Mark Wilcox/Daily Mining Gazette The members of the Houghton City Council pose with a photograph of late Mayor Bob Backon prior to the start of Wednesday's council meeting. Backon passed away on Feb. 15. From left, Craig Waddell, Robert McGowen, Mike Needham, Philip Buck Foltz and Jan Cole.

HOUGHTON — The Houghton City Council opened its regular meeting Wednesday with a moment of silence in tribute to the late Mayor Bob Backon who passed away Feb. 15 at the age of 83. A short while later, the council elected someone who considered Backon a mentor, as his successor.

Prior to the selection of Backon’s replacement, the council heard from Houghton resident Robyn Johnson during the public comment portion of the meeting. Robyn and her husband, Adam Johnson, wrote a letter to members of the council dated February 17, which was read during the communications portion of the meeting.

In the letter the Johnsons said they were “deeply troubled” by comments made at the Feb. 11 meeting by Councilor Brian Irizarry who was concerned buy what he called Backon’s “unexcused absences.” In her comments to the council, Robyn reiterated the sentiments they expressed in the letter, which asked for an apology from Irizarry and asked the council to remember the incident when selecting the next mayor. “Leadership demands judgement, restraint, and humanity — especially when colleagues are navigating moments of vulnerability. This moment demonstrated the opposite.”

Irizarry was not at Wednesday’s meeting, as he had informed Clerk Any Zawada he had a previously scheduled conflict.

Also during the public comment period, resident Spencer Jenkins told the council he wants to be considered for the vacancy on the council created by Backon’s death. Mayor Pro Tem Philip Buck Foltz explained the process of applying for the council vacancy.

When it came time to select a new mayor, City Manager Eric Waara said council members needed to be nominated by the council and receive a majority of votes by those council members present. In this case, three votes of the five members present were required. Councilor Craig Waddell nominated Robert McGowen, although he said McGowen might decline, he called McGowan “the closest person to Backon.” Councilor Mike Needham and Mayor Pro Tem were also nominated. MCGowen admitted “I’m getting tired,” but said he could serve in the position for three months. After some discussion, a vote was taken on McGowan as he was the first nominated. The council voted unanimously in favor of McGowen and no further votes were needed.

Zawada said that because the May election has already been set, the next council election will take place in November.

Following the meeting, McGowen told the Daily Mining Gazette he will continue Backon’s legacy of working together. “I’ll try to fill my mentor’s shoes,” McGowan said. “And they are big shoes to fill.”

In his report to the council, Waara said, city DPW crews have been working “around the clock” on snow removal. “Crews are on a 13-day stretch,” Waara said.

In other action, the council approved allowing transit and Dee Stadium employees to contribute to the City Employees Retirement plan. Waara said the employee contribution into the 457-B plan would be matched by the city up to 5%. He said if all six eligible employees contributed the max, the cost to the city would be about $12,500 a year.

The council approved an application to have the city designated as a Bird City (see related story), and appointed Diane Kasravi as Deputy Treasurer.