Ferndale council hears from 20 applicants for temporary seat; deliberations set for Monday

Dozens of Ferndale residents filled the council chambers as 20 people spoke to the city council on their applications for a temporary council seat.

Mayor (speaker 1) opened the meeting at 6:01 p.m. and moved quickly into 'call to audience' before applicant presentations began. Applicants and public commenters highlighted recurring priorities: restoring and reopening the Kulik Community Center, addressing affordability and housing stability, implementing parts of the city’s climate action work, and improving communications and responsiveness from city government.

Several applicants outlined specific goals and experience. Gregory Brown said he would focus on "strengthening neighborhood investment, supporting reasonable economic growth, and increasing community engagement and transparency," noting his service as chair of the Community Police and Review Board. Bill Price, a veteran and engineer, emphasized fiscal stewardship under the recently adopted Headley override and said he would prioritize planning and placemaking, accessibility and sustainability; he referenced the city’s climate targets, including a 2030 emissions reduction goal and net-zero by 2050 as background for local work. "I am also a community volunteer that's donated over 500 hours responding to local disasters," Price said, citing his Red Cross experience.

Other applicants brought varied perspectives. Ricky, a community organizer, urged city-led forums on affordability and said local government must explore options to ease cost pressures for residents. Samantha Pickering, a public and environmental health policy manager with the Michigan Environmental Council, emphasized lead service line replacement, infrastructure and public health. Multiple applicants — including Christopher Hall, Jim McLuckie, Mark Culpepper and Renee Townsend — named the Kulik Community Center as a top priority for restoration and programming.

Public comment included an endorsement for Bill Price: Laura Cindy Plag Davila urged the council to appoint him, noting his National Guard service and work at vaccine clinics "to make sure that some of our most vulnerable neighbors had access to a life saving vaccine."

The council handled a brief consent agenda item — a certification for participation in a public-spaces program to replace the Herding Park inline skate rink — which passed on a short voice vote. Members discussed whether to read statements submitted by absentee applicants and confirmed those statements were posted on the meeting agenda; they agreed to rely on the posted materials and proceed with deliberations at a later meeting.

Council members praised the breadth of applicants. "We have a talented group of candidates," one council member said during the deliberation-opening remarks, and several members said they would be proud to serve with any of the candidates. The mayor announced council deliberations and a decision on the appointment are scheduled for Monday. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.