BY PHIL CUSTODIO
Clarkston News Editor
As of Oct. 1, the city has no manager, but two residents stepped forward to help out.
Rich Little and Steve Percival, who volunteered his services at the Sept. 26 City Council meeting, are doing what they can to keep city hall running.
“We love being here, and anything we can do to help out here to answer questions, we’re glad to do it,” Little said.
According to the city charter, City Council “shall appoint a replacement within 120 days or may appoint an acting officer during the period of vacancy in the office.” The council, which did not make a replacement appointment at its Sept. 26 meeting, next meets on Oct. 10.
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The change in city management is an opportunity to improve relations between residents and the city, said City Council member David Marsh at the Sept 26 council meeting.
“People have been reluctant to come to the city manager,” Marsh said. “We’re going to have to have a new city manager. Hopefully that changes.”
City council discussed recommendations of the Communications Committee, which presented its list of recommendations at the meeting.
Recommendations of the committee, which included Council member Al Avery, and residents Sue Wylie, Mike Cascone, and Karen Eckert, included addressing residents’ public comments at the meeting or “within a reasonable period of time.”
“When the issue cannot be addressed at the meeting, the mayor or council member may request the matter be investigated by the city manager,” Eckert said. “Some items may be placed on the agenda for a subsequent meeting, with the response communicated to council, city staff, and citizens by email and or in the manager’s report.”
This to-do list is key, said resident Steve Percival, who is running for mayor in November.
“Make sure people are heard, write it down and assign it, then come back and talk about it. That’s the key to keeping the audience small,” Percival said. “If people bring things to the council, they have to feel they’re heard.”
Recommendations also include adhering to the Open Meetings Act and City Charter; post meeting procedure in meeting room, website, and agenda; five-minute limit to public comments on non-agenda items; comment on agenda items when they come up; mayor monitors comments for respect and courtesy; citizen may yield time to another speaker who has exceeded the five minute rule, one time only; and speakers identify themselves and use the podium.
“A couple of us talked about coming up with a to-do list,” said Mayor Joe Luginski. “I think it’s a good idea.”
The council may not have answers to questions coming up in public comment, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be addressed, Luginski said.
“It’s all about communications, being part of a team,” the mayor said.
They should be careful not to turn council meetings into question-and-answer sessions, said Council member Al Avery.
“That’s not what we’re here for at this time,” Avery said. “But there are times, someone comes up with a good point. We can assign it to the city manager, who would hopefully give people the information they’re looking for.”
“We need to remember this is a city council meeting. We’re here to do city business,” Marsh said. “It’s not a town hall meeting. It’s really for public comment, to give us information on decisions we’re making that night.”
“I think if people come up to make a public comment, they expect an answer,” said Council member Jason Kneisc.
“The most helpful thing is more discussion just between council members, to find out what each other’s thinking,” said Council member Sharron Catallo.
“We don’t converse and we should. We don’t discuss things as a group and often it’s because of the audience.”
Resident Chet Pardee said he has submitted seven requests for information in July and August to the city and nothing happened.
“I appreciate you talking about this,” Pardee said.
“It’s shocking to me Mr. Pardee says he put in seven requests,” Marsh said. “I would be frustrated as well.”
The current council-meeting policy includes five minutes of public comment at the beginning of the meeting; topics on the agenda are addressed when the item comes up; mayor monitors comments, time, and appropriate exchanges; council does not generally respond during public comment; anyone may question the agenda item; and no public comment at the end of the meetings.

  City manager, public comment