Four candidates are running for three, open seats on Clarkston City Council. Incumbent council members Sharron Catallo, Peg Roth, and Michael Sabol, and challenger Richard Bisio are running for the two-year seats.

Richard Bisio has served a two-year term from 2010 to 2012. After Carol Eberhardt resigned her council position, he was appointed in May 2013 to serve until the November 2013 election, and served for about five months.
“A number of people urged me to run again and I think that I can usefully contribute to operation of the city government,” Bisio said.
‘Goals include a more rigorous budgeting process, including a multi-year budget and a realistic projection of capital expenses.
“Although the city has discussed a multi-year budget, it has not adopted one. Multi-year budgeting anticipates future revenue and expenditure changes and plans for them over the long term,” he said. “The city has not been disciplined about budgeting for capital expenses. When the capital expense fund was created, there was to be a listing and prioritization of projects. That hasn’t been done.”
What has happened instead in the past year or so is the city has just spent funds on whatever project has come along, rebuilding the stone wall on South Main, repaving Wampole and Princess Lane, cameras in the park, extending the sidewalk on North Main, taking the money from the fund balance in the general fund, he said.
“This mode of operation can’t be sustained over the long term because the fund balance will be depleted by such expenses. We need a realistic projection of capital needs and a plan for funding them,” he said.
He would like to see more consolidation or sharing of services.
“One of the reasons city taxpayers pay a higher millage rate than township taxpayers is that the general overhead of a separate government is spread among fewer taxpayers in the city,” he said. “I think there are still opportunities to share services with the township, another municipality, or a third party vendor that could save the city money, such as utility billing and payment processing, tax payment processing, property assessing, and perhaps some of the functions of the clerk and treasurer. This is not a criticism of our current clerk or treasurer, both of whom I think are doing well. Just a thought of where we might be able to save some money for the taxpayers.”
He would also like to revisit whether the city can or should do anything about enhancing law enforcement services.
“At my suggestion, the mayor appointed a committee for this purpose but, after the 2013 election, the committee never met,” he said. “The increased vandalism in the park is a concern and others have expressed concern to me about the coverage we get from the sheriff’s department. I expect any dedicated enforcement for the city would cost something and this should be put to the voters, but it is an issue that I think deserves to be looked at.”
‘He would also like to see more descriptive minutes of the city council meetings.
“The current minutes have slimmed down to the absolute minimum required by law’who was there and how they voted on motions and resolutions. More descriptive minutes would make our government more transparent,” he said.
He opposes the proposed special assessment for sidewalk snow removal.
“The city will likely be exiting the DPW space at 3 E Church at the end of its current lease in 2015. The mayor has appointed a committee to make a recommendation to the council about what to do then,” he said. “I would like to see a public meeting of this committee and other city committees that deal with important issues, including the finance committee.?
The apparent sentiment now is to spend $300,000 on building a new place to store the equipment that is at 3 E Church, he said.
“Although that can be paid over time and can be compared to what the city is now paying in rent, I would like to see a more public process and a more thorough examination of less costly alternatives, such as fenced or protected but unheated storage or renting space from the township or a local business,” he said. “I take it as an important trust to be in control of the taxes our residents pay. As I proposed during the last budget cycle, I think the city should consider reducing tax rates when it has an excessive fund balance. I will continue to raise budgeting and taxation questions when appropriate.”

Sharron Catallo ran for a one-year term last year, to finish a term on the city council.
“I certainly knew well the job to which I asked to be elected,” Catallo said. “When I retired as mayor in 2008, I had served two years on the village council, five years as village president and 16 more as mayor.”
She had the advantage of knowing the processes, what worked, what didn’t work both then and now, she said.
“I have enjoyed being active in public life again this past year, and I think it’s something I do well, which is why I decided to seek reelection. I would like to serve the community for another two years. History demonstrates I have the knowhow to be able to do this job well,” she said.
Over the last few years, she has been on the Zoning Board of Appeals. This year, she is also serving on the finance committee.
“As a former mayor, I am very familiar with the committee, and its importance. Although inevitably the world changes at least a little with time, the bottom line is still the bottom line,” she said. “I am also now the chairperson of a committee that is going to start a replanting program of our neighborhood trees. We have lost trees to deterioration mostly because of age Thirty years ago we had an ambitious planting program and the time is right to have another one. Our trees not only create a backdrop for our community, they also provide a pedestrian atmosphere and noise barrier along with curtailing pollution. Clarkston’s tree-lined streets have always been a source of pride in the community. So during the next two years, I look forward to this program becoming successful.”
When a government is working correctly, changes are always taking place, she said.
“The right changes work so seamlessly the community only notices everything is working better for them. That’s the way it should be,” she said. “If it’s the wrong change, almost everyone notices and you will hear about it immediately. That being said, I have nothing specifically I would change at this time, except I would like to see more people attend our meetings and become active within our wonderful community. The input of city residents and businesses is how we better understand what works within our community and what needs to be considered ? collectively ? for change.”

Peg Roth has been on the Clarkston City Council for four terms.
“I am running because I care deeply about our community and the people who live here,” Roth said. “I want to continue to work with the Clarkston retailers and believe we should do what we can to make sure they are successful in maintaining a vital downtown. I am involved in our surrounding community in many other ways and have really enjoyed the people that I have met and worked with.”
She decided to run again because she likes to be involved in the community.
Along with being on the council for eight years, she is also a member of the Clarkston Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. She has been on the Fourth of July Parade Committee for three years, Concerts in the Park Committee, co-founder with Kevin Harrison of the Clarkston Retailers’ Group, member of the American Legion, worked on the Clarkston Coalition for Youth spring break program, and last years’ SCAMP Christmas Event.
“I have met and been able to work with some incredible folks through my experience with many different organizations here,” she said. “I intend to continue my involvement with many of these programs and have a few more in mind whether or not I am successful in my run for the City Council.”

Michael Sabol grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania and has always enjoyed the small, tight-knit community life.
“My wife, daughter and I moved to Clarkston nine years ago to re-engage in that lifestyle,” Sabol said. “I accepted the interim appointment in 2012 and ran in November 2012 to give back to the community that is giving that lifestyle to me and my family.”
He has served on council for about two and a half years, as an interim appointee in early 2012 and then elected in November 2012.
He has been an employee of General Motors for 38 years, in a number of positions in Engineering and Manufacturing.
“These positions have provided me with a wide variety of experiences in managing people and multi-million dollar programs,” he said. “Much of my focus over the years has been related to issue identification, problem solving and strategies to resolve concerns. I believe these skills are critical to a Council position.”
The biggest issue facing the city is how to handle the excess in budget reserves.
“We should return some of this to the taxpayers but we must do it in a manner that is thoroughly planned. We need a rainy day fund and to make sure the requirements of an aging infrastructure are met,” he said. “I would also like to continue discussing the laws and ordinances of the city to affirm enforcement of those laws that we need to keep and to eliminate those laws that are not necessary.”
He would like to see a fully operational Community Committee, working with the Chamber of Commerce, Independence Township, and other surrounding communities to define the role and purpose in the overall community.
“I would also like to see the Farmer’s Market return to inside the city limits,” he said. “It has been my honor to serve the city residents for the past two+ years. I have proudly served on the city’s Departments, Ordinance, and Technology committees. I am also the council representative to the city Planning Commission. I consider it a privilege to serve and would be honored to continue this service if the city’s residents choose to re-elect me.”