Port Huron council adds two rival resolutions about city manager; censure dies, support resolution withdrawn

The Port Huron City Council on a February meeting added two competing resolutions about City Manager James Fried to its agenda but took no disciplinary action after debate: a mayor-sponsored resolution to censure Fried received no motion or second when taken up and therefore died, and a second resolution drafted in support of Fried was withdrawn by its sponsor during discussion.

The two-page censure text read aloud by Mayor Anita Ashford accused the city manager of "unprofessional and disrespectful behavior" at a prior council meeting and said his conduct "violated parliamentary procedures, meeting rules, the personnel manual for the City of Port Huron, [and] an employment contract which requires City Manager James Fried to conduct himself with the highest standard of conduct, professionalism, integrity, accountability, and transparency." Mayor Ashford moved to add that resolution to the meeting agenda; council then approved adding it for discussion.

Council Member Jeff Pemberton then asked to add a second, opposing resolution — "a resolution in support of City Manager Fried" — and read its text into the record. The document credited Fried, who has served as city manager since June 2014, with delivering "10 balanced budgets, increased fund balances, reduced unfunded liabilities, and saved taxpayers of the city more than $114,000,000," and concluded: "the city council affirms its support of City Manager James Fried and thanks him for his continued dedicated services to the citizens of Port Huron." That resolution also was added to the agenda by a council roll-call vote.

When the council reached its formal resolutions section, no member moved the mayor's censure resolution for a vote. As the mayor presiding explained, a motion to move the censure was not made and the proposal "died for lack of a second," so no formal vote on censure occurred.

The support resolution was moved and seconded for consideration, and council discussion followed. During debate Council Member Pemberton said he had prepared the supportive resolution to put the council’s positive views on the public record and to ensure fairness in public perception. After discussion, Pemberton asked to withdraw his support resolution; another council member seconded the withdrawal and the council approved the withdrawal by roll call. No disciplinary action against Fried was adopted at that meeting.

City Manager James Fried addressed the chamber during the discussion. He said he has worked for the city since 2014 and responded directly to remarks from council and the public: "I have great respect for Mayor Ashford. She is a good person, an honest person. I have learned a lot from her. . . . You have my pledge, Mayor Ashford, to work with you and to be forthright with you." Fried also described citywide improvements during his tenure, including lower unemployment and reductions in crime, and thanked council members who voiced support.

Public commenters at the meeting urged both unity and accountability. Several residents said the council’s public disagreements risked harming the city’s image and efforts to recruit investment; others praised Fried’s record on budgets and downtown progress. Multiple speakers urged the council to focus on operational priorities such as public safety, parks maintenance and infrastructure.

The council’s procedural outcome left the city manager’s employment status unchanged: neither a formal censure nor an expression of official council support was adopted. Mayor Ashford told the council she has consulted with city attorneys and said discussions on any personnel matters could proceed through the city’s regular processes, including executive session if requested by the city manager.

Council members and staff also scheduled other business during the meeting, including contract awards and park-restroom contracts; the city announced two upcoming public forums on neighborhood and housing goals as part of a master-plan update.

The matter could return to a future agenda if a member brings a motion again or if the city manager requests an executive session to discuss personnel matters.