Sumpter finds new DPW Director, negotiates contract

John Danci of Romulus has been selected as the new director of the Sumpter Township Department of Public Works. At its Aug. 24 zoom meeting, the township board of trustees unanimously approved negotiations to begin on his contract.
Supervisor Tim Bowman was absent from the meeting and the meeting was chaired by Trustee Matthew Oddy.
Township Administrator Michelle Cole said the township posted for the position and there were “not a lot of applicants.” She said DPW directors are in short supply, not only around Michigan, but throughout the nation.
She said they are lucky to find Danci, who has six years of experience in public works and is state certified. The Human Resources Committee would like to start contract negotiations with him, she said.
Trustee Oddy said that evening’s action would be to approve negotiations and the contract would come back to the board for approval.
Danci has worked for the City of Romulus since September 2015, currently as a water/sewer crew leader (as needed) and water/sewer crew operator since October 2019. He was a sign technician from July to October 2016 and water crew laborer September 2015 to October 2019.
Before that he worked for Arbor Valley Tree Services in Ann Arbor, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Ann Arbor Pioneer High School as head freshman/junior varsity baseball coach.
He earned a bachelor of science in Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology & Motor Control from the University of Michigan in December 2009. He also was a licensed realtor and now carries S1 and F5 Water Operator licenses from Michigan EGLE (Environment, Great Lakes & Energy).
Trustee Don Laporte suggested as they negotiate that they put incentives into the job, so as he grows he can earn more money. Trustee Peggy Morgan suggested having a year’s evaluation before going for a long-term contract.
Oddy said this would be an at-will contract.
Townshp attorney Rob Young said that at-will contracts are at the pleasure of the board and severance packages have been removed. Any changes would be at the pleasure of the board, he said. Young said Danci is S-1 certified, which is the top certification in the state.
Cole said there would be on-the-job training required. She said he has a step above the Step 2 required from the state.
Trustee Morgan said Danci has a nice resume with lots of education.
In other business at the Aug. 24 meeting, the board:
• Approved the township recycling center program and volunteer schedule for September 2021 to August 2022;
• Approved changing ordinance section 16-30 for Parks and Recreation to allow kayaks and canoes at Banotai/Sherwood Pond, as approved at the Aug. 10 board meeting, pending Young’s review of the insurance involved. Young said the changed ordinance will be published;
• Approved the Human Resource Committee’s recommendation to hire one seasonal temporary DPW workers from September through November 2021. Trustee Morgan suggested advertising the job in the Independent so they will get more candidates for the position. She said this could be in addition to advertising in the on-line Eagle, which the township uses as its newspaper of record. Clerk Hurst said they would advertise but not hire before bringing it back to the board; and
• Heard Administrator Cole report that the Human Resource Committee, which she chairs, will consider changes to the job description for the township finance director, to replace her, and will bring it back to the board before posting.