Mount Clemens commission approves 16 hours hazard time for employees, hires Greg Shipman as fire chief

The Mount Clemens City Commission on Jan. 19 approved a contract for Greg Shipman to serve as the city’s fire chief and voted to grant 16 hours of additional paid time off to all full‑time city employees in recognition of pandemic hazards.

City Manager Johnson told commissioners the Shipman contract is modeled on a previous agreement and sets compensation at $85,000 per year, with Shipman responsible for certain contractor costs such as Social Security tax. "This is a contract that the city attorney drafted based on a contract the city had with former city manager Doug Anderson," Johnson said. The contract was approved by roll call.

On employee compensation, Johnson presented an alternative to cash hazard pay: "Instead of additional cash, we propose additional time off... Specifically, we propose granting 16 hours of additional time off to all full time employees in recognition of their extraordinary efforts and exposure to hazards during the pandemic," he said. The commission approved the measure; commissioners voting against it raised concerns that cash might be preferable given CARES funding totals. The adopted terms include that the hours expire June 30, 2022, cannot be converted to cash (including at retirement), and may not be used when doing so would require calling a replacement at overtime rates. Johnson said letters of understanding with bargaining units will be needed because the change affects contract terms.

The commission also directed the administration and the city attorney to draft an agreement allowing the Mount Clemens Public Library to use the Mount Clemens Community Center for library operations during construction and to use the Wilson Gym for storage. Johnson said temporarily relocating library operations could shorten construction by about eight months and proposed a token $1 rent with the library picking up utilities and any improvements it requires. He noted election‑day logistics: both facilities are normally polling places, and the community center can be closed for library operations on election day while alternate arrangements will be needed for Precinct 2. Commissioners discussed how existing agreements for community partners (for example, a Y on the Fly program) would be affected and were told outdoor park use for that program would remain available.

Earlier in the meeting the commission opened (and later closed) a required two‑step public hearing for a CDBG‑funded Jones Street utilities replacement (CDBG D012‑2A). Community Development Director Tingley explained that because part of the project lies in a floodplain the county is conducting an environmental review and the two hearing steps are required; he said the county’s review is ongoing and the project must occur this calendar year. Commissioners asked about impacts to adjacent McArthur Park and the Jack Prescott Arboretum and were told none are anticipated.

Other routine business: the commission approved purchases and payment of invoices (discussion included a proposed firewall purchase recommended by the city’s IT contractor HITECH), accepted the consent agenda, and received a city manager report covering COVID‑19 vaccine eligibility and scheduling, a branding‑services procurement update, an arena bond‑rating upgrade and an appointment to the Mount Clemens Housing Commission.

Votes at a glance
- Approve contract with Greg Shipman (fire chief): approved by roll call (unanimous).
- Hazard‑time proposal (16 hours to full‑time employees, expire 06/30/2022, non‑cashable): approved by roll call (5 yes, 2 no).
- Direct administration/city attorney to draft library‑use agreement (temporary use of community center and Wilson Gym): approved by roll call.
- Open/close public hearing for CDBG Jones Street utilities replacement (CDBG D012‑2A): opened and closed as procedural steps; no public comments were received.

What’s next: city staff will work with the library board and city attorney on a formal temporary‑use agreement for the library during construction; the county will continue its environmental review for the Jones Street CDBG project and a second public hearing is scheduled in February as part of that process.