Greg Bryan resigns as Charlevoix councilman over conflict of interest
CHARLEVOIX — Charlevoix City Council member Greg Bryan has resigned from his elected position following the revelation of a conflict of interest at the council's Oct. 3 meeting.
At that meeting, Bryan, a Realtor at Pat O’Brien and Associates, made a motion to increase the number of short-term rentals allowed in the city. Later in the meeting he admitted his name is on the deed of a property that is on the waiting list for a short-term rental license.
In a letter submitted to Charlevoix City Manager Mark Heydlauff last week, Bryan wrote, “... as of Oct. 10, 2022 I am vacating my seat on the city council. My involvement in the community creates so many ‘perceptions’ of conflict of interest questions, that I feel I cannot execute my responsibilities to my constituents and the city of Charlevoix as expected from the elected position.”
Bryan’s name is on the deed of a rental property at 406 May St., a property that is currently on the waiting list for a short-term rental license.
At the council meeting on Oct. 3, Bryan was asked repeatedly if he owned a short-term rental and denied it. Council member Janet Kalbfell then asked him directly about 406 May St., after which Bryan admitted his name is on the deed for that property.
Bryan’s son and daughter in-law, Spencer Bryan and Katie Bryan, are also on the deed to the property.
According to Katie, she and Spencer purchased the property to use as an additional source of income. Bryan put his name on the deed to circumvent the zoning ordinance requirements that gives priority to city residents on the short-term rental waiting list. Katie and Spencer do not live within the city limits.
More:Charlevoix council member fails to disclose ownership of short-term rental
Bryan's letter of resignation was accepted by council at their most recent meeting on Oct. 17. None of the council members made any comment after voting unanimously on the decision.
In a later interview with the Charlevoix Courier, Mayor Luther Kurtz — who wasn’t at the council meeting on Oct. 3 — said, “It’s important that elected officials disclose things up front that could be perceived as a conflict of interest.”
Kurtz expressed regret at Bryan’s resignation, stating, “It’s a sad situation.”
At the end of the council meeting on Oct. 17, council member Aaron Hagen made a motion to appoint Shane Cole as Bryan’s replacement on council, which passed unanimously.
Cole was a former council member in Ward 3 for over 14 years and will serve out the rest of Bryan’s term, which expires in November 2023.
“I think Shane will do a great job,” said Kurtz.
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No changes were made to the short-term rental zoning ordinance language at either of the council meetings this month. The maximum number of rentals allowed in the city’s residential districts remains at 80.
As of publication, Bryan’s name remains on the deed at 406 May St. He did not respond to the Courier's request for comment on his resignation.
— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231) 675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Charlevoix councilman resigns over conflict of interest
