Houghton City Council member Brian Irizarry addresses the council prior to being named mayor at Tuesday’s organizational meeting. (Daily Mining Gazette photo)

By GARRETT NEESE

Houghton Daily

Mining Gazette

HOUGHTON — Houghton’s city council has a change in leadership.

By 4-3 votes, the council named Brian Irizarry as mayor and Joan Suits as mayor pro tem for two-year terms. They replace Bob Backon and Robert Megowen, who previously served as mayor and mayor pro tem.

The mayor presides over council meetings and is recognized as the head of city government for ceremonial duties. They also sit on the city’s planning commission.

Megowen asked the mayoral candidates how their experience would help them lead the council.

Irizarry said while Backon had more experience, he has the potential to eventually serve on the council for as long as Backon has.

“I look forward to growing this city in the near term, middle term, long term with the help of the city council, and developing that experience as I go,” he said.

Irizarry also pointed to his experience in leadership from four years as a U.S. Marine Corps officer.

“I just feel like I can do the job,” he said. “I would not be afraid to ask for help when I need it and to admit when something is unfamiliar to me and seek guidance on that when appropriate.”

Backon, who spent the past 14 years as mayor, said one of the keys to serving as mayor is being able to listen to people and their concerns, and being receptive to what they had to say.

“I’ve had the ability and have been able to sit down and deal with many people on councils, who had come from various backgrounds, but we’ve rapidly been able to blend together to come together to promote the common welfare for our total community,” he said. “As I initially said at the beginning, I feel that Houghton is one of the key cities … between the councils and the general public, having their say in whatever matter that’s come up, I think it’s worked well for everyone.”

The votes split along the lines of council tenure, with the four members to join the council since 2020 — Irizarry, Suits, Virginia Cole and Craig Waddell — voting in favor, while Backon,

Megowen and Councilor Mike Needham voted to retain the existing council leadership.

Irizarry said having the new post is an honor.

“I look forward to working with all city councilors, and I look forward to serving the city as I have done,” he said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity, and Mr. Backon did a fantastic job. And I’m thankful for his service to the city.”

After Tuesday’s contentious votes, Irizarry was asked about the process of repairing any rift between council members going forward.

“I think everyone should be objective and impersonal with emotions during debate,” he said. Everyone should maintain their decorum, not lose their tempers, and vigorously debate things in a controlled way. And there’s nothing wrong with a 4-3 split on the council, as long as everybody uses it to bring the best outcomes for the city.”

Reflecting on his time as mayor, Backon said he felt the community has been moving in the right direction, citing accomplishments such as the new pier at Mattila Square. Despite some stumbling blocks, the upcoming demolition of the Lakeshore Drive parking deck presents opportunities for the city, he said.

“I just hope that we can come together and finalize some kind of an idea that will be beneficial to everyone, even outside of our community,” he said. “We expect people to come from out of town and shop, and go to Swift’s (Hardware), for example. I’m not going to take a back seat to anything I’ve ever done or voted on, because I feel Houghton is one of the more progressive communities.”

The council also asked Clerk Ann Vollrath to draft proposed revisions to the city’s council rules of procedure, which it will take up at its next meeting. Suggestions included changing the procedure for adding future agenda items from consent of the councilors to having a councilor second the addition.

The council also approved a revised slate of subcommittee assignments by the same 4-3 vote, while tabling a discussion on making the committees ad hoc.

At the start of the meeting Backon, Needham, Megowen and Waddell, who were re-elected in November, were sworn in for their new terms.