The Alpena Municipal Council has 90 days to fill the open city manager’s position.

The job became available last week Monday, when Mayor Matt Waligora and councilmen Mike Nunneley and Dave Karschnick voted to fire Thad Taylor “without cause.”

The move has been scrutinized by city staff and the community.

City Charter states that a vacancy of the city manager shall be filled within 90 days.  The name of former county coordinator Jim Peltier has been mentioned several times by Waligora and that could raise an issue of residency.  Charter states that city managers shall become a resident of the city within 30 days after his or her appointment.    

A property tax search in Alpena County shows Peltier lives in Monroe, Michigan but owns a house in Maple Ridge Township, off Long Rapids Road.  A change in state law a few years ago allows employees required to live in their community for a job to own a residence up to 20 miles outside that municipality.

It is not known if City Charter or state law would be enforced.

Rumors have also been circulating about a recall of Waligora, Nunneley and Karschnick.  However, that would have to wait at least another couple of months since laws protect newly elected officials from recalls within the first 6 months of taking office. 

Waligora took over in January and Nunneley and Karschnick were both reelected last year.