REGUIAR MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
108 HANOVER STREET
7:00 P.M.
A meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan was convened in open and public session at 108 Hanover Street at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2020.
Mayor Pro Tern Bruce Meyers called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The City Clerk, Janae Cooper, took the roll call:
Members present: Bruce Meyers, Doug Feehan, Mike Scheid, Jorel Davis and Bonita Steele
Approval of Agenda
Moved by Scheid, supported by Feehan to approve the Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes - all.
Election Agenda
A. Moved by Scheid, supported Feehan to accept the report of Ionia
County Board of Canvassers. Cooper advised the Council Members that the Official Canvass report was not posted earlier in the day, however she was able to bring up the Official Canvass Results online at the beginning of the meeting. Cooper read the votes cast for Meyers: 1300 and votes cast for Steele: 1377. Council requested Cooper to enclose a copy of the results in the next City Council Packet.
Motion carried by the fallowing roll call vote: yes- all.
B. Oath of Office - Cooper administered the Oath of Office to newly elected City Council member, Bonita Steele.
C. Election of Mayor - Mayor ProTem Meyers called for nominations for Mayor. Davis nominated Meyers. Support was not offered. Steele nominated Scheid, supported by Feehan. No further nominations were offered and nominations were closed. Scheid was elected Mayor by the fallowing roll call vote:
Ayes: Scheid, Feehan and Steele
Nays: Davis and Meyers
D. Election of Mayor Pro Tern - Mayor Schied called for nominations for Mayor Pro Tern. Steele nominated Meyers, supported by Davis. Scheid nominated Feehan. Support was not offered. No further nominations were offered and nominations were closed. Meyers was elected Mayor Pro Tern by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Davis, Feehan, Steele, Meyers and Mayor Scheid
Nays: None
Consent Agenda
Moved by Feehan, supported by Meyers to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
A. Approve Independent Bank checks 75187 to 75298 in the amount of $75,242.96.
Approve Independent Bank - File Approval Confirmation
Approve Independent Bank - ACH Transaction Approval Confirmation
B. Approve Minutes: Regular scheduled meeting, November 4, 2020
Reports by Council Liaisons
Meyers stated that he did not attend the Rec Board meeting on Monday and the Housing Commission will be meeting on Thursday.
City Manager Comments
John Niemela, City Manager advised the Council that the Chamber of Commerce will be meeting on Thursday and he has been apprised that they will not be doing Home for the Holidays this year due to the most recent health order regarding the pandemic. Niemela also updated the council that leaf pick-up continues, that the next City Council meeting will likely be held virtually due to the limitations on inside meetings and gatherings and that the Rec Board is working on submitting a grant for park improvements for Lightening Bend. Williams & Works is helping with the program. The grant will need to be submitted by April.
Council Comments
Meyers thanked the Rec Board for their work and appreciates their effort.
He thanked Cooper for work on the election. He thanked her staff/election workers for their hard work. Meyers welcomed Steele to the City Council.
Feehan thanked DPW for their hard work and welcomed Steele to the City Council.
Davis welcomed Steele to the City Council and congratulated Scheid on becoming Mayor. Davis also commented on leaf pickup, offered congratulations to the Rec Board on the Lightening Bend project and departments putting together a CIP (Capital Improvement Plan).
Steele commented on the leaf pickup equipment and processes. She offered a challenge to the other council members to ask for receipts to back up what is on the reports. She also requested more frequent and more detailed finance reports.
Mayor Scheid thanked everyone for coming and stated to come to him with comments, etc.
Work Session
Moved by Feehan, supported by Davis, to accept the following Board and Commission Appointments and Liaisons:
| Belding Housing Commission | Bruce Meyers | Liaison |
| DDA Board | John Niemela | Appointed |
| *Historic District Commission | Mike Scheid | *Appointed |
| Library Board | Bonita Steele | Liaison |
| Planning Commission | Jorel Davis | Appointed |
| Recreation Advisory Board | Bruce Meyers | Liaison |
| Zoning Board of Appeals | Bonita Steele | Liaison |
| Labor Day Celebration Committee | Doug Feehan | Liaison |
| Museum Board | Doug Feehan | Liaison |
*Denotes not currently meeting.
Section 2-192 of the City Code states that the mayor or other member of the city council, appointed by a majority vote of the city council, shall serve as an ex officio member of the Planning Commission with full voting rights. This term shall begin with the term on the city council, and shall cease upon the expiration of the term on the city council.
Council members may retain their current positions or make changes. The boards and commissions meet on the following schedule:
| Belding Housing Commission | 3rd Thursday @ 6 p.m. |
| DDA Board | 1st Wednesday@ 4 p.m. in February, May, August & November |
| *Historic District Commission | * 3rd Thursday at 6 p.m. |
| Library Board | 4th Monday at 5 p.m. |
| Planning Commission | 4th Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. |
| Recreation Advisory Board | 2nd Monday at 6:30 p.m. |
| Zoning Board of Appeals | As needed |
| Labor Day Celebration Committee | As determined by committee |
| Museum Advisory Board | 4th Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. |
Steele must resign as the Chair to the ZBA (Zoning Board of Appeals Board) and function only in the capacity as a liaison.
Adjourn
Moved by Steele supported by Feehan to adjourn the meeting at 8:09 p.m.
Motion carried by the following voice vote: yes-all.
| | Mike Scheid, Mayor |
| _________________________________________ Janae Cooper, City Clerk | |
