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Public commenters criticize city leadership and EV station; council approves routine purchases, appointments and salt order
Summary
During public comment, a resident told the Gladwin City Council it had shown poor leadership and questioned an EV station at City Hall. The council then approved appointments (Board of Review, DDA, Election Commission), purchase of two election computers ($1,650), and ordered 300 tons of salt for 2025–2026.
Gladwin — At the Gladwin City Council meeting on March 17, public comment included both praise for staff and sharp criticism of council leadership and recent decisions, and the council moved forward on several routine administrative items.
Public comment: Martin Willford opened public comments by thanking the council and Clerk Marietta Andrist for their work. Another attendee, Glenn DeClaro, criticized conduct at City Hall, saying "what has been happening at city hall ... has been a joke," and urged council members to work together. DeClaro also questioned placing the electric vehicle charging station at City Hall, called for completion of the Department of Public Works contract, and objected to the city administrator severance package. The minutes record no direct council rebuttal to his remarks.
Routine approvals and appointments: The council unanimously approved multiple consent and action items:
- Minutes: Approved minutes for Feb. 17, Feb. 20 (COW), Feb. 27 (special), and March 3, 2025 (with corrections). - Warrants and payroll: Approved warrants totaling $127,220.72 (Jan. 20–Feb. 3, 2025) and payroll of $31,731.80 (pay period ending Jan. 22, 2025). - Appointments: Kevin Brott was appointed to the Board of Review (term through Dec. 31, 2026). Stacey Plude was appointed to the Downtown Development Authority (term through May 6, 2027). Council Member Platt was appointed to the Election Commission to avoid conflicts with members who will be on the November ballot. - Purchases and operations: The council approved purchase of two (2) new election computers for $1,650 and authorized ordering 300 tons of seasonal road salt for 2025–2026 (DPW quantity confirmed by Justin Thorington). The agenda item to create a deputy clerk position was postponed. Household Hazardous Waste Day was tentatively scheduled for Aug. 2 or Aug. 9, 2025, by consensus.
The meeting also included staff reports noting work on Silverleaf Street (a hole in copper tubing; staff to discuss warranty with the contractor) and scheduled work at the Mario Restaurant Plaza parking lot and Deer Street. Council members closed the meeting with several brief announcements and a call to begin union negotiations from Council Member Sischo.
What’s next: The council’s routine approvals move forward administrative operations (procurement, appointments, road maintenance planning). Questions raised in public comment (EV station siting, administrator severance) were recorded but not resolved during the meeting.
