City of Lapeer - City Commission Meeting - December 15, 2025

The meeting of the Lapeer City Commission was a highly contentious session characterized by heated debates between commissioners and the Mayor. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to procedural disputes, specifically regarding the Mayor's authority to initiate contact with outside legal counsel (Bowman PLC) for a personnel matter involving a charter officer. This led to accusations of "cloak and dagger" tactics and a lack of transparency, with some commissioners questioning the legality of the Mayor's actions under the City Charter.

On the administrative side, the Commission moved forward with several large-scale municipal projects. This included approving plans for the reconstruction of Park Street, Pine Street, and Parking Lot No. 9, an estimated $4.8 million project funded through bonds and grants. Additionally, the Commission approved zoning text amendments aimed at reducing "red tape" for local businesses, despite concerns from some members about decreasing green space standards. The meeting concluded with several intense public comments ranging from calls for unity to sharp criticisms of individual commissioners' conduct.

• Infrastructure & Utilities: Reconstruction of Park Street and Pine Street; water main replacements; and a feasibility study for the Karagandhi Water Authority (KWA) connection.
• Zoning & Development: Amendments to Articles 7-13, 7-15, 7-16, and 7-17 to streamline landscaping and business requirements.
• Legal & Personnel Matters: The engagement of Bowman PLC for special labor and employment counsel regarding a confidential personnel issue.
• Governance & Procedure: Proposals to modernize the meeting agenda and changes to the ordinance adoption process to include more discussion during first readings.
• Financial Management: Approval of the December bill listing ($261,194.34) and management of the MEDC grant for the Master Plan update.

• Jeramy Hing: Mayor
• Mike Womack: City Manager
• Mr. Francis: City Attorney
• Joshua C. Atwood: Commissioner
• Stefan Brady: Commissioner
• Linda Glisman: Commissioner
• Melissa Pet_rie: Commissioner (Mayor Pro-Tem)
• Lynne McCarthy: Commissioner
• Paulo Mirac: Representative from Rowe Professional Services
• Ms. Sanchez: City Clerk

• Park/Pine Street Improvements: Authorization for Rowe Professional Services to release bid documents for the reconstruction of Park Street, Pine Street, and Parking Lot No. 9.
• Zoning Amendments: Approval of text amendments to the zoning ordinance (Articles 7-13, 7-15, 7-16, 7-17) to reduce landscaping burdens on developers.
• Special Legal Counsel: Approval of an engagement letter with Bowman PLC for labor and employment counsel, capped at $10,000.
• Master Plan Update: Approval of a $50,000 proposal from Rowe to update the City Master Plan and Non-Motorized Plan using MEDC grant funds.
• KWA Study: Approval of a feasibility study for the Karagandhi Water Authority connection, not to exceed $44,300.

• Meeting Date: December 15, 2025
• Construction Timeline: Park/Pine project construction estimated to start around March 15, 2026.
• Future Meeting: A workshop regarding agenda procedures is proposed for January 2026.

• Business Friendliness: The City Manager and Planning Commission advocated for zoning changes to reduce "red tape" and bureaucracy for developers.
• Infrastructure Necessity: The Park/Pine project is driven by the need to replace aging 4-inch water mains and address road deterioration.
• Transparency Concerns: Some commissioners sought legal clarification on the Mayor's authority to contact outside counsel to ensure compliance with the City Charter.

• Approval of Agenda (Amended): Motion by Commissioner Petrie, seconded by Commissioner Glisman. Passed.
• Approval of Consent Agenda: Motion by Commissioner Glisman, seconded by Commissioner Pet_rie. Passed.
• Approval of Bill Listing ($261,194.34): Motion by Commissioner Glisman, seconded by Commissioner Petrie. Passed.
• Park/Pine/Parking Lot 9 Project Bids: Motion by Commissioner Brady, seconded by Commissioner McCarthy. Passed (Roll call: Atwood, Brady, Glisman, McCarthy, Petrie: Yes; No: None).
• Zoning Ordinance Amendments: Motion by Commissioner Brady, seconded by Commissioner Atwood. Passed (Roll call: Brady, Atwood, McCarthy: Yes; Glisman, Petrie: No).
• Master Plan/Non-Motorized Plan (Rowe Proposal): Motion by Commissioner Brady, seconded by Commissioner Glistman. Passed (Roll call: Brady, Glisman, McCarthy, Petrie, Atwood: Yes).
• KWA Feasibility Study: Motion by Commissioner Brady, seconded by Commissioner Glisman. Passed (Roll call: Glisman, McCarthy, Petrie, Atwood, Brady: Yes).
• Agenda Workshop (January): Motion by Commissioner Petrie, seconded by Commissioner Glisman. Passed (Roll call: Petrie, Glisman, McCarthy: Yes; Atwood, Brady: No).
• Engagement of Bowman PLC ($10,000 Cap): Motion by Commissioner McCarthy, seconded by Commissioner Glisman. Passed (Roll call: Glisman, McCarthy, Petrie: Yes; Brady, Atwood: No).
• Reappointment of Buddy Buyer: Motion by Commissioner Petrie, seconded by Commissioner McCarthy. Passed (Roll call: Blitzman, McCarthy, Petrie, Atwood: Yes; Brady: No).

• Legal Authority & Ethics: A heated debate regarding whether the Mayor exceeded his authority by contacting Bowman PLC without prior commission authorization and whether a conflict of interest existed due to the City Attorney's relationship with the firm.
• Agenda Modernization: Discussion on whether the current agenda format is efficient or if it needs to be redesigned to better align with Robert's Rules of Order.
• Zoning Standards: Debates over whether reducing landscaping requirements constitutes a "lowering of standards" or a necessary step for economic development.

• Legal Opinion: The City Attorney is to provide a written legal opinion regarding the Mayor's authority to initiate contact with outside counsel.
• Workshop: A workshop is to be scheduled for January 202_ to discuss agenda format and procedures.
• Bidding: The Finance Department is authorized to proceed with bidding for the Park/Pine street project.

• High Tension/Division: Public comments and meeting dynamics reflected a deeply divided community and commission.
• Criticism of Conduct: Several residents used their time to criticize the "infighting," "pettiness," and "aggressive" nature of the meeting, specifically targeting Commissioner Brady's conduct and the Mayor's leadership style.
• Support for Staff: Some commenters expressed concern for the well-being of city staff, noting the stress caused by the contentious political atmosphere.

• Brian Cloutier (Former Candidate): Urged the commission to prioritize unity and respect over personal rivalries, stating, "Unity does not mean uniformity. It means finding common ground."
• Geraldine Carson (Resident): Criticized Commissioner Brady for his behavior, suggesting his actions were a waste of taxpayer money and praying for his well-being.
• Commissioner Petrie: Emphasized the importance of "truth and trust" in local government, expressing frustration over a perceived breach of confidentiality regarding the agenda.
• Commissioner McCarthy: Used a "peacemaking" analogy to urge the commission to find resolutions rather than simply being "peacekeepers."

Overall Sentiment

The audience expressed a highly cynical and distrustful mood, characterized by accusations of corruption and frustration regarding the length and transparency of the proceedings.

Chat Timeline

[181:52 – 182:27] Viewers focused on the Mayor, expressing accusations of dishonesty.

[190:40 – 226:28] The conversation shifted toward allegations of political influence by Senator Kevin Daley and complaints about the excessive duration of the meeting.

Notable Messages

[182:27] "How freakin dirty they are such gaslighters" — @burntchickennuggetp7746

[190:40] "All 6 of these elected officials have been brought and bought by Senator Kevin Daley." — @domsdaddyc1988

[226:28] "This meeting lasted as long, if not longer ss the legalization of Marijuana, meeting." — @domsdaddyc1988

Community Sentiment on Key Moments

• The chat reacted with hostility toward the Mayor's perceived lack of transparency.
• There was a specific, widely-echoed allegation regarding Senator Kevin Daley's influence over the elected officials.