Huntington Woods City Manager Announces Resignation, But He's Not Leaving Just Yet

Huntington Woods City Manager Alex Allie was set to announce his resignation during Tuesday night's City Commission meeting at City Hall; but, the longtime administrator said he's not going anywhere just yet.

In his resignation letter, Allie said he'll stick around until approximately early 2014 to wrap up loose ends, help the city find his replacement and do what he can to facilitate a smooth transition.

"It is important that I state that my resignation is not reflective of any dissatisfaction with my position," Allie wrote. "I am at a point in life and my career that it is time to pursue the proverbial next chapter."  

Allie has served as Huntington Woods' city manager for the past 24 years and, during the balance of his more than 40-year career, worked in the state Senate Fiscal Agency and administrative positions in Berkley, Novi and Owosso.

The Novi resident said he is looking forward to spending more time with his new grandson in Tucson, AZ, but has no plans to move away from Metro Detroit.

"I won't be one of the ones bailing on Michigan," he said.

Mayor Ronald Gillham lamented Allie's pending departure Tuesday.

"We knew it was going to happen sometime, but we hate to see him go," Gillham said. "He has been an outstanding city manager for us, the county and the state, in my opinion.

"We will miss him no matter how competent and good the quote unquote replacement is," Gillham said. "He's been the lifeblood of the city for 24 years."

Gillham said the next step is for the city to solicit bids from agencies that conduct staff searches for municipalities. 

"We want to do a thorough, careful search," Gillham said. "That takes a while. We want to get all our ducks in a row."

In the meanwhile, Allie wrote that it "has been an honor and privilege to serve" Huntington Woods.

"Leaving an environment that is recognized as being a leader, not only in the State, but nationally, is no easy decision," Allie wrote. "I leave an exceptional team and know the highly involved and committed residents of the City will never lose sight of true progress and the significance of quality of life."