Troy City Council met Monday evening at Troy City Hall. During the meeting, council members bid outgoing Troy City Manager John Szerlag, whose last day is May 18, a fond farewell.

"It’s been an absolute pleasure," Mayor Pro Tem Maureen McGinnis said. "I’ve always thought you were a professional.”

"John, you have helped me through a lot of the initial stages," Councilman Dave Henderson told Szerlag. “I also just wish you the best.”

Councilman Doug Tietz also thanked Szerlag and said that, despite their occasional differences in opinion, he is grateful for his hard work.

"I just want to thank you for what you’ve given to the city," Councilman Dane Slater said. "I’m really confident that without your leadership and your foresight since 2009, we would be facing severe financial issues. I think you can leave here proud with your head held high.”

Even Mayor Janice Daniels, who said in January she had "no confidence" in Szerlag to perform his job as city manager, offered him a pleasant parting message.

"My sincerest best wishes for you and your endeavors in Florida," she said.

Szerlag spoke briefly in reply to the comments, thanking council and saying that others could take a lesson from how Troy solves its budget problems.

Also during the meeting, Councilman Jim Campbell reprimanded Planning Commissioner Gordon Schepke, whose comments against Szerlag at the May 7 City Council meeting drew criticism from readers as well as from Campbell and McGinnis. Council approved Schepke's appointment in February in a 4-3 split decision after Daniels nominated him in January.

“I know I can’t make a resolution," Campbell said, taking note that without due process, Schepke cannot be removed from his position. "I’m asking Mr. Schepke to resign his position on the Planning Commission at the nearest possible convenience and let the city move on in positive ways.”

"I would support what Councilman Campbell is proposing," Slater said.

“As far as being unworthy to be on the Planning Commission, I think I’m very qualified to be on that commission," Schepke said in response to public comment. "I’ve been in construction all my life and run several big construction jobs in the metro area, and I’m able to get along with people just fine.”

Other meeting highlights

During Monday evening's meeting, Troy City Council also:

• Approved appointment of Gregory Carnago to the Downtown Development Authority.
• Approved Eric Huang as student ambassador to the Planning Commission.
• Approved the appointment of Mary Ann Bernardi, Daniel H. Bliss and William Weisgerber to the Charter Revision Committee.
• Approved the appointment of Councilman Dave Henderson to the Employee Retirement System Board of Trustees/Retiree Health Care Benefits Plan & Trust.
• Postponed Zoning Board of Appeals appointments until the June 4, 2012 Troy City Council meeting.
• Postponed Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA) appointments until the June 4, 2012 Troy City Council meeting.
• Unanimously approved a $269,000 bid waiver for workers' compensation insurance.
• Unanimously approved a contract modification to Dilisio Contracting, Inc. of Clinton Township for concrete pavement repair for a total cost not to exceed $130,000.
• Unanimously voted to move forward with the process of soliciting proposals from seven different firms to conduct an executive search for the next long-term city manager.
• Unanimously approved a proposed contract for temporary City Manager Michael Culpepper. 
• Approved 4-3 a request to sell a city-owned surplus parcel at 3545 Rochester Road. Council voted to solicit competitive bids on the property through a traditional sealed bid procedure instead of offering the parcel for purchase to owners of the adjoining properties.
• Unanimously approved all items on its consent agenda.

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