Michigan Manager Protests State Listserv Changes & ICMA Meddling
The Michigan listserv which was “founded on limiting access to other qualified managers” is getting a new member who is not a manager.
At the October meeting of the Michigan Municipal Executives (MME), the board voted to give access to Matt Fulton, the the ICMA Midwest Regional Director. The email authored by Milford Village Manager Christian Wuerth stated that the change would actually be beneficial for Michigan managers because Fulton would be able to share his wisdom and insights.
The angry city manager disapproves of the decision. They questioned whether the true purpose of the change was to stifle any criticisms of the ICMA by members on the listserv in light of the fallout from the lawsuit filed by Port Huron City Manager James Freed. They also pondered whether it would be used for retaliatory purposes.
The change is concerning because it flies in the face of previous positions taken by the MME when it comes to preserving the confidentiality and sanctity of the listserv. James Wickman, who chaired the MME Ethics Committee wrote that “access to the listserv is only for those who qualify for full MME membership” and that the “MME listserv works because it is a safe place to share candid and professional questions and discussion.”
The news from this October meeting is extremely disappointing because it follows the unprecedented decision by the ICMA executive board to settle the lawsuit filed by Freed. In June 2022, the ICMA defamed Freed when it publicly censured him on trumped up charges peddled by the ethics staff consisting of Martha Perego and Jessica Cowles.
Instead of using the October meeting as an opportunity to pass a resolution rebuking the ICMA executive board and CEO Marc Ott for its persecution of a fellow Michigan manager, the MME bent the knee to the ICMA once again.
