Six months after taking the job, Chelsea City Manager Elle Cole is out, and the paperwork behind her firing points to allegations of dishonesty, misuse of public funds and inappropriate workplace behavior. The Chelsea City Council voted unanimously last Thursday to terminate Cole following a closed session, capping a tenure that began with promises of stability and ended in the city's third leadership shakeup in just over three years.
Records obtained by 7 News Detroit show the termination resolution cited alleged dishonesty, alleged misuse of public funds, alleged inappropriate workplace behavior, and an alleged violation of the public trust. The station reported that it reached out to Cole for comment, but she has not responded to that request. Cole was placed on administrative leave before the council's action, according to the same account.
The council's closed session that evening was held under a specific provision of Michigan's Open Meetings Act, MCL 15.268(1)(a), which allows a public body to go into closed session for personnel discipline or dismissal when the employee herself requests it, according to The Sun Times News. Chelsea's official statement, issued on Thursday, said the council reviewed relevant information with legal and human resources advisors before terminating Cole, but that personnel confidentiality rules limit how much of the supporting evidence can be made public.
A Pattern of Turnover at City Hall
Cole's departure is not an isolated stumble — it is the third city manager exit in Chelsea since early 2023. Roy Atkinson resigned in April 2023 after just ten months on the job, citing burnout, and Marty Colburn was removed in June 2025 after being placed on administrative leave without an initial public explanation, per the same account from the Sun Times News. During that 2025 vacancy, Chelsea Police Chief Kevin Kazyak stepped in as interim city manager while the city searched for a permanent replacement.
That history of instability was on the minds of residents who showed up to speak during public comment at last Thursday's meeting. Multiple Chelsea residents spoke in favor of retaining Cole, praising her responsiveness to local business owners and warning that constant managerial turnover was harming the city's progress, the report notes.
From More Than 30 Applicants to Six Months on the Job
Cole's hiring had followed a competitive search. She was selected from a pool of more than 30 applicants and won unanimous council approval in January 2026 before officially starting as city manager on February 10, according to Chelsea Update. Upon taking office, Cole publicly cited bringing stability, clarity and trust to Chelsea as her top priorities following months of administrative uncertainty after her predecessor's exit, according to WEMU.
She brought considerable credentials to the role. Cole holds a Master of Public Administration degree and is a Certified Public Accountant, with more than 20 years of municipal government experience, Chelsea Update's earlier reporting noted. Before Chelsea, she served as Treasurer, Deputy City Manager, and Interim City Manager in neighboring Saline, Michigan, where her role shifted to special projects after that city chose another candidate for its permanent manager position in early 2026, according to The Saline Post. Earlier in her career, Cole worked in municipal operations for Howell, Sumpter Township, and the Genesee County Water Authority.
With Cole gone, Chelsea — located in Washtenaw County, Michigan — once again faces the task of finding executive leadership for city hall, a search that will unfold against the backdrop of three departures in as many years. For now, the specifics behind the council's allegations remain confined to the closed-session record, and Cole has not publicly addressed the termination.
