Paul Debuff News Today

May 11, 2021 By Jessica Mathews & Jon King / news@whmi.com The Howell City Council is moving on following the abrupt resignation of its city manager amid staff turmoil and an acknowledgment of "unpleasantries", but no details on just what led to the departure of Paul DeBuff. DeBuff submitted his resignation last Thursday, saying he appreciated the opportunity and wished the “City, the Council, and staff the very best.” He served in the role for less ...

Four days after Howell City Manager Paul DeBuff resigned, city council members discussed which direction to go next. Council members unanimously voted at their virtual meeting Monday night to appoint Ervin Suida as city manager through June 30, 2021. The director of Public Services served as interim city manager before DeBuff was hired last year. DeBuff submitted his resignation letter on May 6, one year after he was offered the job. His resignation was effective immediately, and council memb...

Paul DeBuff, who spent less than a year as Howells city manager, has resigned.  According to a press release from the city, DeBuff resigned "after some city staff lost confidence based on the very quick pace of changes he wished to implement." Howell Mayor Nick Proctor said he and DeBuff had extensive discussions this week and came to the mutual decision that DeBuff should resign. "DeBuff had some good thoughts and good ideas and I embraced the concepts," Proctor said. "But he was going much t...

By Jon King / jking@whmi.com Just a year after officially hiring in as the manager for the City of Howell, Paul DeBuff has tendered his resignation. According to Howell Mayor Nick Procter, DeBuff gave his notice Thursday morning after a meeting with city officials in which it was determined to be the best course of action. “He was implementing a very rapid succession of changes that some in city staff were very, very uncomfortable with and Paul had lost some confidence with cit...

Paul DeBuff, who spent less than a year as Howells city manager, has resigned.  According to a press release from the city, DeBuff resigned "after some city staff lost confidence based on the very quick pace of changes he wished to implement." Howell Mayor Nick Proctor said he and DeBuff had extensive discussions this week and came to the mutual decision that DeBuff should resign. "DeBuff had some good thoughts and good ideas and I embraced the concepts," Proctor said. "But he was going much t...

April 28, 2021 By Jessica Mathews / news@whmi.com The Howell City Council has renewed some changes to its civic event policy that helps reduce red tape involved with putting on different types of events. Last June, the City modified policy to allow the manager to approve pop-up events, expansions to outdoor seating at restaurants and other small activities to promote downtown Howell and local businesses though October. That included waiving the time frame to sub...

April 27, 2021 The City of Howell’s Community Development Director is departing. At Monday night’s Council virtual meeting, City Manager Paul DeBuff announced that Tim Schmitt is moving on and has put in his notice. Schmitt has been with the City for roughly 6-and-a-half years. The City website states the department facilitates and promotes high-quality growth and development. It’s responsible for coordinating long-range planning, current planning and zon...

Howell city officials are considering creating a "social district," as is Brighton.  Several communities in the state have taken advantage of state legislation passed last summer. Michigan established social district permits that allow businesses to sell alcohol to customers who then consume it in public spaces such as sidewalks and parks within the boundaries of the social district.  Howell City Manager Paul DeBuff said city staff, Howell Main Street, Inc. and the Howell Downtown Develop...

April 13, 2021 By Jessica Mathews / news@whmi.com The City of Howell is the latest community to explore the possibility of creating a social district. Council met virtually Monday night, where City Manager Paul DeBuff stated staff has been discussing the possibility of creating a social district, sometimes called a refreshment district, which expands the legally allowed area for alcohol consumption within boundaries usually defined by signs. Under a new permit...

March 11, 2021 By Jessica Mathews / news@whmi.com Discussions about managing the park and boat launch will be taking place between the City of Howell and the Howell Area Parks & Recreation Authority over the next couple of weeks. The City contracts with the Authority to run Scofield Park and the Thompson Lake boat launch for around $45,000. The Authority is responsible for manning the guard booth and handles pavilion rentals, which goes on year-round. It also...