CONTACT INFORMATION

Darwin D. P. McClary
Village Manager

Office:  (248) 693-8391 ext. 101
Fax:     (248) 693-5874
Email:  mcclaryd@lakeorion.org 

OVERVIEW OF THE OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE MANAGER

The Village of Lake Orion is a Michigan home rule village that operates under the council/manager form of government.  The village government derives its powers from the Michigan Constitution, the Michigan General Law Village Act, the Michigan Home Rule Village Act and the Charter of the Village of Lake Orion.  The current village charter and its later amendments were approved by the citizens of the village in 1967 and after.  The elected village council acts as the legislative and policymaking body of the village responsible for adopting village ordinances (local laws), rules, regulations, and policies for the health, safety, and welfare of the community and for the overall operation of the village government.  The Village Manager is appointed by the village council to serve as the chief administrative officer of the village government responsible for the efficient and effective operations of the village in accordance with Sections 3.7 and 3.8 of the village charter.  The village's organizational chart illustrates the relationship between the village council, Village Manager, departments, and boards and commissions.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VILLAGE MANAGER

The Village Manager is responsible for the overall management and direction of the operations of the village government.  Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Appointing the administrative officers and department heads of the village, subject to approval by the village council
• Approving the hiring of all other employees of the village
• Supervising and managing all services of the village
• Providing administrative support to the village council and boards and commissions
• Keeping the village council informed of the financial affairs of the village
• Taking part in discussion on all matters coming before the village council but without the right to vote
• Executing the laws and policies formulated by the village council
• Enforcing local and state laws within the village
• Preparing reports for the village council required by charter, ordinance, or resolution of the council or as deemed necessary and appropriate by the Village Manager
• Preparing the proposed annual municipal budget for submission to the village council and administering the budget after its adoption by the council
• Performing such other duties required by charter or the ordinances or resolutions of the village council
• Performing all other duties required of municipal chief administrative officers by state law

ABOUT OUR VILLAGE MANAGER

Village Manager Darwin McClary joined the village's management team on November 28, 2022.  He previously served as Lake Orion's Village Manager from April 2013 until February 2017.  Darwin possesses more than 30 years of experience as a city and village manager for several Michigan municipalities.  He earned his Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Golden Gate University with high honors and received his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Human Services with a concentration in Public Administration with cum laude honors from Siena Heights College.  He is a proud member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Michigan Municipal Executives (MME), and Michigan Public Employer Labor Relations Association (MPELRA).  Darwin believes strongly in personal integrity and professional ethics and adheres strictly to the ICMA Code of Ethics.  He also passionately believes in his Organizational Values for Municipal Excellence, principles that were later adopted by the Lake Orion village council in conjunction with the village's Mission, Vision, Values,and Goals.

Darwin is married to his husband, Steven, and has four sons and one grandson.  In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, biking, camping, canoeing/kayaking, swimming, traveling, genealogy, and ESPECIALLY spending time with his family.