SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
6:00 p.m.
A special 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 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28, 2026.
Mayor Jeannine Leary called the meeting to order and led with the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk, Janae Ortego took the roll call:
Members present: Shelley Gladding, Bonita Steele, Linda Curtis, Nikolai Zerkle (arrived at 6:10 p.m.) and Jeannine Leary
Members absent: None
Moved By Steele, seconded by Gladding to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
A. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Curtis to approve the audit of the Planning Commission terms. Motion carried 4-1 by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Gladding, Curtis, Zerkle and Mayor Leary
Nays: None
Abstain: Steele
B. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to (re)appoint the following candidates to the Planning Commission:
Seat A: Mike Tefft, with an expiration date of 12-31-27
Seat B: John LaClear, with an expiration date of 12-31-27
Seat C: Mike Brady, with an expiration date of 12-31-28
Seat D: Audra Geister, with an expiration date of 12-31-28
Motion carried 4-1 by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Steele, Curtis, Gladding and Mayor Leary
Nays: Zerkle
Mike Brady commented on detailed (re)appointments.
Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to enter into closed session at 6:22 p.m. per MCL 15.268(f) to review applications of candidates for City Manager. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Mayor Leary called for a 5-minute recess.
Back on the record at 6:25 p.m.
Moved by Steele, seconded by Zerkle to move out of Closed Session and go back into Open Session at 7:58 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Gladding to direct Curtis Holt of MML to contact the four candidates that were selected for interviews. Holt will reach out to schedule interviews for Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Absent the City Clerk, Zerkle will take the minutes on February 7th.
Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to adjourn the meeting at 8:02 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
_________________________ __________________________
Jeannine Leary, Mayor Janae Ortego, MiPMC
City Clerk