New mayor, City Council members take oath of office

NOVI — There is a new mayor in town, and his name is Justin Fischer.

Fischer was sworn in at 6:45 p.m. Nov. 20, along with reelected City Council members Laura Marie Casey and David Staudt, and newly elected Council member Matt Heintz.

The elected officials were given their oaths of office by the justices of the 52-1 District Court in the City Council chambers just ahead of that night’s scheduled council meeting. The majority of those elected had family members by their side while taking their oaths.

Prior to being sworn into office, the city hosted a public welcome gathering in the Civic Center atrium for those newly elected. The event allowed the public to interact with the officials over light refreshments.

Fischer opened his first meeting as mayor with words of congratulations to Casey and Staudt on their reelections, and he welcomed Heintz.

“Clearly, the voters have appreciated your dedication and rewarded you by returning you to this table,” Fischer said to Casey and Staudt.

Fischer also acknowledged those who recently retired from public service, Hugh Crawford and former Mayor Bob Gatt. Crawford served the city for decades. During his time in office he held positions of council member, mayor pro tem, county commissioner and state representative. Fischer indicated that the city would be celebrating Crawford’s service at the next council meeting, on Dec. 11.

In regard to the former mayor, Fischer spoke of Gatt’s lifetime of service to the city as a police officer for 28 years and then as an elected official for an additional 20 years.

“I just want everyone to think about that; quick math tells me that that is about 500 or more Monday nights that Mayor Gatt dedicated to this community, and that doesn’t include all the other meetings, events, etc., that go along with elected office,” Fischer said. “Mayor Gatt was recently quoted as saying, ‘The best part of Novi is simple — the people.’ I agree. It’s dedicated people like him who have given a lifetime to making Novi what it is today. … Mayor Gatt, I hope you found the place in Novi that is 85 degrees and sunny and that you are enjoying a council-meeting-free Monday night.”

Fischer then appointed Casey to the position of mayor pro tem. Casey was reelected this year for her fourth term. Fischer pointed out that in the last three elections, she has received the highest number of votes. Casey will hold the position for the next two years.

“It’s an honor to be asked by Mayor Fischer to serve as Mayor Pro Tem,” Casey said via email.