SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
6:30 p.m.
A meeting of the Belding City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan was convened in open and public session at the Pere Marquette Depot, 100 Depot Street, at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Mayor Jeannine Leary called the meeting to order.
City Clerk, Janae Ortego took the roll call:
Members present: Shelley Gladding, Bonita Steele, Nikolai Zerkle, Linda Curtis and Jeannine Leary
Members absent: None
City Manager Keven Krieger requested the following change to the Agenda under New Business, Item A. to add 12. Gabe Krum and 13. Robert Leppink. Moved By Zerkle, seconded by Gladding to approve the amended agenda. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
A. Board/Commission Interviews – All candidates were called in the order below. Each candidate in attendance were give the same six (6) interview questions. Each response was kept under two (2) minutes.
1. Mike Brady briefly interviewed for the Planning Commission.
2. Bob Brown briefly interviewed for the Planning Commission.
3. Alexis Cuperus Manning was not in attendance.
4. Jeffrey Freeberg was not in attendance.
5. John LaClear interviewed for the Planning Commission and the ZBA.
6. Charles Mangini was not in attendance.
7. Tony Mapes was initially not in attendance. He arrived late, requesting to still interview.
8. Rebecca Reinink advised Mayor Leary that she was unable to attend due to an unexpected medical emergency.
9. Tonda Rich briefly interviewed for the DDA.
10. David Thomas briefly interviewed for the Planning Commission.
11. Jason Trann briefly interviewed for the DDA.
12. Gabe Krum briefly interviewed for the DDA.
13. Robert Leppink advised Krieger that he was unable to attend tonight’s meeting.
Mapes briefly interviewed for the Planning Commission.
B. Board Commission Appointments
1. There are three vacancies to be filled on the Planning Commission. Five candidates interviewed for these positions. Councilmembers voted by ballot, casting their top three choices, with those receiving the most votes being appointed. The Clerk tallied and announced the votes. The results are as follows:
Mike Brady – 5
Bob Brown – 3
John LaClear – 1
David Thomas – 5
Tony Mapes – 1
Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Steele, to appoint Mike Brady, David Thomas and Bob Brown to the Planning Commission. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
2. There is one vacancy to be filled on the ZBA. Only one candidate, John LaClear, interview for the position. Zerkle moved to appoint LaClear to the position, however, LaClear declined before the motion could be finished.
3. There are six vacancies on the DDA. Three candidates interviewed for these positions. Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Steele, to appoint Tonda Rich, Gabe Krum and Jason Trann to the DDA. Motion carried by the following voice vote: Yes – all. Rich, Krum and Trann all qualify for the DDA as each of them are employed within the DDA District.
The candidates who were unable to attend tonight’s meeting will be contacted and interviewed at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
City Manager Keven Krieger commented on the quality of the applicants and expressed his appreciation to them.
Curtis commented that it was exciting to have so many applicants.
Zerkle resonated Curtis’s comments and is excited to see what they offer.
Gladding commented on people seeing positive changes and looking forward to working with the new members.
Steele commented that DDA members should always work, live or own property in the DDA District. She welcomed the new members.
Mayor Leary commented that she appreciated all of the applicants and that there were so many quality people.
Bob Brown thanked City Council for this process (City Council conducting interviews).
Mayor Leary commented that is not always good to have life-time board members.
Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to adjourn the meeting at 7:23 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
Jeannine Leary, Mayor Janae Ortego, MiPMC
City Clerk