REGULAR MEETING
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Pere Marquette Depot
100 Depot Street
7:00 p.m.
A meeting of the Belding City Council was convened in open and public session at the Pere Marquette Depot, 100 Depot Street, Belding, MI 48809, at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Bruce Meyers called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and gave the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk, Janae Ortego, took the roll call:
Members present: Shelley Gladding, Bonita Steele, Jeanine Leary, Jorel Davis and Bruce Meyers
Members absent: None
Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Mike Seif started offer to comments. Due to the nature of the comments, Mayor Meyers intervened, advising Seif that the appropriate time for him to speak on his topic will be at the second Public Comment.
Moved by Davis, seconded by Steele to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. The Consent Agenda is as follows:
A. Approve Independent Bank Checks 80881 to 80937 in the amount of $182,644.77.
Approved Independent Bank ACH Notifications
B. Approve Minutes: City Council regularly scheduled meeting minutes – November 21, 2023.
Steele reported that she has not had any meetings however, she did attend the Candlelight Reception at the Library.
Gladding had not meetings to report.
Davis reported that the Planning Commission met on November 28th and discussed the City Ordinance regarding animals, discussed bylaws and the onboarding process. Davis attended the Candlelight Reception.
Leary reported that the Museum Board met on November 28th. They are planning a Strategy Meeting on January 9th. Upcoming events are Santa and Captain Tim Godwin will be speaking on a 1000-foot freighter on January 30th.
Mayor Meyers advised that the Belding Housing Commission will be meeting on December 21st.
A. Sidewalk Ordinance Discussion – a lengthy discussion ensued with the end result directing City Manager Jon Stoppels to contact the City Attorney to review the 2016 Planning Commission Moratorium regarding sidewalks and Ordinance #543 from 2016 to determine if there is truly a moratorium on sidewalks.
B. Purchasing Policy Discussion –The City of Belding currently does not have a purchasing policy in place, nor is one addressed in the city charter. Past practices have been relied upon regarding emergencies, maximum amounts, city manager and department director authorities and bids. Stoppels distributed handouts of other communities purchasing policies. Davis advised that the finance director should put a purchasing policy together and submit it to City Council for approval. Steel recommended that a draft should be presented to staff prior to coming to City Council for approval.
Mike Seif commented on the following:
· Home Improvements
· Water
· Leaves
· Doing work correctly and timely
· Sidewalks
· Blight
· Police
· Mowing grass
· Paying taxes
· Bringing businesses into the city
Mayor Meyers limited Seif from further comment as he had spoken at length for well over the three-minute limit. Mayor Meyers advised Seif that they could continue discussion further over the phone or in person.
Clinton Hewartson commented on parking outside of his store.
Jim Mason commented on the Candlelight Reception. They raised over $2,500. He thanked everyone for attending.
Stoppels advised council on the following topics of interest:
· He attended the United Way Conference at the High School today
· All video cameras are installed at the Depot, Central Riverside Park and the Veteran’s Memorial Park. Staff training will begin next week.
Steele commented on the Candlelight Reception and the City Council’s many responsibilities.
Gladding commented on the Candlelight Reception.
Davis commented on the Candlelight Reception and thanked Jim Mason and his staff for putting it together. He further commented that he is a citizen of Belding and pays taxes here.
Leary thanked everyone for attending and commented on the Candlelight Reception. She further commented on seeing new businesses in town and the upcoming tree lighting ceremony.
Mayor Meyers commented on the following:
· Thanked everyone for attending
· Donations for the Tree Lighting Ceremony, including the BACF
· Advised Seif that he will be in contact
· Commented on Linda North’s comment from the prior meeting
· He will be setting up meetings at the Depot the third Saturday of the month after the first of the year to meet with citizens from 9:00 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Seif commented on family, schools, people coming into town, cleaning up the city, being proud of your city and the citizens and city council working together.
Mayor Meyers called for a brief recess to enter into a Closed Session at 8:39 p.m. per MCL 15.268(a).
Moved by Steele, seconded by Davis to enter into Closed Session at 8:48 p.m.
Moved by Leary, seconded by Davis to return to Open Session at 10:24 p.m.
Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to approve the following recommendations from the City Manager’s performance review:
· Approve a 4% salary increase effective January 4, 2024
· Extend his contract for one year, to now expire on January 4, 2026
· Conduct a post-evaluation performance review in October 2024 for the 2025 calendar year
· Add six (6) month’s severance with benefits if terminated, to Stoppels contract as City Manager
Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All
Moved by Gladding, seconded by Davis to adjourn the meeting at 10:26 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
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Bruce Meyers, Mayor Janae Ortego, City Clerk