonville-The future of Paul Zelenak as village manager is now up to him.
At a public meeting on March 22, the Bloomfield Hills City Commission voted unanimously to offer Zelenak, 42, the city manager position the current Huntington Woods city manager Alex Allie did not accept.
Allie declined the offer on April 5, leaving the position to Zelenak if he chooses to accept.
‘The time wasn’t right for me,? said Allie, after weighing a number of personal and professional considerations.
Patricia Hardy, Bloomfield Hills City commission member, said the position is now offered to Zelenak.
‘We hope he (Zelenak) will accept, because between Alex Allie and Paul it was very close,? she said. ‘We liked them both a lot. They both have fine reputations.?
Hardy said it was a difficult decision between the two, yet Allie’s vast experience made him the front-runner.
Zelenak had no immediate comment on whether he would accept the offer, which includes a salary range of $75,000-$97,000 per year, which he has described as a ‘substantial? raise.
‘Personally, how can you turn that down?? asked Sue Bess, village council president adding, Zelenak has been a good village manager. ‘That position offers much more money than we can afford.?
Bess said that Zelenak does not have a written contract, rather signed on to be Ortonville village manager ‘with a handshake.? If he accepts the Bloomfield Hills position, he could leave immediately.
Michael Zambricki is mayor of Bloomfield Hills, which has a population of 3,940 and is 27 miles south of Ortonville. He called Zelenak in January, encouraging him to apply for the position, open since December. Zelenak submitted his resume and had two discussions with city commission members prior to the March 22 vote.
In an interview with The Citizen March 30, Zelenak said, ‘It’s a tremendous opportunity and it would be difficult to not at least consider it.? I appreciated being interviewed. It was flattering that another municipality was interested in me as a city manager for their community.?
Zelenak received a 6 percent salary increase in January, given by the village council after Zelenak was offered the position of Holly village manager, which he ultimately declined.
Zelenak, has been Ortonville village manager since October 2001, and replaced Pete Auger who accepted a similar position in Davison. Zelenak previously served 13 years with the administration at the City of Rochester Hills.
By Susan Bromley
Staff Writer
Ortonville-The future of Paul Zelenak as village manager is now up to him.
At a public meeting on March 22, the Bloomfield Hills City Commission voted unanimously to offer Zelenak, 42, the city manager position the current Huntington Woods city manager Alex Allie did not accept.
Allie declined the offer on April 5, leaving the position to Zelenak if he chooses to accept.
‘The time wasn’t right for me,? said Allie, after weighing a number of personal and professional considerations.
Patricia Hardy, Bloomfield Hills City commission member, said the position is now offered to Zelenak.
‘We hope he (Zelenak) will accept, because between Alex Allie and Paul it was very close,? she said. ‘We liked them both a lot. They both have fine reputations.?
Hardy said it was a difficult decision between the two, yet Allie’s vast experience made him the front-runner.
Zelenak had no immediate comment on whether he would accept the offer, which includes a salary range of $75,000-$97,000 per year, which he has described as a ‘substantial? raise.
‘Personally, how can you turn that down?? asked Sue Bess, village council president adding, Zelenak has been a good village manager. ‘That position offers much more money than we can afford.?
Bess said that Zelenak does not have a written contract, rather signed on to be Ortonville village manager ‘with a handshake.? If he accepts the Bloomfield Hills position, he could leave immediately.
Michael Zambricki is mayor of Bloomfield Hills, which has a population of 3,940 and is 27 miles south of Ortonville. He called Zelenak in January, encouraging him to apply for the position, open since December. Zelenak submitted his resume and had two discussions with city commission members prior to the March 22 vote.
In an interview with The Citizen March 30, Zelenak said, ‘It’s a tremendous opportunity and it would be difficult to not at least consider it.? I appreciated being interviewed. It was flattering that another municipality was interested in me as a city manager for their community.?
Zelenak received a 6 percent salary increase in January, given by the village council after Zelenak was offered the position of Holly village manager, which he ultimately declined.
Zelenak, has been Ortonville village manager since October 2001, and replaced Pete Auger who accepted a similar position in Davison. Zelenak previously served 13 years with the administration at the City of Rochester Hills.