City Council

CITY OF STERLING HEIGHTS MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2021 IN CITY HALL 1. Mayor Pro-Tem Liz Sierawski called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and Andrea Bara, Management Assistant, gave the Invocation. 3. Council Members present at roll call: Maria G. Schmidt, Liz Sierawski, Henry Yanez, Barbara A. Ziarko. Absent: Deanna Koski, Michael V. Radtke Jr., Michael C. Taylor. Also Present: Mark Vanderpool, City Manager; Marc D. Kaszubski, City Attorney; Andrea Bara, Management Assistant; Carol Sobosky, Recording Secretary. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski announced that Mayor Taylor, Councilwoman Koski, and Councilman Radtke regretfully are unable to attend tonight’s meeting due to potential Covid exposures that have been in their respective families, so out of an abundance of caution and respect for their colleagues, they have all chosen not to attend and instead were sworn in earlier today by Judge Kimberly Wiegand. She wished their families well. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski stated they need approval of tonight’s agenda with the removal of Item 4-B – Swearing-In Ceremony of the 2021-2025 Mayor, which she noted took place earlier today. Special City Council Meeting Tuesday, November 9, 2021 Page 2 Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Schmidt, RESOLVED, to approve the agenda with the deletion of Item 4-B. Yes: All. The motion carried. A. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski stated this is to receive the results of the Board of Canvassers, and she invited Management Assistant Andrea Bara to give the presentation. Management Assistant Andrea Bara read the 2021 City Election results certified by the Macomb County Board of Canvassers on November 4, 2021. There was a total of 19,651 votes cast at this election, and the results are as follows: Office of Mayor, one 4-year term: Michael C. Taylor received 12,116 votes and is elected Mayor. Ken Nelson received 7,040 votes. Office of City Council; six positions each for 4-year terms: Liz Sierawski received 11,044 votes and is elected to City Council. Having been awarded the most votes, and in accordance with the City’s Charter, she will serve as Mayor Pro-Tem. Henry Yanez received 10,033 votes and is elected to City Council. Michael Radtke received 9,949 votes and is elected to City Council. Maria G. Schmidt received 9,529 votes and is elected to City Council. Barbara A. Ziarko received 9,365 votes and is elected to City Council. Deanna Koski received 9,069 votes and is elected to City Council. Moira Smith received 7,710 votes. Special City Council Meeting Tuesday, November 9, 2021 Page 3 Paul Y. Manni received 7,190 votes. Elizabeth Hanna received 6,264 votes. Eric J. Briskey II received 6,236 votes. Roy Wilson received 6,069 votes. Russ Cleary received 5,784 votes. Ms. Bara stated that concludes her report. B. This item was deleted from tonight’s agenda. C. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski stated this is the Swearing-In Ceremony of the 2021-2025 City Council by District Judge Stephen S. Sierawski. District Judge Sierawski administered the Oath of Office to the City Council members. D. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski opened the floor to the City Council for recognition and remarks. Councilwoman Schmidt thanked the voters for their support, adding it is a very humbling experience for her to be entrusted as their representative. She promised that she will continue to work together with her colleagues over the next four years, keeping an open mind. She stressed they need to work together as a team and will continue to do so. She thanked her family and friends for their support and help through the years, and she thanked the voters for giving her the honor of serving them for the next four years. Councilwoman Ziarko thanked the voters who voted in this last election. She thanked her family, especially her daughter, for their help and support Special City Council Meeting Tuesday, November 9, 2021 Page 4 throughout this election process. She stated the last question she always asks herself before making a decision is whether it is in the best interest of the residents. She pointed out the City was here before she sat on Council, and it will be here after she leaves, but she wants to do everything she can to take care of it for all residents while she is in this position. She thanked the residents again and assured them she looks forward to serving them in the future. Councilman Yanez thanked his wife and his entire family for their constant support. He thanked his friends who have always been very supportive as well, and he thanked the residents of Sterling Heights for participating in this election. He felt the election went well, and the City showed a fair and impartial election can be held, while showing respect to each other. He thanked the other candidates who ran, and he added that he is honored to have been on the same ballot with them. He stated he is honored to serve on Council with his very bright, intelligent, and caring colleagues, and he is looking forward to the next four years. He felt they need to continue to strive to do even better, and he is excited about the future of the City. He commented they have great City Management, all the way from the City Manager to the Directors to all of the City’s employees, who all do a great job for the citizens and taxpayers of this community. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski echoed the remarks of her colleagues. She thanked the residents for voting all of them into office, adding it is an honor to Special City Council Meeting Tuesday, November 9, 2021 Page 5 serve them and to serve the City. She stated she and her family have lived here for the last 28 years and it has been great watching it grow, becoming a part of it, and being able to give back. She noted that helping it grow has been an honor she cannot describe, and she thanked everyone who voted for her. She assured she represents all residents and taxpayers in Sterling Heights, and assured she is their voice, even if they did not vote for her, so she urged everyone to let her know how she can help represent them. She applauded everyone who ran in this election, adding it is soul-bearing to be a candidate. She is looking forward to the next four years, and she extended thanks to her family, including her husband, her children, and her brother who came a long distance to work a poll for her. 5. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski opened the floor for comments from the audience, but no one spoke. 6. REPORTS FROM CITY ADMINISTRATION AND CITY COUNCIL Mr. Vanderpool stated he has nothing further to report this evening, but he congratulated the entire City Council, including the Mayor, on their reelection. He stated he is looking forward to working with each of them, adding there are many exciting projects on the horizon and they are looking forward to getting them implemented. Mr. Kaszubski stated he has nothing to report this evening, but he stated he is humbled and honored to work with this talented group of individuals, and he offered his congratulations to the Mayor and City Council members. Special City Council Meeting Tuesday, November 9, 2021 Page 6 Councilman Yanez questioned whether Mr. Vanderpool has an update on the progress of the Schoenherr Road paving project. Mr. Vanderpool stated the good news is that the last of the paving took place last week, so the curing of that concrete should be completed on Thursday of this week. He noted that there is a slight chance that Schoenherr could be reopen on Friday of this week, although it will most likely be reopening early next week. He added that the guardrail is up, the bridges are done, the approaches are poured, the striping will be completed this week, all of the asphalt is done, so it is now a matter of moving the barrels over the weekend for opening it up next week. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. 8. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business. 9. CLOSED SESSION PERMITTED UNDER ACT 267 OF 1976 Mr. Kaszubski stated there are no items for closed session this evening. 10. ADJOURN Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Schmidt, RESOLVED, to adjourn the meeting. Yes: All. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 6:47 p.m. MELANIE D. RYSKA, City Clerk