Three fresh faces make début on Hillsdale's City Council
Betsy Woodruff
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: News
Three new members took part in Monday evening's meeting of the Hillsdale City Council, and Doug Moon presided as mayor for the first time.
The new members were sworn in by Park Hayes, the city clerk.
"I was a little nervous," Moon said after the meeting, "but what do you expect?"
Casey Sullivan, the new representative of Ward 1, described the meeting as "a little intimidating."
"I think I'll be up to speed soon," he added.
This is his first time serving in a public office.
The council voted unanimously to make Rick Richardson the mayor pro tem, and he was sworn in by Hayes. He will take Moon's place if the mayor cannot attend a council meeting.
The council also voted in favor of Moon's idea to have a Committee of the Whole meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 in the conference room.
Moon said he hopes to have these meetings regularly, which will consist of the mayor and all the members of the council. Though he said he values the formal atmosphere of the council chambers, he said he hopes the meeting will help foster conversation about future agenda items in a less intimidating atmosphere. This meeting and any to come will be open to the public.
Both Terry Casler and Sally Kinney, two council members, said they thought this was a great idea.
City Manager Mike Mitchell said that no recommendations or deliberations will happen at this meeting.
Moon and Sullivan both hope that the relationship between the city and Hillsdale College will improve with the change in members.
"The town's too small to be divided in any way," Moon said, adding, "Many people try to put a line down the middle, and you can't do that."
Sullivan also values the city's relationship with the college.
"I have good thoughts about the college -- especially the football team this weekend!" he said.
Dave Williams, a former member of the council, said he was pleased with the first meeting of the new council.
He pointed out that though tax revenues have gone down, the council has curbed spending and has a surplus of $82,000.
Hayes also said he was pleased with the first meeting of the new council, and that he looks forward to working with Moon. He said Moon spent a lot of time in City Hall over the last week.
The new members were sworn in by Park Hayes, the city clerk.
"I was a little nervous," Moon said after the meeting, "but what do you expect?"
Casey Sullivan, the new representative of Ward 1, described the meeting as "a little intimidating."
"I think I'll be up to speed soon," he added.
This is his first time serving in a public office.
The council voted unanimously to make Rick Richardson the mayor pro tem, and he was sworn in by Hayes. He will take Moon's place if the mayor cannot attend a council meeting.
The council also voted in favor of Moon's idea to have a Committee of the Whole meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 in the conference room.
Moon said he hopes to have these meetings regularly, which will consist of the mayor and all the members of the council. Though he said he values the formal atmosphere of the council chambers, he said he hopes the meeting will help foster conversation about future agenda items in a less intimidating atmosphere. This meeting and any to come will be open to the public.
Both Terry Casler and Sally Kinney, two council members, said they thought this was a great idea.
City Manager Mike Mitchell said that no recommendations or deliberations will happen at this meeting.
Moon and Sullivan both hope that the relationship between the city and Hillsdale College will improve with the change in members.
"The town's too small to be divided in any way," Moon said, adding, "Many people try to put a line down the middle, and you can't do that."
Sullivan also values the city's relationship with the college.
"I have good thoughts about the college -- especially the football team this weekend!" he said.
Dave Williams, a former member of the council, said he was pleased with the first meeting of the new council.
He pointed out that though tax revenues have gone down, the council has curbed spending and has a surplus of $82,000.
Hayes also said he was pleased with the first meeting of the new council, and that he looks forward to working with Moon. He said Moon spent a lot of time in City Hall over the last week.
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