New commissioner’s term ends in 2028
By Barb Pert Templeton
There will be another new face at the Marine City Commission table going forward as officials voted to appoint Marine City resident Patricia May to an open seat last night. Five members of the commission unanimously agreed to the appointment, sixth member, Rita G. Roehrig, was absent.
The resignation of Marine City Commissioner Brian Ross in January left a vacancy at the commission table and after accepting applications through Feb. 27 the appointment was on the agenda at the March 6 meeting.
City Clerk Jason Bell said three applications were filed with the city seeking the position.
All applicants for the seat needed to have two years of residency in the city, be registered to vote and not be in debt to the city.
The commission currently meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 p.m.
The compensation for commissioners and the mayor was just increased in December, something that hadn’t been addressed for decades. The mayor got a bump from $1,200 to $3,000 annually and the commissioners went from $800 to $2,000.
At the meeting last night Mayor Jennifer Vandenbossche thanked all three applicants for applying to the open position on the city commission.
“A commissioner role is very important, I think all of the applicants had knowledge and experience and I think they all would have brought benefit to the city,” Vandenbossche said. “And I thank everybody for that.”
The mayor then asked for a motion to appoint Patricia May to the vacant commission seat for a term that will end in November 2028. The other applicants were Craig McKenzie and Graham Allan.
Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Hendrick also thanked the applicants.
“It’s a tough job but it’s nice to see people showing interest,” Hendrick said.
Commissioner Sean O’Brien said having gone through the appointment process himself that it’s an uncomfortable process.
“I want to say in particular with Patricia, I was excited that it would potentially be somebody who’s bringing forward a skill that we don’t quite have already represented, being firmly in health and emergency services would be a good balance,” O’Brien added.
The commission then unanimously approved May’s appointment.
“I want to welcome Trish and I’m sure anybody on this board whatever you need or any questions, I know everybody up here will be happy to help you,” Hendrick stated during her commissioner privilege at the end of the meeting.
In a letter to the city applying for the appointment May wrote that while she didn’t have experience in city government what she could offer the community is “effective leadership.”
She stated that she’s been working in Emergency Medical Services since 1992 and has held leadership positions for 26 years.
“I have been involved with numerous state associations as well as leading a leadership seminar at the state level,” May wrote. “I also currently reside on the EMSCC board.”
She was pleased to have the opporuntiy to serve the community and stated that she values a team approach.
“I believe strong verbal communication with all team members is the main key to any organization or community excelling,” May stated.
A resume with her letter of introduction noted that May has been employed with Tri-Hospital EMS since in Port Huron since 1996 and is currently a Paramedic, Shift Supervisor and Operations Manager. She also listed a position as an EMT Instructor Coordinator at McLaren Hospital in Flint.
