REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
BELDING CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY, JULY 27, 2026
7:00 A.M.
A meeting of the Belding City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan was convened in open and public session at the Pere Marquette Depot, 100 Depot Street, at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, July 27, 2026.
Mayor Bonita Steele called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m.
Mayor Steele led with the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk, Janae Ortego took the roll call:
Members present: Shelley Gladding-Visser, Linda Curtis, Mike Brady, Nikolai Zerkle (Active U.S. Military, virtual attendance per MCL 15.263(2)) and Bonita Steele
Members absent: None
Moved by Brady, seconded by Gladding-Visser to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
A. Moved by Gladding-Visser, seconded by Brady accept the resignation of Adam Poll as City Manager and authorize public release. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
B. After City Council discussion, it was moved by Brady, seconded by Curtis to hire John Niemela as City Manager for a period of one year, through July 31, 2027, with potential extensions allowed as discussed, and for the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem to negotiate a contract with Niemela. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Tristin Miller commented on resignations and turnover, minutes, livestreaming, archiving, transparency, leadership, and reexamining as to how we operate as a public body.
Moved by Gladding-Visser, seconded by Brady to adjourn the meeting at 7:36 a.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
_________________________ __________________________
Bonita Steele, Mayor Janae Ortego, MiPMC
City Clerk