VIDEO: Protester Incites Shelby Board Meeting During Ordinance Discussion

After several failed attempts to appoint a temporary clerk, a lengthy discussion with residents and a short adjournment because of a protester during Tuesday’s meeting, the Shelby Township Board of Trustees voted to begin the process of amending an ordinance that states the board must have a unanimous vote to fill a board vacancy.

Trustee Lisa Manzella was absent from the 4-0 vote after she exited the board room during the five-minute adjournment.

By approving the motion Tuesday, the board agreed to publish the amendment change in local newspapers and take a final vote during a special Jan. 31 meeting. If passed, the ordinance, which states the board must have a majority rather than a unanimous vote to fill a vacancy, would go into effect Feb. 5.

The ordinance change was proposed after the board has been at a stalemate by a 5-1 vote during five failed attempts to appoint a temporary clerk. Trustee Manzella has opposed all of the board’s motions to choose a clerk from the five eligible candidates.

During the meeting, Manzella told Patch her vote on the ordinance change wouldn’t have mattered.

“They are going to do what they’re going to do with or without me. My presence in there makes no difference at all. It’s just dragging the meetings out,” she said.

The clerk position was left vacant when after more than 20 years on the Board.

was appointed at a December 2011 meeting to fill the role until a temporary clerk is appointed. The board has 45 days from the date of the vacancy to fill a board position or a special election, that would cost taxpayers more than $30,000, will be held to elect a new clerk. Michigan law does not allow for the time frame to be added to the Feb. 28, 2012 ballot.

Stathakis, along with most board members, said they wanted to avoid holding a special election.

Attorney Rob Huth said Shelby Township is one of the only municipalities in Michigan with an ordinance that states a unanimous vote must be taken to fill a Board vacancy. Stathakis said the board created the ordinance in the 1980s after a “musical chairs scheme” by the Board of Trustees.

Several residents pleaded with the board not to change the ordinance to fit their short-term needs.

“Having the ordinance stay the same was important to me,” said Manzella. “But, since we’re changing it, instead of calling me a ‘roadblock’… remember there are four members of the board that are responsible for this vacancy to begin with.”

As Manzella was speaking, a resident in the audience began flashing signs in protest of her. Manzella asked Stathakis to remove the resident from the meeting.

Manzella approached the resident, and members of the audience started shouting at the board for not removing the protester.

“I was afraid I would say or do something that I would regret if I didn’t walk away,” said Manzella.

Police were called into the meeting, and Stathakis called a short adjournment to calm the crowd.