The Chelsea City Council will interview five candidates on Saturday, May 21 – one of which is expected to become the city’s new city manager.
At the council’s May 2 meeting, the elected officials went into closed session at the end of the meeting to review the resumes of applicants and decided to interview five of the applicants in the city council chambers beginning at 9 a.m. at a special meeting. The interviews are expected to last about an hour each.
Former City Manager John Hanifan resigned effective Jan. 31. He is the new city manager in the City of Williamston.
Acting City Manager Amanda Garber gave notice that she was resigning as the city’s administrative finance director and acting city manager on April 25 and her final day would be May 13. She accepted a new position closer to home in Meridian Township.
The City Council held a discussion, then voted 6-1 with Council Member Kate Mehuron voting no, to reduce her acting manager’s position to half time until a new city manager can be hired.
As the city looks for a new police chief, they unanimously chose Michigan Municipal League (MML) as its search consultant at a base fee of $17,000. Four firms submitted proposals. According to the MML proposal, the search typically takes 120 days to complete.
Current Chief Ed Toth announced his retirement as of Aug. 15.
When the Community Public Safety Task Force meets again, there will be a new member – Jean Martin-Conners who will serve as a resident at large, replacing a member who resigned. The former police officer is a 20-year resident of Chelsea.
The City Council also unanimously approved city proclamations for five recipients.
Two businesses – Palmer Auto Service, which was chosen as the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce large business of the year and Serendipity Books, which was chosen as the small business of the year.
The Chelsea District Library was picked as the non-profit of the year.
John Daniels will be awarded the citizen of the year and Craig and Donna Common will be honored for lifetime achievement.
These awards will be given to the recipients at the chamber’s Annual meeting on May 18 beginning at 6 p.m. at Robin Hills Farm.
In other business, the City Council approved 80/20 cost sharing for all city employees as it has for the last several years. The city pays 80 percent of the costs and the employees pay 20 percent of the medical benefit costs.
A reactivation of the city’s social district was also approved 6-1 with Council Member Charles Wiseley voting no, as he has in the past. Elected officials first approved this district in 2021 to provide new outdoor opportunities for outdoor consumption of alcohol.
The district will extend from Jet’s Pizza to Park Street on the east side of Main Street and from Zou Zou’s to Palmer Commons on the west side of Main Street. In addition, there is a request for the area from Main Street to the Grateful Crow, which requires approval from McKinley Properties. The designated areas will be marked with signs and cups will have stickers affixed to them for social district consumption only.
The date for a joint work session with the planning commission to review a 425 request with Lima Township for the Wolf Property was tabled until all the proper paperwork can be provided to the City Council for review.
Garber told the City Council that she expects a new clerk to begin work in city hall next week.
During council comments at the end of the meeting, Council Member Tony Iannelli asked city residents to make sure their recycling carts were out before 7 a.m. or put them out the night before recycling day as the crews are picking up recycling earlier in the morning. In addition, he reminded folks that only one cart is allowed per household.
If you would like to listen to the City Council meeting, please go to the city’s website.
