After more than four hours of closed session spread over two days, Frank Walsh, the former city manager for St. Joseph, is resigning from his post as the current city manager of Meridian Township. The move comes after an investigation into Walsh’s activities pointed to his misusing public resources and creating a toxic work environment at the Meridian Township offices.
As first reported by Lansing CBS affiliate WLNS, Walsh was the target of an investigation that started in August of last year, reviewing employee complaints about his management practices and distribution of employee benefits. The investigation also reportedly reviewed claims about Walsh using township resources to benefit his personal consulting business.
As announced last night, Meridian Township officials agreed to negotiate terms of the city manager’s resignation, including a consultation agreement with Walsh.
According to WLNS’s report, Walsh is currently paid $160,823 a year plus benefits. If he resigns on his own, he would forfeit that salary. However, if he resigns due to a majority of the Board of Trustees demanding it, he is eligible for one year’s salary plus time-off benefits.
Speaking to Channel 6 after the decision, Walsh said he’s proud of what he’s done at the township.
“In no way did I operate my business out of the Township office. I wouldn’t do that. I have my home office. I have a home computer and I have my own cell phone for the business. It was not conducted in this office. There were three or four or five Zoom calls that occurred with the permission from the supervisor Styka (now deceased), and that’s that. So, this, ‘I was profiting from my business in the Township office’ simply isn’t the case and I just want to thank everyone that’s been involved. I’ve had a great eleven years here. I love this place.”
The terms of the agreements will be reviewed by township officials on Sunday April 21, at 10 a.m.
Walsh worked as St. Joseph city manager for 17 years, leaving in 2013 for his role in Meridian Township. His pension after leaving the city of St. Joseph was just over $83,500 per year.
Walsh founded Walsh Municipal Services (WMS) in St. Joseph, Michigan in 1997. According to a posting on the Michigan Municipal League website, WMS focuses primarily on finding and recruiting managers for Michigan municipalities including recruitment of city managers, village managers, department heads, and interim managers.
St. Joseph city officials tell WSJM that they do not currently have a contract with Walsh as party of their active search for a new city manager.
