Commissioner Pat Carr was elected chair of the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners in the board's organizational meeting; commissioners also completed several routine organizational actions, including adopting bylaws, approving committee appointments and forming an ad hoc committee to review hiring practices for department directors.

The meeting began with nominations for chair. Miss Clark nominated Commissioner Pat Carr, saying, “I nominate Commissioner Carr for the chair.” The board approved Carr by voice vote. After several rounds of roll-call voting to fill the vice chair position, commissioners elected Commissioner Peterson as vice chair (final roll-call rounds were used to break earlier ties). The board then approved the proposed 2025 meeting dates and times, keeping meetings at 4 p.m. with adjustments to avoid Monday holidays and a single December meeting in mid-December.

The board accepted the slate of collective bargaining committee appointments required under its bylaws, noting the chair and vice chair are automatic members of that committee; the board named additional members and two alternates as presented. Commissioners also approved the board committee and other committee appointments included in the meeting packet, which listed citizen and noncommissioner appointees to advisory boards and regional bodies. The Community Corrections Advisory Board was noted to meet quarterly at noon with a Zoom option; staff said the board gets a pizza option when meeting in person.

The board approved updated bylaws and the rules of procedure. Brenda, identified in the meeting as the controller, reviewed clerical changes including confirming four-year terms for certain positions and updating the first page dates to 2025–2028. “Term, the term number. No. It's 4 year terms,” Brenda said while summarizing changes.

Commissioners moved to create an ad hoc committee to set policy and practice for hiring and firing department directors. The motion named Commissioners Matt Murray, Peterson, Maher and Alexander to serve on the ad hoc committee alongside the controller; the motion passed. The meeting closed after a brief public-comment period and a motion to adjourn.

Votes at a glance:
- Elect chair — Motion to elect Commissioner Pat Carr as chair (two-year term): moved by Miss Clark; voice vote; outcome: approved.
- Elect vice chair — Multiple roll-call rounds to break ties; outcome: Commissioner Peterson elected vice chair.
- Accept 2025 meeting dates and times — Motion moved by Commissioner Johnston: outcome: approved. Meetings remain at 4 p.m., with one December meeting and adjustments for Monday holidays.
- Accept collective bargaining committee appointments — Outcome: approved; included chair, vice chair and additional members with two alternates (as presented).
- Accept board committee appointments (board committees and lake boards) — Outcome: approved.
- Accept other committee appointments (citizen/technical rosters such as materials management, SEDS) — Outcome: approved.
- Adopt bylaws and rules of procedure (2025–2028 adjustments) — Outcome: approved.
- Form ad hoc committee on hiring/firing of department directors — Motion named Commissioners Alexander, Peterson, Maher and Murray plus controller: outcome: approved.

The meeting record shows little policy debate beyond procedural clarification and some discussion about whether outside bodies could require a commissioner to serve on their governing boards; several commissioners expressed reluctance to be regularly assigned to external bodies if the requirement was not statutory.