BY PHIL CUSTODIO
Clarkston News Editor
The appointment of Joe Luginski to City Council and Council member Sue Wylie to the Planning Commission created a conflict with the city Charter and ordinances limiting the number of city council members on the Planning Commission.
Luginski is already on the Planning Commission.
“It seems to be a silly situation to cause an uproar over,” said Rich Little, Planning Commission chair at the Sept. 10 City Council meeting. “I would prefer you please leave things the way they are and let us get to work.”
Council member Jason Kneisc made a motion to refer the question to the city manager and city attorney. Laughter from the audience greeted a provision Kneisc added to the motion, to report back “no later than Nov. 12.”
The city election on Nov. 6 is expected to render the issue moot. Luginski’s seat, which was vacated by Eric Haven, will be open and Luginski is not running for it.
“I went through the training the city paid for and got certified,” Luginski said. “I don’t want to leave in the middle (of the Master Plan update process). Too much blood, sweat and tears has been put into it.”
Mayor Steven Percival asked Kneisc to revise his motion to exclude the November provision.
“November 12, that’s silly,” Percival said. “We’re not being political by putting it off until November.”
Kneisc amended the motion to remove it.
No mistake was intended, said Council member Sharron Catallo, who seconded the motion.
“I really think whoever it was looking it up, thinking we did something terrible is so incorrect,” Catallo said.
The mayor said he is “sticking his neck out” on this issue, because “rock throwers out there” could say he was not following the law despite campaigning on adherence to it.
“My personal opinion is to wait – I don’t want Joe to resign,” Percival said.
According to city ordinance 15.18, “the City Planning Commission consists of five members including one ex officio member of the City Council as a voting member of the Planning Commission.”
According to City Charter Section 4.18, “except where authorized by law or five members of the Council, elected officers shall not hold any appointed city office or city employment during the term for which they were elected.”