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Sunbury council appoints James Broadwell as acting member; city administrator Eric Bakker tenders resignation
Summary
City council voted to seat James Broadwell as acting council member after a nomination. City administrator Eric Bakker submitted a two‑week resignation notice with an effective date of Aug. 25, 2025; council moved to accept the resignation on the record.
Sunbury City Council voted to appoint James Broadwell as an acting council member and recorded the resignation of City Administrator Eric Bakker, the council said during its regular meeting.
The appointment followed a period of nominations and a roll-call vote. After a motion to appoint Broadwell, council members recorded affirmative votes and Broadwell was sworn in at the meeting. The council also received a written two‑week notice of resignation from Bakker that lists Aug. 25, 2025, as his last day; the council moved to accept the resignation and recorded affirmative votes on that motion.
Council members discussed seeding a legal description for an unnamed alley requested to be returned to a private property owner and asked staff to obtain a formal legal description from METTAC (the city requested a motion to authorize that work). The council also voted to table first reading of an amendment to the shade-tree ordinance to the next meeting after additional changes were requested.
Votes at a glance
- Appointment of James Broadwell as acting council member — outcome: approved (roll-call recorded in meeting transcript). Recorded affirmative votes on the record included votes recorded as “Savidge,” “Roses” and “Eister.” Following the vote, Broadwell was administered the oath of office and took his seat. The transcript records the swearing-in on the record.
- Acceptance of City Administrator Eric Bakker’s resignation (effective Aug. 25, 2025) — outcome: approved. The transcript records affirmative votes, including “Grumbaugh” and “Spardmark.”
- Table shade-tree ordinance (first reading) to next meeting — motion to table made, seconded and carried on recorded yes votes by council members present; the council will revisit the proposed changes at the next meeting.
- Motion to obtain a legal description from METTAC for an unnamed alley requested to be transferred to Mr. Brumbaugh/Brumbull’s property — motion made; vote/result not specified on the record in the transcript.
Council members also approved routine minutes and departmental reports by motion. Several public commenters urged that interim appointments be left to voters in November and raised concerns about process; one commenter said petitioning the court earlier in the process had cost $132.50. The meeting record shows multiple public comments calling for transparency and for letting citizens decide November seats.
The council’s actions on appointments and the administrator’s resignation took place during the meeting’s regular agenda; the council scheduled its next regular meeting for Aug. 25 in the council chambers.
