Candidates vie for Park Commissioner seat

By Christine Laughren
Jan. 6, 2009    ·    1:06 a.m.

Three Superior Township residents were interviewed for a vacant Township Park Commission seat at Monday evening’s Board of Trustees meeting.

The vacant seat was left by Carl Saddler, who resigned due to personal reasons after five years on the board.

Guy T. Conti, Marcus Hillman III and Sarah Moon are applying for the seat, set to expire in the next general election. The Superior Township Board will make an appointment at its next regular meeting Jan. 20.

Conti, who currently owns a legal practice in the City of Ypsilanti, said he recently moved to Superior Township. The attorney, who was also hired by Ypsilanti City Attorneys Barr, Anhut & Associates from 2005 through the beginning of 2008 said he would like to continue his history of public service.

“I have quite a history of public service,” Conti said. “I want to get involved and I feel very centered here in Superior Township.”

Hillman, who ran for a park commissioner seat in the last election, said he has lived in the Township for about five years and is comfortable with the community. He said along with working for his church and other neighborhood organizations he is looking for avenues to become more involved in the community.

Moon, another relative newcomer to the Township, said she has limited knowledge of some parks in the area but feels confident she can fill the position. With a master’s degree in Urban Planning, Moon said she believes she can be successful because she understands the overall development of communities.

Moon is also on a recently developed committee to promote Superior Township, but she said she has no scruples about participating on both the park commission and the promotions committee.

“I’m actually looking forward to doing both,” she said.

Superior Township Supervisor William McFarlane said all of the candidates are a good fit for the position, but he said the board needed time to consider each candidate.

“”It’s a serious question we need to consider and deliberate on a little more,” McFarlane said.

The Park Commission consists of seven members and typically meets the fourth Monday of every month. The commission is charged with overseeing the operations of park maintenance for nine township parks and recreation programs, and managing expenditures related to these processes.

Park Commissioners receive a stipend of $67.00 for each meeting they attend. You must be a Township resident for this position.