Summary of Minutes of the Mt. Pleasant City Commission Special Meeting – 8/26/21

Summary of Minutes of the electronically conducted special meeting of the City Commission held Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.

Agreed to offer a contingent offer of employment to Aaron Desentz pending the background check and contract negotiations.

Directed the committee utilized for the recruitment process continue with the contract negotiations. The committee is comprised of Mayor Joseph, Commissioner Alsager and Commissioner Tolas.

Adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m.

Topic to Watch at the VIRTUAL Special Meeting of the Mt. Pleasant City Commission – August 26, 2021

Here is the topic of discussion at the virtual Special Meeting of the Mt. Pleasant City Commission scheduled for Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 7 p.m.

  • Discussions regarding the City Manager Search due to Nancy Ridley’s retirement.

To view the entire meeting packet visit:  

http://www.mt-pleasant.org/docs/board/city.commission/agendas/2021/8-26-21_Special_Meeting.pdf

How to follow public meetings during social distancing:

In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, as allowed under the Open Meetings Act and consistent with the Isabella County Declaration of a State of Emergency (Resolution No. 20-12-03 effective 12-15-20), the City Commission Meeting will be held virtually. The public may view the meeting live on the City’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/MtPleasantMi/, on Spectrum Charter channel 188 or via Zoom.

Zoom Meeting instructions via computer, phone, or dial-in number are as follows:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84065832666?pwd=TFZjQlFvdFdSVVZhNnhSZ3lBalE4Zz09

Passcode: 133483

Phone dial-in: (312) 626-6799 

Audio and video will be muted for members of the public and then unmuted by the host during public comment periods.

  • For participants accessing via computer or smartphone please use the “Raise Your Hand” icon to indicate you would like to speak. First, click on the “Participants” icon at the bottom of your screen. Next, click on the “Raise Your Hand” icon near the bottom right corner of the screen.
  • To raise your hand for telephone dial-in participants, press *9.
  • Members of the public may be muted or removed if using abusive language or if they become disruptive to the meeting. Any citizen desiring to make a public comment on an agenda item may email their comments.

Attendance to the meeting and participation during public comment periods will be conducted as follows:

• Members of the public must provide their name and address with their comments.

• Comments/Questions may be sent ahead of the meeting in writing or emailed to comment@mt-pleasant.org.

• Individual commissioners can be contacted at the following email addresses:

Mary Alsager               malsager@mt-pleasant.org

Olivia Cyman               ocyman@mt-pleasant.org

Lori Gillis                      lgillis@mt-pleasant.org

William Joseph            wjoseph@mt-pleasant.org

Amy Perschbacher       aperschbacher@mt-pleasant.org

George Ronan             gronan@mt-pleasant.org

Pete Tolas                    ptolas@mt-pleasant.org

• Comments/Questions can be emailed to comment@mt-pleasant.org during the meeting and during normal public comment sections of the agenda.

• Comments sent via email will be read aloud to the Commission during the public comment periods.

Persons with disabilities needing assistance to participate may call the Human Resources office at (989) 779-5314. Persons requiring speech or hearing assistance may contact the City through the Michigan Relay Center at 711. A 48-hour advance notice is necessary for accommodation.

City Manager Interviews Scheduled for August 21

The City of Mt. Pleasant will be conducting public interviews for the City Manager position on Saturday, August 21, 2021 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Commission Chambers at City Hall (320 W. Broadway Street). These interviews will not be live streamed, but recorded and available for viewing on the City’s YouTube channel.

COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed. Therefore, seating will be limited due to social distancing, and face masks must be worn per guidance from federal, state and local health departments.

The following candidates will be interviewed:

  • Justin Lakamper, Chief Administrative Officer, Village of Edmore, Michigan
  • John Hanifan, City Manager, City of Chelsea, Michigan
  • Susan Montenegro, City Manager, City of Leslie, Michigan
  • Aaron Desentz, City Manager, Eaton Rapids, Michigan

As a result of current City Manager Nancy Ridley’s scheduled retirement in October, the City Commission hired Walsh Municipal Services to conduct the City Manager recruitment process. Out of 63 applications received, 10 candidates were presented to the City Commission for review. The City Commission selected four candidates to interview.

The City Commission will determine which candidate will move forward in the hiring process at their regularly scheduled virtual commission meeting, slated for 7 p.m. on Monday, August 23, 2021. As with all virtual City Commission meetings, citizens can watch this meeting live on Spectrum Charter Channel 188, web streamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/MtPleasantMi/ or via Zoom.

Current City Manager Nancy Ridley, announced her plans to retire in April 2021. She has been employed with the City for 24 years.