MINUTES
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Thursday, December 2, 2021
PERE MARQUETTE DEPOT
100 DEPOT STREET
7:00 P.PM.
A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan was convened in open and public session at the Pere Marquette Depot, 100 Depot Street at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 2, 2021.
Mayor Bruce Meyers called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Council Member Mike Scheid gave the Invocation.
Mayor Meyers led the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk, Janae Cooper took the roll call:
Members present: Jorel Davis, Bonita Steele, Mike Scheid, Ron Gunderson, and Bruce Meyers
Members absent: None
Moved by Scheid, seconded by Steele to approve the Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
A. City Manager Contract Extension – Discussion took place regarding extending John Niemela’s contact as City Manager to the end of the month as the search for a replacement continues. Due to the concerns the City is currently facing with EGLE with the lagoons, as well as the upcoming retirement of the long-term DPW Director Ernie Thomas, it is in the best interests of the City to extend Niemela’s contract until the end of the month. Moved by Davis, seconded by Scheid to extend the City Manager’s contract dated December 5, 2017, as amended, from December 5, 2021 through December 31, 2021. The following sections shall be amended to include the following:
2. Compensation. On December 6, 2021, the current salary shall be increased to $98,000 annually.
7. Contract Termination/Modification. Subsection c (regarding severance pay) and subsection f (regarding notice of intent to renew) are both deleted.
Motion passed 4-1 by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Gunderson, Scheid, Davis and Meyers
Nays: Steele
A copy of the signed agreement is on file in the Clerk’s Office.
Steele commented special meetings and if there are other methods to provoke discussion on an item. City Attorney Randy Kraker was present and advised that a topic can be brought up in Council Comments, or be placed on the agenda under open session, unless the topic is exempt under the OMA. Kraker advised taking caution in communicating via email.
Gunderson commented on there not being a workshop for options regarding the City Manager and requested that these types of items go on the Agenda for discussion. Attorney Randy Kraker advised that a council member is not precluded from advising the other members that an item is not ready to be discussed, that it needs a workshop session or not vote on an item.
Mayor Meyers called for a brief recess at 7:28 p.m. to move into Closed Session per MCL 15.268f. Moved by Scheid, seconded by Davis to enter into Closed Session at 7:29 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes-all.
Moved by Scheid, seconded by Steele to resume Open Session at 9:13 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
Moved by Davis, seconded by Gunderson to direct the Michigan Municipal League Facilitator to contact a short list of candidates to determine their interest in interviewing for the position of City Manager. The candidates will be identified by name on the agenda for the interview meeting.
Upon vote for the adoption of the motion, the vote was:
Yeas: Council Members Davis, Scheid, Steele, Gunderson and Meyers.
Nays: None
Motion carried.
Moved by Gunderson, seconded by Scheid to set Saturday, December 11, 2021 beginning at 9:00 a.m. as the date for a special meeting to interview candidates for City Manager.
Upon vote for the adoption of the motion, the vote was:
Yeas: Council Members Davis, Scheid, Steele, Gunderson and Meyers.
Nays: None
Motion carried.
Moved by Gunderson, seconded by Steele to reimburse up to $250 for travel expenses for candidates travelling over 100 miles.
Upon vote for the adoption of the motion, the vote was:
Yeas: Council Members Davis, Scheid, Steele, Gunderson and Meyers.
Nays: None
Motion carried.
Moved by Davis and seconded by Scheid to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m. The motion passed by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
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Bruce Meyers, Mayor Janae Cooper, City Clerk