Mark Wilcox/Daily Mining Gazette Ben Ciavola addresses the Houghton City Council at its meeting Wednesday. Ciavola was one of seven applicants for two open positions on the City's planning commission. He was appointed to the commission on a 6-0 vote.

HOUGHTON — The Houghton City Council met in regular session Wednesday with the majority of the hour-long meeting dedicated to appointments to the city’s planning commission. Two vacancies to the nine-member board were created with the expiration of the three-year terms of Norma Veurink and Ben Ciavola. Both had indicated a desire to be re-appointed to the Planning Commission, but at the Council’s December 30th meeting the incumbents failed to receive the votes necessary for re-appointment.

The city posted the vacancies and received seven applicants including Ciavola and Veurink. In addition to the incumbents, former planning commission member Brad Baltensperger, David Nitz, Mary Marchaterre, Pete Chose and Robert Minerick submitted applications.

The large number of applicants drew the approval of the council. Mayor pro-tem, Phillip Buck Foltz, who presided over the meeting in the excused absence of Mayor Robert Backon, praised the “wide variety of applicants.”

Council member Brian Irizarry agreed: “This is a very good pool. If I vote no it doesn’t mean they are not a good candidate.” Council member Robert McGowan reminded the council that appointment to the planning commission “is not about one street on one block, but the city as a whole.”

Three of the applicants, Veurink, Ciavola and Baltensperger, briefly addressed the council regarding their desire to serve on the commission. Ciavola called his three years on the planning commission “an honor and a privilege.” Ciavola cited the importance of recreation and tourism.

Veurink felt the planning commission is heading in the right direction and wanted to continue to be a part of it “I felt that discussions had been lacking in the past, but feel confident with the current planning commission,” she said.

Baltensperger, who had served six months on the commission said he is “particularly interested in housing development, especially downtown.”

Under the format recommended by City Manager Eric Waara, who was not present Wednesday, it was Foltz’s responsibility to enter the name of one of the applicants. It was then up to the council to make a motion and support the nomination. A roll call vote is then taken with at least four votes in favor of the candidate required for election. “I’ve thought long and hard about this process,” Foltz said. He then put Minerick’s name up for nomination. The nomination was moved and supported with Foltz, McGowan and council member Mike Needham voting in favor of the nomination and Craig Waddell, Jan Cole and Irizarry voting against. The next name called was Baltensperger and once again Needham, McGowan and Foltz voting yes and Irizarry, Cole and Waddell opposing. With neither of the first two applicants receiving the necessary four votes, Foltz called Pete Chosa’s name. Counselors McGowan, Needham, Foltz and Irizarry voted in favor, giving him the necessary votes for election. In his application packet Chosa, who describes himself as a remote worker for a Florida firm, said he applied to the planning commission to “increase my connection to my community.” He said serving on the commission “allows me to give back and is aligned with my strengths and professional background.”

Ciavola was the next applicant called and was approved unanimously. In his application packet, Ciavola describes himself as an engineer, sustainability consultant and executive manager who spends much of his time helping municipalities and others understand and plan for climate change and gree procurement. “I live in Houghton,” he wrote,, “Because of the quality of the city and the quality of the community, and my desire to see both of those thrive has led to my colunteer service throughout the Keweenaw.”

With the voting concluded, Foltz again thanked all who applied. The council then accepted Waddell’s bid to represent the city on the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development board.

In other action, the council approved the Planning Commission’s 2025 Annual Report and set March 31 as the date of the joint meeting of the Council, Planning Commission and the DDA/TIFA. The meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m.in the Community Room of Michigan Tech’s Lakeshore Center.