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Saline City Council voted 7-0 to approve a two-year contract with Police Chief Marlene Radzik.
The contract will pay her $125,982 beginning July 1, provide a city vehicle to carry out the duties of the position, and a MERS hybrid pension plan.
City Manager Dan Swallow explained the shift from one-year to two-year contracts.
"I think her performance has been excellent, definitely in terms of the community involvement. Whenever there's been a protest downtown, she's present. Whenever there are issues or incidents that have come up, she responds in a timely manner. She's made some positive cultural changes in the police department." Swallow said. "I'm recommending that we consider a two-year employment agreement just to provide some more stability to the department."
During the discussion, council agreed on new language about a clause that details proceedings if the city and Radzik aren't able to come to a new deal after the contract expires.
Councillor Tramane Halsch said he thinks Radzik is doing an amazing job, but he was looking for metrics to justify going from a one-year to a two-year contract.
Swallow said Radzik has done good work in line with the job description and the strategic plan. Swallow mentioned other strengths.
"We worked a lot with her on equipment replacement, like the Axon (cameras and stun guns) replacement, which was well-considered. The culture in the department is very positive and moving forward," Swallow said.
Radzik worked in the area for the Washtenaw County Sheriff. She came to Saline as Deputy Chief to Chief Jerrod Hart. In 2022, when Hart resigned, she was named Interim Chief and was hired as permanent Chief.
Mr Girbach,
Thank you loyal service to to community.
Your a total gentleman, someday I'll have an opportunity to meet you and shake your hand.
Let me take my "filter off" for a moment.
Sunny, with a high of 89 and low of 70 degrees. Patchy rain nearby in the morning, thundery outbreaks in nearby for the afternoon, patchy rain nearby overnight.
Thats the city I moved into thirty five no woke years ago! Thank you sir for your service, I'm against DEFUNDING the police.
Interesting you should comment this nonsense because the city and our Police Dept have focused on safety for everyone in our community by encouraging efforts and training in understanding differences neurodivergence, culture, gender and the like. What some may call diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI.
Interesting that Council at times had no problem removing funding from the Rec Center part way through the year but a reassignment of expenses is troubling? Fair questions but to imply something nefarious is quite inappropriate. Worked adjacent to finance in a Fortune 500 company.
“Girbach was part of the team that participated in that analysis and certainly would have been exposed to those numbers.”
If you've followed council 10 years or more, you know that several members of council have had issues with the way the Rec Center is presented at budget time.