In accordance with the city charter, East Lansing City Council approved an emergency succession plan for City Manager George Lahanas during its May 21 work session.
Lahanas was asked to choose five potential replacements in the event of an act of war on the city, or if he becomes incapacitated, goes on vacation or is otherwise unable to perform his duties as city manager.
He submitted his plan before the meeting, and it was approved unanimously as written.
“We have a pretty deep bench of people who could run the operation, certainly during a short period,” he said. “I’m very comfortable — and so is council — that we have the depth that we need.”
Lahanas selected Planning and Community Development Director Tim Dempsey as his first successor, followed by Director of Public Works and Environmental Services Todd Sneathen and Parks, Recreation and Arts Director Tim McCaffrey. Police Chief Juli Liebler and Fire Chief Randy Talifarro rounded out the succession plan.
Each of the potential successors has agreed to take the position if needed.
Lahanas said he chose to put Dempsey, Sneathen and McCaffrey higher than the two emergency service chiefs not because they were inexperienced, but because a replacement would need to have an intimate knowledge of the way the council operates — something the aforementioned employees have gained over their attendances at numerous council sessions.
“Part of the job is connecting and working with council directly, so they just have to know the ins and outs of that,” he said.
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