New village manager, Darwin McClary, shares insights and experience he brings to the table

by Mary Jo David

New Stockbridge Village Manager Darwin McClary
will be working on a list of over 35 goals and priorities for his first year in office. Photo provided by McClary

Darwin McClary began his first day as Stockbridge Village Manager on April 28, 2022. Some still question whether the village needs a manager, yet at a July Village Council Work Session (open to the public), a list of more than 35 goals and priorities was reviewed for McClary’s first year on the job. The list spanned categories like infrastructure, municipal operations, economic development, and parks and recreation.

Who is the person who’s been given the responsibility of all these goals and priorities? The Stockbridge Community News requested an interview with McClary to learn more about him and his role. Here we share the highlights from our interview.

McClary, who most recently worked in his own consulting business, MuniciPRO, has extensive experience working in municipal management. When asked specifically about his experience working with communities that are more rural than urban, he mentioned work he has done in Standish, Richmond, and Litchfield—all cities in Michigan that each span an area of just more than 2 miles.

McLary was born and raised in Michigan—Rochester and Oxford areas—and has family roots on both sides that extend back to the 1850s.

When asked what he considers the most promising aspects of the Village of Stockbridge, McClary points to the potential of the community’s traditional, Midwestern, historical downtown.

“Many communities would give anything to have the historic downtown we have here in Stockbridge,” McClary said. “Considering the small size of the village, the area has so many wonderful recreation facilities, like the Lakelands Trail and Veterans Memorial Park, that could draw people to visit and want to live here.”

McClary is also appreciative of the welcome he has received in Stockbridge.

“Stockbridge is a friendly, welcoming community. That has been apparent to me right from the start. So many people have welcomed me. That speaks volumes for the community as a whole,” he said.

Of course, you can’t have a list of 35-plus goals and priorities if there isn’t work to be done. When asked about what he sees as some of the challenges the village faces, McClary said infrastructure tops the list. He specifically pointed to the sanitary sewer system and especially the lagoon treatment system as being a top priority.

“Infrastructure needs are critical—our water treatment facility, water distribution, and sewage collection systems. But then, so is our utility billing system if we want to know everyone is paying their fair share for water they are actually using, instead of having some carrying cost burden for those not paying for what they use.”

Concerns about utility billing stem from inoperable water meters and problems with the units that enable the reading of village water meters. As a result, estimated readings are being done for anywhere from 60 to 80 properties.

McClary went on to explain that adequately staffing village operations is another necessary focus to provide the best services possible to village citizens—whether it’s at the village hall, police department, or public works. (The Village Council is currently reviewing applications for the position of chief of police.)

“We’d like to come up with a better system for citizen inquiries and response management to ensure more timely answers for citizens. Another important goal is transparency in government. Citizens deserve to know what their village is doing, what decisions are being made, and what information we’re using to make those decisions,” McClary said.

Also on his list of goals and priorities: Cemetery maintenance and management; code enforcement, including addressing blight and nuisance concerns; and keeping Stockbridge park projects moving forward.

Looking back on work he has done in other communities, McClary is most proud of things he did that helped improve quality of life in those communities, like improving recreational opportunities for everyone, including disadvantaged populations, and creating jobs and growing the tax base through economic projects.

Two of the projects that stand out in his experience—one in the Village of Lake Orion and one in Ypsilanti—both involved working closely with organizations and people with strong, differing views and helping to bridge the gap between them to bring them to consensus.

“Taking the time to listen to the concerns of these groups and then finding ways to address everyone’s concerns with compromise led to some of my proudest moments,” McClary shared.

McClary and his husband, Steven Harper, have four grown sons and one grandson. Harper is a high school English teacher and a novelist with a prolific list of novels to his name. Their home is in Ypsilanti Township, the exact halfway mark for the commutes McClary and Harper have for their jobs.

For information on village meetings and contact information, refer to the Village of Stockbridge website at vosmi.org.