Artie Bryson factor brought up at Dec. 2 meeting
By Barb Pert Templeton
The retirement of Algonac City Manager Denice Gerstenberg prompted city officials to seek applicants for the post and soon they will conduct public interviews with finalists.
Gerstenberg announced her retirement in September. She was hired in 2017 and her last day with the city was Nov. 27. Applicant interviews will be hosted during a special public meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9.
Mayor Rocky Gillis previously stated that the number of final candidates and their names will be released prior to Dec. 9 in a bid to ensure transparency in the process.
The possibility that the city may consider former Clay Township Supervisor Artie Bryson for the job has been brought up at several recent council meetings by resident Eileen Tesch.
When contacted on Dec. 4 Bryson confirmed he has applied for the position and will be among the finalists interviewed on Dec. 9 but declined any further statements at this time.
Former Clay Township Supervisor Artie Bryson.
At Algonac’s most recent council meeting on Dec. 2, Tesch returned to the podium during public comments to relay her opposition to Bryson being hired by the city.
Tesch referred to a letter from 2022 from the Michigan Treasury Department to Bryson, then the supervisor in the Clay Township, regarding shortages in the budget.
“The state is basically telling the former supervisor, Artie Bryson, that he is exceeding the budget that they provided to the state and basically telling him that’s it’s unlawful, as you know,” Tesch said.
She said her concern and that of the residents and all the hard-working tax payers in Algonac is that officials aren’t doing “their due diligence when making these decisions.”
Tesch also told officials that she does reporting for Blue Water Healthy Living and in doing so videotapes Clay Township board meetings because their equipment is very poor. She alleged that on several occasions, Bryson has been sticking his face in her camera.
“I don’t get it, is this the kind of person that we want running this city?” Tesch asked. “Like a juvenile.”
In defense of Mr. Bryson
Resident Dwayne Hrynyk spoke next during public comments. He said while people can step to the microphone to speak because yes that’s their first amendment right, it has come to the point where people are making stuff up and fabricating things.
Algonac resident Dwayne Hrynyk spoke out in favor of the city hiring former Clay Township Supervisor Artie Bryson as the city manager.
“With all due respect to Eileen (Tesch) the only reason she doesn’t want Artie Bryson to be our next city manager is she doesn’t want us to succeed, she does not want Algonac to prosper, she does not want Algonac to thrive,” Hrynyk said.
He added that she doesn’t like the current city council members, him or even other residents in the audience.
“She’s still bitter about being the only person in the history of Algonac who’s ever been recalled,” Hrynyk said. “Don’t let her fool you, she will do anything she can to make you guys (the council) look bad. (Including) To not hire someone who will help the city, who will move the city forward.”
(Writer’s note: A search on newspapers.com revealed that in fact according to an article in the Times Herald dated March 17, 1999 Algonac Councilman Robert Scruggs was recalled in 1999. Tesch was recalled from the mayor’s seat in the city in 2018.)
Hrynyk said he’s been a resident for nine years now and the city has never been in such a good position to succeed.
“I think we are blessed, we’re lucky to have Artie even applying for the job,” Hrynyk said. “He can hit the ground running, he has perfect contacts, he knows local people in government, state government and federal government and he’s a proven $22 million-dollar grant writer, so we need Artie.”
Hrynyk said he’s heard Tesch “outright lie” and “outright get the facts completely wrong” when speaking at public meetings so people need to be “careful who you are listening too.”
“From my viewpoint, Artie was the best supervisor that Clay Township ever had, he had the best interest of the township and the best interest of the people. He is a politician so obviously you’re not going to please everybody but I think he did a good job there and he would be an awesome addition to our administration.”
Algonac Planning Commission Chairman Mark Thompson
Mark Thompson, the chairman of the Algonac Planning Commission, a former city council member and chairman of the Clay Township DDA. also spoke during public comments. He said he’s had a tremendous amount of contact with Artie Bryson and they’ve gotten a great many projects completed.
“He’s an awesome grant writer and has a good track record,” Thompson said, noting that he himself has been a resident in Algonac since 1965. “From my viewpoint, Artie was the best supervisor that Clay Township ever had, he had the best interest of the township and the best interest of the people. He is a politician so obviously you’re not going to please everybody but I think he did a good job there and he would be an awesome addition to our administration.”
Patricia Shrenk from Harsens Island stepped to the microphone, again during public comments, to state that she’s known Bryson for some 45 years and has many stories about his character. She told the story of Bryson taking in a family with five children who were on the verge of being homeless and helping another young man who was also homeless by getting him a job, clothes and a place to sleep to feel safe.
“He’s a community, standup, proactive kind of guy with a heart, who happens to know how to bring people together,” Schrenk said.
No ‘good old boys club’
Near the end of the meeting during her council comments Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey said people need to know there was a set process put in place with a committee who conducted prescreening interviews with qualified people. She said just because one of the applicants is local doesn’t mean “there’s a good old boys club” in Algonac.
“This isn’t where we’ve already made a decision before Tuesday, this council as a group, has not interviewed these people yet,” Davey said. “This is important, incredibly important, this isn’t something that was done behind closed doors, which is one of those things that are out there in crazy land.” (referring to social media.)
“Just because you read it on Facebook, it’s not gospel, come to a meeting or watch the meeting video,” she added.
