Village administrator resigns; president cites ‘tense environment’ caused by some council members

Aaron Desentz

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

SHELBY — Village Administrator Aaron Desentz announced his resignation Monday, June 1, stating that he has taken a new job as the Leslie city manager.

Village President Paul Inglis said he believes a “tense environment” created by some council members led to Desentz’s decision.

Inglis, who was the long-time Oceana County administrator until his retirement in 2008, was elected as village president last fall. About a year ago before Inglis came on board, the village was experiencing a high turnover of village employees.

“I am vastly disappointed that Aaron submitted his resignation,” Inglis said. “He had a great deal of potential, and he had a great vision for Shelby, which is something Shelby has been lacking.”

As far as what the village’s next move will be in finding a replacement, Inglis said that will be determined by the council. The next meeting is Monday, June 8, at 7 p.m.

Inglis expressed his disappointment in some council members, who he did not name specifically, for essentially driving Desentz away. “We were in the process of renegotiating his contract,” Inglis said. “We had just finished his evaluation, and two or three council members were not satisfied with his performance. There were members who never wanted to hire him. This created too much pressure. There was way too much nitpicking and indecision from certain members of the council — not the administrator. We have members who micromanage — they want to write policy instead of implement it. The last couple of meetings have been so tense.”

Desentz has been paid a $40,000 annual salary and has not had a pay increase since he began the job a year and nine months ago, Inglis said.

Desentz said he starts his new job July 1, and his last day at his current position will be June 30.

Originally from Pinkney, he said the City of Leslie is located “45 minutes from the home I  grew up in.” He cited being closer to his family and friends as reasons for taking the job. Also, his fiancee is “entertaining the idea” of studying veterinary medicine at Michigan State University, and Leslie is just about 20 miles from East Lansing.