Township Board Moves to Fill Leadership Gap During Supervisor’s Leave
Springfield Township has approved the creation of a temporary township Superintendent position while Supervisor Ric Davis remains on leave from in-person township duties.1
The decision came after township officials discussed how day-to-day operations would continue during Davis’s absence. According to discussion at the meeting, Davis notified the township that he would be out for an estimated four to eight weeks, possibly longer, and would not be available for regular in-person duties during that time. Board members said the issue was not personal, but practical: township operations still need daily management, staff direction, and continuity.
Trustee Bill Whitley was appointed Chair Pro Tem earlier in the day at a Special Meeting and conducted the meeting in Davis’s absence2.
During the meeting, the township attorney explained that the Charter Township Act allows a charter township board, by majority vote, to appoint a township superintendent. The board may then delegate many of the supervisor’s statutory duties to that superintendent, including broad administrative and personnel-related responsibilities. The superintendent would report to the Township Board and serve at the pleasure of the board, meaning the board could later change the duties, end the appointment, or return duties to the supervisor.
The motion made at the meeting was to create the position of township superintendent pursuant to MCL 42.103 and, once an individual is appointed, delegate the listed statutory functions and duties to that person. Township officials also stated that if the motion passed, the search for a superintendent candidate would begin immediately on May 15. Once a candidate is selected, the board is expected to call a special meeting to approve the appointment and salary.
The board also clarified that the superintendent position is temporary and tied to Davis’s leave. According to the board’s motion for a sunset condition, the position will expire when Davis returns to his in-person duties.
A key point clarified during the meeting is that a township superintendent would not have a vote on the Township Board. Davis would remain the elected supervisor and would retain his board vote if present at meetings. The superintendent would handle assigned administrative duties, but would not replace the supervisor as an elected voting member.
The attorney also explained that Davis’s annual salary of $98,6004 would continue during his leave. Under Michigan law, an elected official’s salary generally cannot be reduced during the official’s term without that official’s consent, even if some or most duties are reassigned. This raised concerns from residents about whether taxpayers would effectively be paying both the elected supervisor and a superintendent at the same time. Township officials acknowledged that this would likely be the result when a superintendent is hired.
Several residents questioned whether the board was acting too quickly, especially if Davis’s leave may only last a few weeks. Supporters of the motion argued that the township cannot be run effectively by remote email alone, especially with several major administrative issues underway.
During the meeting, officials referenced staffing limitations, technology and records-system transitions, financial and assessing systems, and the need for someone physically present to answer questions and direct staff in real time. One board member described the situation as having no “captain steering the ship,” with staff looking for direction while Davis is unavailable in person.
The discussion also touched on the ongoing Levy/Burroughs Materials sand and gravel mining proposal. When asked whether the superintendent would make decisions related to the mine, officials clarified that the Planning Commission remains the body currently reviewing the application, and any final board-level decision would come to the Township Board. The superintendent would not have a vote on that decision. However, the role the superintendent would play in the ongoing discussions was not answered.
It was clear from the language and tone of the meeting that township operations are under strain. Board members described communication problems, limited staff capacity, and uncertainty about how daily township functions should continue while Supervisor Davis remains away from in-person duties. The discussion also reflected visible tension among board members, along with several unanswered procedural and practical questions.
Why is Oko reporting on this?
This issue is relevant to Oko Environmental’s work because township administration directly affects how land use decisions are managed, documented, reviewed, and communicated to the public. While the appointment of a temporary superintendent may seem like an internal staffing matter, it also has practical implications for ongoing township business, including planning, special land use reviews, environmental review processes, and major decisions such as the Ormond Road sand and gravel mining proposal.
Oko Environmental will continue following township decisions that affect land use, environmental review, and public access to information.
Other Notes from the Meeting
*Data Center Moratorium
The board also addressed the township’s data center moratorium, which was set to expire on June 9. Given the current situation, the board voted to extend the moratorium by 30 days.
Residents asked whether the moratorium could be extended for a longer period, such as 60 days or even 18 months. Based on legal advice from township attorney Greg Need and guidance from Trustee Bill Whitley, who conducted the meeting as Chair Pro Tem, the board chose to extend it 30 days at a time. The stated reasoning was that shorter extensions would help ensure the issue does not fall off the board’s agenda and that the board continues to keep eyes on it.
- Supervisor Davis Email to Township Board – FOIA (May 11, 2026) ↩︎
- Springfield Township Special Meeting Agenda (May 14, 2026) ↩︎
- MCL 42.10 – Township superintendent; appointment; delegation of powers and duties of
township supervisor ↩︎ - Township Board Meeting Minutes Approve Increase in Full-Time Elected Official’s Salaries (December 12, 2024) ↩︎
