SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES

CITY COUNCIL

Monday, October 28, 2024

PERE MARQUETTE DEPOT

100 DEPOT STREET

BELDING, MI 48809

7:00 PM

 

 

A 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 PM on Monday, October 28, 2024.                        

 

Mayor Bruce Meyers called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

 

Mayor Meyers gave the Invocation then led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

City Clerk, Janae Ortego took the roll call:

 

Members present: Bonita Steele, Shelley Gladding, Jeannine Leary, Jorel Davis and Bruce Meyers

 

Members absent:  None

 

Approval of Agenda

Moved by Davis, seconded by Gladding to approve the agenda as presented.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – All.

 

New Business

A.   Glenn Anderson, Executive Search Recruiter from Michigan Municipal League conducted an executive search profiling session with the city council members.  Anderson recommended a starting salary of $110,000.

 

City Manager priorities in the first 6-12 months:

·         finishing the wastewater treatment plant (the City has a Consent Order with EGLE)

·         continuing lead line replacements

·         renovations to the new city hall

·         bridge repairs

·         the dog park

·         Master plan rewrite

·         cart ordinance

·         rewriting ordinances for driveways and building and lot sizes

 

Other characteristics of Belding are as follows:

·         The city has a DDA but no DDA Director 

·         Two unions: Police and fire department

·         The city has one marihuana grow facility and one recreational use facility.  There is one grow license and one recreational use license available

·         One 425 agreement with a local township

·         Six department heads report to the City Manager

 

Benefits include:

·         Two Priority Health insurance options (Traditional or HSA)

·         4-day work week (10-hour days)

·         401-K contribution (employee can contribute up to 6%, the city contributes 10%)

 

Mayor Meyers advised that the city charter requires an 18% fund balance; currently the city has a very healthy fund balance of 100+%.

 

The ideal candidate would possess the following skills/characteristics:

·         DPW knowledge

·         Infrastructure knowledge

·         More user friendly with businesses, including the strength in  recognizing what we need to pursue to grow

·         Communicate with local businesses

·         Experience with Brownfield/Ready Development Community

·         Union contract negotiations

·         Contacts in Lansing and at the federal level

·         Fresh ideas

 

Anderson advised that residency cannot be required however a stipend could be offered if residency is secured.  He further advised that an opportunity to discuss expenses could be offered when inviting candidates to interview. Once the ad is completed it will be advertised for four weeks.  A closed session will be conducted to review candidates and then interviews will be arranged.  Candidate names are confidential until an interview is accepted.

 

Public Comment

Sharon Carlson commented on the Housing Commission.

 

Council Comments

Steele, Davis, Gladding, Leary and Mayor Meyers all offered thanks to Anderson. 

 

Adjourn

Moved by Leary seconded by Steele to adjourn the meeting at 8:39 p.m.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – All.

 

________________________________                    ________________________________

Bruce Meyers, Mayor                                   Janae Ortego, MiPMC

City Clerk