Goodrich- In case Phil Jackson announcing his resignation and walking out of a village council meeting in anger wasn’t enough, his stint as a councilmember officially ended Nov. 14 with the council’s unanimous acceptance of his resignation letter.
In the letter, dated Nov. 10, Jackson wrote, ‘Please consider this my resignation from the Goodrich Council. The doctors have said that my health and the stress of the council do not agree. Lee and I are going to Arizona for the winter and are moving out of Goodrich before the end of the year. I wish I could leave on a high note, with the village a better place to live and do business, but change takes time.?
Jackson verbally said he was resigning at a special meeting Nov. 2. His announcement directly followed a 3-2 vote in which the council approved a 1-year deal with Village Administrator Jakki Sidge, which included $38,000 per year salary, 32 hours per week, 25 days of paid vacation, 8 percent of salary contributed to retirement plan, a $100,000 term life insurance policy, travel mileage and a short-term disability contract.
‘This was not the job on the table,? Jackson said at the time. ‘Not the job she had before. That’s not what we asked people to apply for, this is ridiculous.?
A divided village council fired Sidge in February. Then-Village Council President Patricia Wartella said the decision was ‘because (Sidge) does not recognize the majority of the council since the election (in November).? Jackson and Councilmember Doug McAbee joined Wartella in supporting a motion requesting her resignation. Councilmembers Pete Morey and Rick Horton voted no.
Wartella was recalled in May and Richard Saroli was subsequently appointed. In October, Saroli, Morey and Horton voted to rehire Sidge as administrator. McAbee and Jackson voted no.
The council is now seeking applicants to be appointed to complete Jackson’s council term, which ends in November 2014. If you are a village resident interested in being on the council, send a letter stating your qualifications and why you would like to be appointed by 6 p.m., Dec. 5, to the village offices, 7338 S. State Road, Goodrich, MI 48438.