Springfield Township Supervisor Announces Leave of Absence from In-Person Duties
Oko Environmental recently confirmed Supervisor Ric Davis’s leave of absence after submitting a FOIA request to Springfield Township. The township clerk provided a prompt response.
The document, received through Oko’s FOIA, is a May 11, 2026 email from Supervisor Davis to the Township Board. In that email, Davis stated that he is taking a leave of absence ‘effective immediate‘ from his regular in-person duties for urgent and serious personal reasons. He estimated the leave would last approximately four weeks, but noted that it could potentially be extended up to eight weeks.
The email also stated that during this time, Supervisor Davis will not attend Township Board meetings, committee meetings, or other public meetings.
However, he wrote that he would remain available by email and would continue handling matters that could be addressed remotely, including responding to emails, providing guidance to department heads, and reviewing and signing documents as needed.
The Ormond Road Sand and Gravel mining proposal remains paused while the township’s independent experts continue their review. At this time, it is unclear whether Supervisor Davis’s leave of absence will have any impact on that review process, township communications, or future decision-making.
Regardless of the Supervisor’s absence, activity related to the proposal is still ongoing. The high-capacity wells at the Ormond Road site are still under construction, and the Road Commission for Oakland County is awaiting results from soil borings on Ormond Road. Because the proposal remains active but unresolved, Oko Environmental is continuing to track how township responsibilities are being handled during a temporary absence from in-person duties.
As a resident of Springfield Township and owner of Oko Environmental, I am curious…
- Who is handling the Supervisor’s in-person responsibilities during the leave of absence?
- What mine-related communications, reviews, signatures, approvals, or directives are being handled remotely during this period?
- Are there any mine-related board, committee, administrative, consultant, or public-facing responsibilities are affected by the Supervisor’s absence from in-person duties?
- Does the township have a policy or established procedure for temporary absences by elected officials during active land-use or special land-use reviews?
- How will residents be informed if the Supervisor’s leave is extended, or when he resumes regular in-person duties, particularly in relation to ongoing mine-review matters.
These points are not about personal circumstances. Personal privacy matters, including for public officials. A temporary leave of absence does not entitle the public to private details about someone’s health, family, or personal life.
At the same time, privacy does not eliminate the need for public clarity about official duties, decision-making, and continuity of government. In this case, Oko Environmental was only able to confirm the leave of absence after hearing information secondhand, submitting a FOIA request, and receiving the responsive document from the township. That is essentially a game of “telephone,” and it is not an efficient way for residents to learn about changes that may affect township operations.
Respecting privacy and providing basic public-process information can happen at the same time. The goal is not to intrude into anyone’s personal life. The goal is to make sure public business remains transparent, accountable, and clearly documented while Levy/BMC is actively pursuing a special land use permit for mining and reclassification of Ormond Road.
Below are the FOIA documents:
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Since this article was drafted, Springfield Township has posted notice of a Special Meeting of the Township Board for May 14, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. The agenda includes the “Election of Chairperson Pro Tem,” a possible closed session to review and discuss a written legal opinion, and public comment. The posted agenda does not identify the subject of the legal opinion. Oko Environmental will continue monitoring the situation and provide updates.
Special Meeting Agenda for May 14, 2026:
