WHITEHALL — Friction between Whitehall mayor Steven Salter and members of the city council continued to be palpable during Tuesday's regular council meeting, as the mayoral appointments to boards and commissions became the subject of occasionally heated debate.
Some, though not all, of Salter's recommended appointments were approved, and council members repeatedly questioned why some of their number, most notably Debi Hillebrand, Tom Ziemer and Scott Brown, were being, as Ziemer put it, "snubbed" for boards and commissions on which they were interested in serving.
Discussion on why Hillebrand, who preceded Salter as mayor before returning to the city council in 2023, was not being appointed to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority grew the most fractious. After the council appointed two mayoral recommendations - CJ Van Wieren (to replace the retired Jerry McDowell) and Erin Peyer (whose term was renewed) - the council began questioning why Hillebrand, who was one of several other people to submit letters of interest, was not appointed.
Council member Tanya Cabala noted the lack of appointments being considered for Hillebrand, Ziemer and Brown and called it "a black mark on the city" that each council member with interest in serving on a committee was not being allowed to do so. (Per the city charter, the mayor, and not the council, retains the ability to nominate candidates for most boards and commissions.)
Ziemer added that city rules call for every effort to be given to have each city council member serving on a board or commission if possible. At this, Cabala and fellow council member Steve Sikkenga each said they'd like Salter to explain why Hillebrand was not nominated. Salter declined, and a disgruntled audience member then chimed in, "Then why are you the mayor?"
Hillebrand then spoke, saying she didn't need to be on a board or commission to serve the community, and as far as she's concerned as long as qualified and interested people are on each board or commission, she's pleased. She did add, though, that the mayor's refusal to nominate certain council members "does demonstrate the mayor's self-serving abuse of his position," continuing that in her view, it follows a pattern of Salter's refusal to work together with people he disagrees with.
Brown then concurred to each of Hillebrand's points, and while it has no power to make the actual nomination, the council voted 6-1 (Salter dissenting) to officially recommend Hillebrand's appointment to the brownfield authority.
Later in the meeting, the council voted 6-1, with Salter again dissenting, to appoint Hillebrand to the Marina Advisory Committee; the city council does have the ability to nominate candidates to that committee. The mayor had recommended Ziemer for that position, but Ziemer stated he'd rather be on the Tax Increment Finance Authority, Local Development Finance Authority or planning commission and resented not being chosen for any of them.
"Join the club," Brown said in response.
The topic again came up when the council voted in favor of Arts Council of White Lake-Nuveen Center director Erin Peyer and Van Wieren to be on the TIFA board (the vote was 6-1, with Cabala dissenting). Brown noted while he believes Peyer is qualified for each of the four committees she is now on, it made no sense to him why she was on four while council members with interest were not being appointed to any.
The council unanimously approved the mayor's recommendation of White Lake Fire Authority Sergeant Dan Bowyer to the planning commission. However, the council wanted Tamara Horne, a steering committee member on the White Lake Area Climate Action Council, as well as Ziemer, Brown and Hillebrand to be considered for spots. The council voted 6-1 (Salter dissented) to recommend all four be appointed, though Salter gave no sign he would choose to do so.
Several other appointments were made without incident.
Also during the meeting, it was announced that the new Playhouse sustainability committee will have its first meeting Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. Sikkenga questioned why the committee, which he said has 10 people on it, is so large, but said he hopes it is able to come up with solutions that will help Whitehall taxpayers.
Salter stated he attended the Playhouse's Sip N Soup fundraising event Saturday, Jan. 25 and was pleased with the turnout, noting over $4,000 was raised.
