Wayland Mayor Tim Bala very likely presided over a City Council meeting for the last time Monday evening.
Bala, was was first elected to the position in 2008 and re-elected six times after that, is retiring at the end of his seventh term later this month. City Manager Josh Eggleston pointed out that the city charter calls for the retiring mayor to step down before the first meeting after the election results are certified.
The election was Tuesday, Nov. 8, so it’s more than likely he will handle the gavel over to former Mayor Pro Team Jennifer Antel at the Monday, Nov. 21, meeting, when Antel will become Wayland’s first-ever female mayor.
Bala was Wayland’s eighth mayor since the community officially became a city in 1967. He was preceded, in order, by Phillip Reno, Marshall Towne, Donald Shafer, Linden Anderson, Michael DeWeerd, David Miller and Burrell Stein.
“It’s been a lot of fun, but it’s time,” Bala remarked.
Antel was elected in Tuesday’s runoff with no opposition.
In other business Monday, the City Council:
- Welcomed the Wayland High School student representative, Carissa Yerxa. There had been no student in the position since the start of the academic year.
- Agreed to a small pay increase for City Assessor Kyle Harris of Appraisal Plus Group, but asked that he be present more often at City Hall. Eggleston said there are no issues with the work being done, but “It’s important to have a more consistent presence in the office.”
- Agreed to the purchase of three tasers from Axon for the police department.
- Learned from Eggleston that interviews have continued for selection of a new police chief and he hopes to make a conditional offer by the end of the week. The post has been vacant since the retirement of Mark Garnsey in September and Mark Rookus has been acting chief.
- Was told the city’s first-ever “Monster Mash” pre-halloween celebration Saturday, Oct. 29, was a hit.
- Agreed to close the downtown streets for the annual Christmas parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.
