Mark Wilcox/Daily Mining Gazette Houghton City Councilor Brian Irizarry listens while fellow Councilor Mike Needham reads a letter from residents Robyn and Adam Johnson calling for Irizarry to publicly apologize for comments he made at the February 11 meeting regarding then Mayor Robert Backon.

HOUGHTON — While the agenda facing the Houghton City Council at its meeting Wednesday was fairly light, things got heavy in a hurry.

As soon as the meeting began, Councilor Brian Irizarry asked Mayor Robert McGowen to add an item on the agenda regarding filling a vacancy on the council. The request was denied by McGowen saying the issue had been decided at a previous meeting. After a brief discussion, Irizarry’s motion was supported by Councilor Jan Cole, passed by the council and added to the agenda.

After reports and an update on the city’s budget by Clerk Amy Zawada, who reported the city has a balanced budget, the council turned to Irizarry’s agenda item.

He told the council that he attempted to get his item regarding council vacancies on the agenda but was denied by City Manager Eric Waara. “It’s not the manager’s place to tell the council what to do,” Irizarry said. “We hire the city manager and we conduct his (performance) review.”

Irizarry accused Waara of ignoring his request. “Not only was I dismissed, but he (Waara) disenfranchised the voters” he said. “If this behavior continues, I would consider not renewing the managers contract when it expires.”

Irizarry’s issue was the council setting the date of March 25 for a special meeting to fill Bob Backon’s seat. He said it was scheduled at a time when he would be out of town. After discussion ,the Council voted to fill the vacancy during the April 8, regular meeting.

Councilor Mike Needham addressed Irizarry’s concerns saying:”There certainly wasn’t a conspiracy against anyone.”

Mayor Pro-tem Philip Buck Foltz said the suggestion that the council look for a new manager is “crazy talk.” Foltz said Irizarry’s comments regarding Waara was, “an unecessary attack and I’m ashamed.”

Councilor Jan Cole wanted the matter settled. “We should be here to take the (council) applications seriously,” she said, adding it not only important to those applying for the vacant council seat but to voters in the City of Houghton as well.

During public comment, Jenny Deephouse, addressed the council to let them know that she had submitted an application for the vacant seat.

Needham read a letter, from Houghton residents Adam and Robyn Johnson that was originally read at the Council’s February 25 meeting. In the letter the Johnsons expressed anger over comments made by Irizarry at the Feb. 11 meeting regarding then-mayor the late Robert Backon. According to the minutes of that meeting “Council member Irizarry went on to state that Mayor Backon should return to his duties if able or retire, citing the Council’s Rules of Procedure pertaining to unexcused absences as grounds for forfeiture of office, and that an extended absence cannot be allowed to drag out for eleven months which would constitute a dereliction of duty by the City Council.”

It was noted that Backon, who died four days later, had been excused from meetings due to health concerns. In their letter, and in-person comments by Robyn Johnson at the last meeting, they wanted a public apology from Irizarry for his comments.

Irizarry responded, “Thank you for the letter, I get it, it landed.” But he refused to apologize. “I had the courage to say what everybody was thinking. I’m not sorry,” adding they would have to agree to disagree on the issue of an apology.

Mayor McGowen said “this is highly personal. The City is owed an apology.”