HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – For the second time this decade, the city of Holland will have to look for a new operational leader.
Following a closed-door review of his performance by the City Council, Ryan Cotton “has chosen to step down as manager of the city,” per a Wednesday statement by the city. Details of that annual review were not disclosed.
Cotton moved south from Spring Lake to take over the manager’s role in 2012, following the retirement the previous fall by Soren Wolff, who had been the Tulip City’s manager for 23 years. Cotton’s contract was set to expire at month’s end, which is when his resignation will take effect, but he will be retained by the city as a “consultant” for the following 12 months.
Mayor Nancy DeBoer tabbed Holland Department of Public Safety Chief Matt Messer as interim city manager, with immediate effect, until a longer-term interim manager can be “identified and appointed by the city council,” according to the city’s statement, which added that, “Council will immediately begin a national search for a permanent city management team.”
