HANCOCK — Finlandia University President Tim Pinnow told the Hancock City Council about new austerity measures and future programs at its Wednesday meeting.

Pinnow said the new cuts being imposed at the university to adjust spending for the university’s lower enrollment.

“In the last few months, I was given a mandate by the Board of Trustees … we needed to restructure the university to its new reality, which is that it’s a smaller university than it was at its height and its peak,” he said.

Since the start of the calendar year, including the last semester under former President Philip Johnson, the budget has been cut by more than 12%, Pinnow said.

Some part-time employees have also been cut. Finlandia is also looking at disposing of some of its buildings and land.

Other “painful” cuts are coming this year, Pinnow said. For him, he said, the worst was closing the art gallery.

“I was an artist and an actor … and so that personally has been the most painful one,” he said. “It’s probably the most visible one for the community.”

Pinnow said budgeting had moved from a growth model under Johnson to zero-based budgeting based on current enrollment for next year’s budget.

The university is laying some plans for future growth. Pinnow said he has talked with the Copper Country Intermediate School District for a program where students pursuing a trade could get associate of applied science degrees. In future years, that might be able to ladder into a bachelor of applied science degree program.

Finlandia is also trying to bring an education program back by creating a consortium with Northern Michigan University. Students would start at Finlandia, some funded by the ISD. They would spend a year or a year and a half at NMU, then come back to Finlandia to finish their degree and student-teach at local schools.

A Marquette hospital also wants to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing on-site, similar to a program Pinnow set up when he was in Colorado, he said.

“Those are all things that are still in discussion, but they’re things we’re trying to move forward,” he said.

In other action, the council:

Heard from City Manager Mary Babcock that Make a Difference Day volunteer activities would be scattered throughout the city from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. This year’s is being dedicated to the late Deb Mann. Posters of her around town will have little containers of stickers nearby saying “You made a difference today.”

Mann’s family is also hosting a celebration of Mann’s life from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Finnish American Heritage Center.

Lake Superior Tree Farm also donated an evergreen tree in Mann’s honor, which will be planted behind the City of Hancock sign by the Krist gas station.

The city will also host a ceremony 10 a.m. Nov. 18 at city hall to celebrate Hancock’s certification as a Redevelopment-Ready Community through the Michigan Economic Development Corp. Someone has already used the city’s RRC status to apply for a Match on Main grant, Babcock said.

Approved selling a 1995 Ford two-wheel drive pickup to the Houghton County Fair board for $500.

Tabled a purchase agreement of Spruce Haven Lot 20 for $19,500. Some councilors objected to the sale price, which was $500 below asking price.

Heard contract negotiations with the Teamsters will start next week after they requested the current contract be reopened.

Approved continuing the city’s current bids with Payne & Dolan at the city’s business and technology park.