Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Tom Stankard/Daily Globe THE WAKEFIELD City Council discusses offering city clerk Jennifer Jacobison the city manager position Wednesday afternoon at the Municipal Building. From left are council members Kay Wiita Amy Tarro and Bob Blaskowski, Mayor Joe DelFavero, council member John Granato, interim city manager John Siira, Jacobson and area attorney Ray O'Dea.
By TOM STANKARD
Wakefield - The Wakefield City Council recently heard Jason Laumann rejected its offer to be city manager and agreed Wednesday afternoon to offer Richard Brackney the job.
In February, the council interviewed seven candidates, including Perry Franzoi, Eva Smith-Fergason, Mary Servia, Thomas Budgick, Mike Womack, Laumann and Brackney.
On March 3, the council offered Womack the position. At a March 18 meeting, the council reported Womack rejected the council's offer because he "wanted to pursue a different municipal avenue." Moving forward, the council went to plan B and offered the job to Laumann.
On May 9, the council learned Laumann had withdrew his name from consideration as city manager. City attorney Ray O'Dea said Laumann turned down the position, in large part, because of "un-encouraging phone calls that he had been receiving from people in the city."
Following the news, the council offered Womack the position once more, using the contract Laumann was offered. In a May 12 email, Womack withdrew his name from consideration.
During Wednesday's special meeting, John Granato, council member, said "we need a city manager."
"Enough is enough," he said.
With that, Amy Tarro, council member, made a motion to offer City Clerk Jennifer Jacobson the job on a four-month basis and added Jacobson can return to her position as clerk if being city manager "doesn't work out."
In response, Jacobson said there is going to be "a lot of backlash."
"Four months ago, this wasn't on my plate," she said. "We're not getting anywhere. I threw my name in the hat 10 minutes before the meeting. There's going to be backlash because this wasn't in the cards."
Jacobson said she would consult John Siira, interim city manager, if she has questions or concerns.
"I'm ready," she said.
Granato said "this is a tough time for the city" and the city manager position will not be a "friendly position."
After much discussion, the council rejected offering Jacobson the job on a 3-2 vote, with Mayor Joe DelFavero and Tarro voting to hire Jacobson.
Moving forward, Bob Blaskowski, council member, made a motion to offer Brackney, of Marenisco, the job as city manager using the contract the council offered Laumann as a base for negotiation. The council approved on a 4-1 vote, with Tarro being the "nay" vote. The council also agreed to form a committee consisting of Tarro and Blaskowski to negotiate with Brackney and report back to the council.
