Bay City commission sustains mayor's veto of 'welcoming city' resolution after heated public comment

Bay City Mayor Gerard vetoed Commissioner Runberg’s “welcoming city” resolution, and the City Commission failed to override that veto at its April 7 meeting after an extended public-comment period and floor debate.

The veto left the resolution unenacted. The clerk read the question before the commission as whether members wished to override the mayor’s veto; the roll call recorded “yes” votes from Commissioner Rhunberg, Commissioner Charlebois, Commissioner Bernie Obershaw and Commissioner Tenney and “no” votes from Commissioner Morris, Commissioner Prince and Commissioner Coakley. The clerk said six votes were required; the motion failed and the veto was sustained.

The mayor opened the topic with a prepared statement saying the veto was grounded in legal and procedural concerns rather than opposition to the idea of a welcoming city. “My veto was not about rejecting the idea that Bay City should be a welcoming place,” Mayor Gerard said. He warned the commission that symbolic local declarations can carry practical consequences, saying they may not stop federal…