Bingham Farms

Resident, local developer Grenadier named to village council

By Tiffany Esshaki
C & G Staff Writer

BINGHAM FARMS — On Nov. 26, the Bingham Farms Village Council selected resident and local real estate developer Carl Grenadier to fill the council’s vacant trustee seat.

The position became available last month when then-President Delores Tripp abruptly resigned from council. Though Tripp hasn’t responded to the Eagle’s requests for comment, President Pro Tem Mel Ettenson suggested that she was moving out of state to be with family.

After her resignation was officially received by the council on Oct. 22, the task at hand became to appoint a new president within 30 days, per the village charter. During a special meeting Nov. 5, the council voted 3-2 to appoint Jeffrey Modell to the head seat. Larry Freedman was absent from the vote. Later, the council voted unanimously to keep Ettenson as president pro tem.

Modell’s promotion to president left a vacancy on the council that, too, needed to be filled within 30 days per the village charter. Ettenson and Trustee Donald Ketai volunteered to serve as the committee to seek out a new trustee, and their selections were presented to the council on Nov. 5 just after the new president and president pro tem appointments were made.

Career army officer Jeff Douville, building contractor Bret Russell and Grenadier were the candidates for the position and, according to several council members, all were highly qualified for the job. After hearing remarks from the candidates Nov. 5, Ettenson told the council the choices were “an embarrassment of riches.”

According to Modell, when Grenadier was unanimously selected by the council to fill the trustee seat, it was largely based on the recommendation of the search committee, which cited his long tenure in the village, his career experience with building planning and his willingness to serve as reasons why he would make the best fit.

“I personally felt that all three of the potential trustees were absolutely qualified and I voted in favor of (Grenadier) because the committee recommended him and the logic was absolutely fine,” said Modell. “If the committee had recommended one of the other two, I would’ve agreed and voted for him.”

Grenadier is co-owner of the commercial real estate firm Grenadier Properties, which operates in the same building as the village offices. He said he was pleased to be selected and believes it was his experience with development and planning that ultimately sold the council.

“I was invited by one of the members to put my hat in the ring, as it were, to be considered for the position. I have extensive experience in my job dealing with planning commissions, city councils, building departments—that’s part of the reason that I was prequalified to join as a trustee.”

According to Village Clerk/Administrator Kathryn Hagaman, Grenadier will serve as trustee until Sept. 2013 when he will have to run for election to the remainder of the 4-year term.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Tiffany Esshaki at tesshaki@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1095.