The Hastings City Council held its organizational meeting Monday, taking care of the various things to do with conducting city business.
The first order of business was swearing in four council members who were elected or re-elected in the November election and welcome Jim Carey as the newest council member for the 4th Ward. He replaces Bill Cusack, who did not run for re-election.
The council approved using Roberts Rules of Order and set meeting dates for the second and fourth Mondays of the month, except for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, when the meetings move to the next day.
The council approved Jeff Mansfield’s employment contract which covers salary and benefits and expires on June 30 when he leaves the service to the city.
According to the contract, he will be paid for “his services rendered hereto the equivalent of an annual (fifty two week) base salary of Ninety Five Thousand and Nine Hundred and Thirty Seven Dollars ($95,937.00) for the period January 14, 2019 through June 30, 2019 (i.e. the current 2018 salary prorated for the next six months.)”
Council annual salaries will be as follows: Mayor, $7,800; Mayor Pro-tem $2,500; council members; $2,300, and Board of Review members, $115 per meeting, the same as it has been for many years.
City Attorney Stephanie Fekkes with the Varnum law firm will receive an annual retainer of $14,500, billed at a rate of $1,208.33 a month, an hourly rate of $200 an hour for general legal services and $250 an hour for labor negotiations, tax tribunal matters, and general municipal financial services. That is the same amount for the same services as last year.
City officials remain the same with three exceptions; clerk/treasurer Jerry Czarnecki is now deputy city manager and moves to city manager/zoning administrator when Mansfield retires; Jane Saurman moves from assistant city clerk/treasurer/ finance director to hold the title as Czarnecki moves into the deputy city manager position, and Dan Kirwin, as temporary city assessor.
The Barry Eaton District Health Department will continue as the city’s Health Officer in 2020.
The city will deposit its funds at a dozen banking institutions that are eligible depositories. Security broker/dealers to advise and assist the city’s treasurer are Comerica Securities, Detroit, Michigan Huntington Investment Company, Grand Rapids and Michigan Vining Sparks, Memphis, Tennessee.
In other business, the council:
*approved a revised joint Hastings Public Library Board agreement. The board will have representatives from the city and Rutland Township.
Hastings Township voters turned down a recent millage request for library services; if they pass a millage in the future, the agreement provides for township representatives on the board.
*heard John McCann of Viridis present the draft five year Parks and Recreation Master Plan update and set a public hearing for public comment on the Plan for Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. The draft plan is available for review through a link on the meeting agenda on the city website.
*accepted the budget calendar and set a workshop for Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. to discuss the city goals and policies dealing with next year’s budget.
*approved the list of members of various boards and commissions being reappointed or filled, as well meeting dates and times of the boards. The information can be viewed on the city’s website.
Photos: (upper left) Hastings newest city Councilman Jim Cary.
Hastings City Council members being sworn Monday are (from left) Brenda McNabb-Stange, reelected to the 2nd Ward; Therese Maupin-Moore, reelected to the 1st Ward; and Jim Cary, elected to the 4th Ward. Don Smith, reelected to the 3rd Ward, was absent.
