In a recent article published in C&G News, 1978 Notre Dame alum Mike Phy takes over a big suburban fire department. Congratulations, Mike!
Township promotes former deputy chief to fire chief
By Nick Mordowanec, C&G News
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Mike Phy is ready to take the reins of the Clinton Township Fire Department.
Phy, who celebrated his 29th anniversary as a township firefighter in March, is the new fire chief in Clinton Township.
He previously served as the deputy chief.
The official announcement of Phy’s promotion to his current position occurred at the board of trustees meeting July 27. The board unanimously approved the decision.
Phy replaces former Chief Jack Shea, who retired June 30 after seven years at the helm.
“There’s obviously going to be changes, and one of the biggest changes I’ve been able to be successful in already is I’ve been able to get a second deputy chief in the office,” Phy said. “That in itself is going to be a huge boost in the operation of this department.
“We haven’t had the time to spend on projects or things we really should have spent more time (on). We’re going to be able to afford the time.”
The addition of a second deputy chief is still in negotiations, though the position was officially created at that same June 30 meeting.
Human Resources Director Bill Smith said the goal is to announce a pair of deputy chiefs within the next month. The chief and two deputy chief positions are bargaining units that must first be configured, and at press time, only the chief position had been set.
The township board authorizes the letter of understanding between the township and the bargaining units.
“Positions are filled through procedures established through collective bargaining agreements and civil service rules; however, in this case, we are working on a situation similar to how we filled the chief’s position,” Smith said.
Supervisor Bob Cannon said that if the township and the board did not have complete confidence in Phy taking over as chief, they would have gone in another direction.
“It was something I wanted, and it fell into place,” Cannon said.
He added that a second deputy chief is important, and although there is no definite timetable, proper testing and planning will assure good people will work alongside Phy.
“Mike Phy has a very good personality to lead that department into the foreseeable future,” Cannon said. “He has been a very conscientious employee of Clinton Township for quite some time. We have the utmost confidence in his leadership ability and the utmost confidence for the rest of the staff to give input to make his job — which is very difficult — a lot easier.
“Our Fire Department provides a very key role in our community, not only putting out fires but looking out for the safety of residents. They are as good as they come.”
Phy, who has an associate’s degree in fire science and a bachelor’s in public administration from Central Michigan University, has already identified points of action under his leadership.
With five fire buildings located within the township, he compared it to a complex that someone has to manage — 25 small and medium-sized repairs are required or soon will be needed, and personnel is needed to put items out to bid, conduct research and ask for the right things at the best price.
Aside from infrastructural needs, fire apparatuses will soon get a much-needed uplift.
The township has ordered five new fire trucks, and Phy anticipates they will be available in seven months, or maybe even closer to a year because they are custom-built as part of the industry standard.
From infrastructural needs to addressing the concerns of those who work under him, Phy wants to change the philosophy of the Fire Department in a positive way.
“What I would like to do is put back some of the power of decision-making into the firefighters themselves,” Phy said. “They’ve been begging for a few years now to be able to think on the fly and for the administration to put faith in their judgment.
“I want to work toward that goal, that their administration trusts in their judgment. There were stringent policies and procedures in the past, and sometimes things have to stray because everything doesn’t always fit in a box and sometimes there needs to be variation.”
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.