BY PHIL CUSTODIO
Clarkston News Editor
Mayor Steve Percival reappointed Dave Bihl and Robert Sowels, and appointed Melissa Luginski to Clarkston’s Historic District Commission (HDC), Sept. 11, all with terms ending June 30, 2020.
Council member David Marsh wanted to know why Cara Catallo, former chair of the HDC, was not reappointed to the commission.
“Cara really did write the book on Clarkston (‘Clarkston – Images of America’), Marsh said. “She spent seven years on HDC. I think it was a mistake not to have her on it.”
Percival said there are several reasons for the decision.
“I’m not going into them right now,” Percival said. “I felt it was the best thing for her not to be on HDC – some behaviors presented weren’t cohesive with the board.”
The mayor declined to comment further after the meeting.
Catallo said she wasn’t surprised.
“The mayor clearly does not like me,” she said. “It would have been nice to be treated with greater dignity.”
Council member Sharron Catallo, Cara’s mother, said she was embarrassed the city would treat a volunteer like this.
“Neither one of you (Percival or City Manager Jonathan Smith) called and made an effort to say what was going to happen. That’s just common courtesy. You would do that for almost everybody,” Sharron said. “You just don’t even bother to pick up the phone? That is … oooh.”
Council member Eric Haven said he was sorry Cara was off HDC.
“I appreciate your contribution tremendously,” Haven said. “I would hope your spirit is healed in this situation. I would welcome your continued support of the village. We need you to be part of it.”
“I appreciate that,” Cara said.
Council member Jason Kneisc asked why a letter from Ron Campbell, planner and preservation architect with Oakland County, was not distributed to city council.
Smith said he forwarded it to Percival.
“The person who makes that decision is Steve,” Smith said. “There was no intent to hide.”
Kneisc said he was not implying anything.
“It’s so we know these things so we can give our opinion,” he said.
Campbell’s letter supported Cara’s reappointment to HDC.
“I offer this letter of support, unknown to her, as a way to inform you of the dedication and knowledge that Cara has shown for preservation in general and for Clarkston specifically,” he wrote.
Cara said she has no regrets about her actions on HDC.
“It’s been my pleasure to serve on the committee so long – this is not a passing fancy for me,” she said. “HDC is an important part of the community and should have knowledgable people on it.”
Percival said he discussed the issue with Bihl several times.
“I’m not going to argue this in public,” the mayor said. “He told me on several occasions you were told you could talk to me and you refused to do it, Cara.”
Cara said there was no way she would meet with Percival to discuss it.
Dr. Michael Moon was appointed to HDC to fill the remainder of Bailey Smith’s term, ending June 30, 2019. Smith is moving out of the city so is not longer eligible to serve on the commission. Cory Johnston, the fifth member of HDC, was appointed in August.
City ordinances give the mayor the power to appoint members to HDC, without city council approval. Kneisc proposed amending the ordinance to require council input at previous meetings, and asked why an ordinance amendment wasn’t on the prepared agenda for Sept. 11.
“To me, it’s a simple ordinance,” he said. “All appointments to be voted on by the council – seems pretty cut and dried.”
City Manager Jonathan Smith said the city Ordinance Committee should be brought back together to work on it.
“It’s a big undertaking,” Smith said. “There are a number of other updates that should be done at the same time.”
Marsh said they asked twice to put the proposed ordinance on the agenda.
“You cannot just not put something on the agenda because you don’t agree with it,” he said. “We should be on the second reading of this ordinance tonight. This was pushed through.”
Smith said he didn’t think the city manager’s job was to write an ordinance amendment.
“Don’t imply I did not do my job,” the city manager said. “I take exception to that comment.”
Bihl, who did not agree Cara should be replaced, said the discussion is worth having.
“It’s curious we not do it that way with other commissions. I don’t know why,” he said. “I think it should be an open question – what is the best way to get commissioners?”
City attorney Thomas Ryan said he could prepare an ordinance proposal, then the council could discuss it over two readings before approval.
“That’s what I think is the right way to do it,” Sharron said.
“Make sure it doesn’t violate state law on that,” Percival said.
Kneisc made a motion to remove the committee appointments from the agenda.
“That’s not happening,” Percival said.
Council voted 7-0 to add a proposed ordinance amendment to old business at the next meeting.
“This should be very concerning to everybody,” Kneisc said. “It’s very concerning to me.”
At the end of the meeting, Smith said he had two frames purchased over the weekend for recognition plaques for Cara and Bailey, for their service on the HDC.
“I had to say this tonight because two weeks from now you won’t believe me,” he said. “I wanted the record to show we recognized their contribution.”
“She was pushed off,” Sharron said.
“Unfortunately I think her feelings were hurt,” Marsh said.
“You’ll regret that,” Sharron said to Percival, as the motion was made to adjourn the meeting.