MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. — Muskegon Heights Police Chief Maurice Sain will serve as the acting city manager for one week.
Officials made the decision at a special meeting on Thursday.
READ: City left in limbo after city manager is voted out
Last week, the Muskegon Heights City Council voted not to renew former manager Troy Bell’s contract, which expired January 31.
However, a plan to find his replacement was never created.
Walter Watt, the city’s mayor, called two meetings, but both were cancelled because not enough council members showed up.
The council unanimously voted to name Sain as the acting city manager.
Another meeting has been tentatively scheduled for next Monday to appoint an interim city manager, who would be able to work for a longer period of time.
Councilwoman Bonnie McGlothin presented a list of candidates for the job.
Former city manager Melvin Burns also offered to take the position during the meeting’s public comment period.
In the past, the city's finance director has stepped in as acting city manager.
However, right now, Muskegon Heights does not have a finance director.
Several other administrative positions are also vacant.
On Wednesday the city attorney resigned. According to Watt, its accounting firm may soon leave too.
“We kicked the can down the road,” said Watt in an interview with FOX 17. “We needed to make some decisions that we need to make for the citizens of Muskegon Heights in order to continue to function.”
The meeting can be watched below:
