City of Chelsea: Regular Council Meeting Synopsis 12/8/25

SYNOPSIS

CITY OF CHELSEA

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2025, AT 7:00 PM

311 S. MAIN ST.

CHELSEA, MI 48118

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States

Approval of Consent Agenda

Approval of Regular Agenda

Public Comments (available in person and via Zoom)

Presentation

1. Audit Presentation by Plante Moran – Keith Szymanski
   1. Community Social Worker Annual Update – Emilee Fetters
   1. Michigan Community Capital – Marilyn Chrumka

Public Hearing

Council Business

1. Citizen Agenda Item Request – Crosswalk Additions on US 12 – Tammy Cicotte and Rick Murphy)
   1. Approval of Appointment of Mayor Pro Tem (Mayor Henson)

MOTION Merkel SECONDED Bullerman to appoint Council Member Iannelli as Mayor Pro Tem. All ayes. Motion carried.

• Approval of Appointments to Community Education & Recreation Collaborative (CERC) -Michael Happy and Hunter Causie (Mayor Henson)

MOTION Merkel SECONDED Angus to appoint Michael Happy and Hunter Causie to the Community Recreation & Education Collaborative. All ayes. Motion carried.

• Approval of Reappointments to Downtown Development Authority – Howard Merkel and Michelle Tuplin (Mayor Henson)

MOTION Stump SECONDED Iannelli to reappoint Howard Merkel and Michelle Tuplin to the Downtown Development Authority Board for terms ending on December 31, 2028. All ayes. Motion carried.

• Approval of Appointments to Parks & Recreation Commission – Ranked Choice Vote (Mayor Henson)

MOTION Stump SECONDED Angus to appoint Kevin Butler to the Parks Commission for a term ending on March 1, 2029, and to appoint Tom Higgins to the Parks Commission with a term ending on March 1, 2028. All ayes. Motion carried.

• Approval of Appointment to Human Rights Commission – Jenna Copenhaver (Mayor Henson)

MOTION Keaton SECONDED Stump to appoint Jenna Copenhaver to the Human Rights Commission with a term ending on February 1, 2028. All ayes. Motion carried.

• Adoption of City Council Meeting Calendar for 2026 (Mayor Henson)

MOTION Iannelli SECONDED Stump to adopt the 2026 City Council Regular Meeting schedule. All ayes. Motion carried.

• Approval of City Council Liaison Appointments to Boards, Committees, and Commissions (Mayor Henson)

MOTION Merkel SECONDED Keaton to approve the draft list of liaison appointments (as amended).  All ayes. Motion carried.

• Approval to Authorize the Interim City Manager to Approve End of Year Payables
  MOTION Keaton SECONDED Angus to give authorization to the Interim City Manager to approve payables processed between December 4, 2025, and the first council meeting in January 2026. All ayes. Motion carried.
  • Approval of Service Contract with Tracy Watkins for Interim Finance Director/Treasurer Services
    MOTION Stump SECONDED Iannelli to approve the service contract with Tracy Watkins for Interim Finance Director/Treasurer Services. All ayes. Motion carried.
    • Adoption of Resolution #2025-28 MDOT Freer Road (Superintendent Bollinger)
      MOTION Iannelli SECONDED Keaton to adopt Resolution #2025-28 approving MDOT Contract #25-5549 and to name Derik Bollinger, Public Works Superintendent, and Lyn Sebestyen, City Clerk, as authorized signatories. All ayes. Motion carried.
    • Adoption of 5-Year Parks Plan – Shawn Personke, Parks Commission Chair

MOTION Angus SECONDED Stump to adopt the 5-Year Parks & Recreation Plan as presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

1. Adoption of Resolution #2025-29 Master Plan Adoption (Community Development Director Montagno)
   MOTION Keaton SECONDED Stump to adopt Resolution #2025-29 adopting the 2025 Master Plan Update, as presented at the December 8, 2025, meeting. All ayes. Motion carried.
   1. Adoption of Resolution #2025-30 for WAVE Signs (Community Development Director Montagno)
      MOTION Stump SECONDED Keaton adopt Resolution #2025-30 to designate WAVE as an authorized public agency for the purpose of installing bus stop signs in the public right-of-way. All ayes. Motion carried.

Staff Reports

Council Reports

Adjournment

Approved: January 12, 2026

This is only a synopsis of the Regular City Council Meeting. The minutes in their entirety may be viewed at the Clerk’s Office at 305 S. Main Street, Chelsea, MI or online at www.city-chelsea.org

Respectfully submitted, Lyn Sebestyen