Marquette city manager holds open office hours in absentia

MARQUETTE — City Manager Bill Vajda hosted community office hours Wednesday morning, except the city manager himself wasn’t actually present.

Vajda traveled to Lansing this past week to receive an award, but a representative from his office was on hand to hear from community members who attended. Jennifer LePage, who works in the city manager’s office, was anticipating questions about the new MGH location. However, residents had other concerns.

“A lot of them were more concerned about recreation,” LePage said. “They wanted to talk about tennis courts and the waterfront. They had some compliments for our city staff, and they had some questions about projects we are starting.”

Vajda holds open office hours once a month for residents to raise concerns and ask questions without having to make an appointment.

Rather than hold them at his office, he invites residents to the conference room on the first floor of the Peter White Public Library.