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LATEST ON THE BAY CITY CITY COMMISSION RECALL EFFORTS By Thomas Baird Bay City Correspondent The last few months have produced some of the most memorable events in Bay City Commission history. After finishing its budget for the 2002 - 2003 fiscal year the city commission fired City Manager James Palenick in early August. At the time of the dismissal they voted 7-2 to fire him for 'Just Cause' with seven reasons cited. The main reasons cited in the 'Just Cause' dismissal of Palenick consisted of insubordination to the City Commission and failure to meet deadlines for reporting back to the commission on directives. All of the reasons to fire him are now moot because of the City Manager threatening to sue all seven of the City Commissioners if they didn't pay him severance pay. After weeks of pounding by a group of citizens in Bay City for the removal of the former City Manager, the City Commission reversed their earlier decision to not remit severance pay to Palenick, and have now decided to pay him over $92,000 dollars. These events have caused Bay City to virtually divide in two politically over the firing and the severance pay issue to James Palenick. This has lead to something that has never been seen in the history of Bay City before, with almost the entire City Commission being threatened with Recall. Back on August 5, 2002, 7th Ward Commissioner Marie Kurzer introduced a resolution to fire the City Manager and was supported by six other commissioners. Two long time supporters of the Manager, 3rd Ward Kurt Legner and 4th Ward Mary Bleau voted against the firing. This happened about ten days after a very low rating on the City Manager's performance review. It was very clear to the City Hall observers where the lines were drawn on who supported the Manager and who didn't. It also became clear who in the general public supported the City Commission and who supported the fired City Manager. It was divided between downtown business owners and Chamber of Commerce members who were very vocal in support of James Palenick. Retirees, union members and taxpayers throughout the city supported the seven commissioners who voted to terminate the Manager. Several public meetings were filled with public comment on both sides of the issue praising the commission or taking pot shots at them. The seven Commissioners who voted to fire the City Manager three weeks later and also voted to then pay him severance were: 1st Ward Chris Hennessy, 2nd Ward Colin Hintz, 5th Ward M.J. Gorney, 6th Ward City Commission President Bob Katt, 7th Ward Marie Kurzer, 8th Ward Mike Buda and 9th Ward Charles Brunner. There were several closed Executive meetings with the nine Commissioners and Mayor Kathy Newsham and City Attorney on what action should be taken after the firing. Former City Manager James Palenick threatened to sue the seven Commissioners if they didn't pay him severance pay for wrongful termination from the City of Bay City. Almost immediately after the payment of severance pay, up sprung a group called PURG that was going to go after the seven Commissioners who fired the City Manager. PURG stands for People United for Responsible Government and their purpose was to file Recall language for the seven Commissioners. After the County Election Commission met to determine if the language was clear, PURG got busy collecting signatures. They now have 180 days to collect signatures on petitions throughout the various wards in effort to have the seven recalled. Another resident in the 4th Ward has also had recall language approved to have Commissioner Mary Bleau recalled. So as it stands now in the River City, residents are out collecting signatures on petitions to recall eight out of the nine Commissioners. It would not surprise this observer if someone popped out the woodwork to also recall the ninth commissioner. There is also another group that has sprung up to back the seven commissioners originally targeted for recall. The name of this group is Stop the Recall and is mainly comprised of City union workers and lots of retirees from throughout the city. This group has been very active and has taken the lead punch by doing literature drops throughout the City of Bay City in the targeted wards. They also have done a mass mailing in the Bay City Times telling why people should not sign the recall petitions. In the normal election in November 2003 four of the nine wards are up for re-election, along with the Mayor of Bay City. The group seeking the recall will have until mid-February to gather signatures. Therefore, the earliest that the City would see a Special Election would be early next year. The troops have been out in force in certain wards to target who they perceive the leaders were in firing the City Manager. Signs, T-shirts and hats have been popping up around the area taking both sides of the issue. If any of the City Commissioners were actually recalled then there would have to be another Special Election to fill any vacancies within 60 days. This all comes at a very important time in Bay City's economic development along the riverfront. Bay City has been working for years to clean the last section of waterfront by clearing out Bay Aggregates and the old Industrial Brownhoist buildings. Now with developers bidding and making presentations to the City on a 200 million-dollar development along the Saginaw River in downtown Bay City, it seems that some of the same commissioners might not be here for long. People in Bay City are definitely talking about the recall effort consuming local politics in Bay City. This will hang over Bay City's head for some time to come. At no other time in the history of Bay City has there been two Commissioners being recalled, let alone eight out of the nine commissioners. It will take some healing to occur before the City can move forward. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail and Bay City will continue to grow and develop in the 21st century.
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