ZEELAND TWP. — The Zeeland Township Board of Trustees approved a contract with soon-to-be interim manger Howard Fink during a special meeting Aug. 13.
Current Manager Josh Eggleston is preparing to leave for the same role in Holland Township. Fink was selected among a pool of four candidates Aug. 10.
Township Attorney Dave Eberle said the employment contract, as presented Aug. 13, had been approved by Fink. Trustees also approved 5-1, with a “no” vote from Trustee Jeff Salisbury and absent Treasurer Melissa Veldheer and Clerk Brian VanDussen.
In written comments, VanDussen — the lone “no” vote in choosing to hire Fink — said he hoped trustees would consider an independent contractor agreement instead. Eberle said he doubted Fink would agree.
Under the approved contract, Fink will begin full-time work Aug. 18. He’ll receive a salary of $140,000, but not health insurance or retirement benefits. He’ll also receive two vacation days at the start of his employment, plus five additional days after roughly three months and five more after roughly six months.
Eggleston receives a salary of about $135,000.
Fink served as manager of Park Township from January 2017 through August 2025. During that time, he oversaw planning and the initial construction process for Park Township Community Park, helped the municipality secure a $4.7 million insurance settlement after a fire at the former Park Township Community Center and supported a pilot road diet project on Ottawa Beach Road between 144th and 160th Avenues.
Fink applied for the manager position in Laketown Township in 2025. According to his resume, he recently served as interim administrator for the Kalamazoo Lake Sewer Water Authority from November 2025 to February 2026. During his interview, Fink said he is interested in the permanent manager position in Zeeland Township.
— Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on X @cassideykava.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Zeeland Township Board approves contract with Howard Fink at $140K
Reporting by Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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By Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
