HOUGHTON — The Houghton City Council swore in three new members and unanimously voted in Mayor Bob Backon for a two-year term at its organizational meeting Wednesday.

New members Virginia Cole, Brian Irizarry and Joan Suits were elected to the council last week.

The council also unanimously chose Robert Megowen for another term as Mayor Pro Term. Megowen was first nominated for mayor by Irizarry, but declined the nomination.

Addressing the council, Backon said the city’s success has been built on having open minds and making sure any disagreement was constructive. He also told councilors to take their duty seriously, but keep a sense of humor.

“Houghton has a bright future ahead of us,” he said. “This has everything to do with the work of previous councils and administrations. It did not happen by chance. And it has been the product of the council and administration working together toward common goals, respecting each other and being courteous, even when we disagree.”

At Wednesday’s meeting, new council members also made suggestions for improving public access and asked questions about council procedure.

Suits suggested public notices be sent to the paper and the local radio stations to let people know when, where and how to attend meetings.

“I think people like to know that the council’s going to be meeting and what it’s meeting about,” she said.

Clerk Ann Vollrath said she would do that.

Aside from the Planning Commission, where the council is represented by Backon and Councilor Mike Needham, each subcommittee had one of the new members. On the Lakeshore Drive subcommittee, Cole will represent the council along with Needham.

Committee assignments change every two years, after the next election cycle.

Cole also asked if council members could have any input into their committee assignments. Backon said members interested in a particular subcommittee should let him know.

Council members who want to be on a particular subcommittee may eventually get their wish, though it may take a while, Needham said.

“Just now, after all the various years and people resigning and all those things, I’m on one of the subcommittees that I wanted to be on from the beginning,” he said.