City Council Minutes

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City of Northville
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
November 14, 2005

Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 p.m. in the City of Northville Municipal Building Council Chambers, 215 West Main Street, Northville, Michigan.

ELECTION RESULTS:

The City Clerk read the election results for the November 8, 2005 Election as follows:

Mayor – 2 year term (vote for not more than one)
Christopher J. Johnson 1,202 votes

City Council – 4 year term (vote for not more than two)
James Allen 847 votes
Michele Fecht 1,001 votes
Kevin Hartshorne 507 votes
Larry Parks 560 votes

The Oakland County Board of Canvassers, having canvassed the votes for the City of Northville for the November 8, 2005 Election certified and determined that:

Christopher J. Johnson, having received a sufficient number of votes, is elected to the office of Mayor, two-year term ending November 12, 2007.

Michele Fecht, having received a sufficient number of votes, is elected to the office of City Councilmember, four-year term ending November 9, 2009.

James Allen, having received a sufficient number of votes, is elected to the office of City Councilmember, four-year term ending November 9, 2009.

INSTALLATION OF MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:

Judge John E. MacDonald, 35th District Court, administered the oath of office to Mayor Johnson and City Councilmembers Allen and Fecht.

ROLL CALL:

Present: Mayor Christopher Johnson, Mayor Pro Tem Carolann Ayers, Councilmembers James Allen, Michele Fecht, and Thomas Swigart

Absent: None

Also Present: City Manager Gary Word, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Nicolette Bateson,  Director of Public Works James Gallogly, Police Chief James Petres, Housing Director Joanne Inglis, City Clerk Dianne Massa, former Councilmember Jerome Mittman; Housing Commissioners Sue Ellen Hooper, Robert Buckhave, and Charles Jerczyke; the families of Mayor Johnson and Councilmembers Allen and Fecht, Reporters from the Northville Journal and Northville Record, and three citizens.

PRESENTATIONS:

Citizen Comments

Housing Commission members Sue Ellen Hooper, Robert Buckhave, and Charles Jerzycke were present on behalf of the Housing Commission, and thanked Gary Word for his years of service. Word was reminded that his service to the City is one of the qualifications considered when reviewing housing applications submitted to Allen Terrace.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

Motion Ayers, seconded by Swigart to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

A. Election of Mayor Pro Tem

Swigart spoke of the challenges that lay ahead, and commented on his respect for, and the experience of Ayers. Swigart offered the nomination of Ayers as Mayor Pro Tem.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Fecht to close the nominations and elect Carolann Ayers as Mayor Pro Tem. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Board and Commission Liaison Preferences

The Mayor asked the City Council to submit their board and commission liaison preferences in writing. It is anticipated the liaison appointments would be made by the first week in December.

C. City Manager Selection Process

As the City Manager submitted his resignation effective January 2006, the City Council faces the task of selecting a new City Manager. Due to the holidays and tight timelines, it was suggested that a special City Council meeting be set for November 16th to begin discussions relative to the City Manager selection process.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Allen to call a special study session of the City Council on November 16, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the City of Northville Municipal Building – Meeting Room A, 215 W. Main Street, Northville, Michigan, to discuss the City Manager selection process. Motion carried unanimously.

D. Other Business to Come Before Council

Ayers expressed her appreciation to the City Council for allowing her to serve as Mayor Pro Tem. She stated it is an honor to continue to serve in a role that she is dedicated to and takes very seriously. Ayers thanked Swigart for his nomination and the City Council for electing her Mayor Pro Tem.

COMMUNICATIONS:

A. Mayor and Council Communications

Johnson thanked Jerry Mittman for his service on the City Council as well as on other boards and commissions. It has been a pleasure to serve with Mittman and his presence will be missed.

Staff Communications None

There being no further business to come before Council, the meeting was adjourned.

Adjournment: 7:42 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Dianne Massa, CMC
City Clerk