[nfbmi-talk] oma as important as constitution

[joe harcz Comcast]

Also applies to all the secret meetings tthat went into Executive Order 2012-2 including the one last Friday without even consulting Commissioners, MRC Members or Members of the SILC let alone the public.

Joe
Flint Mayor Dayne Walling: 'There will be changes made tomorrow' following judge's removal of emergency manager

 

Published: Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 6:08 PM     Updated: Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 6:14 PM

Kristin Longley | klongley1 at mlive.com

By

Kristin Longley | klongley1 at mlive.com

Dayne_Walling_2011.jpg

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Flint Journal file photoMayor Dayne Walling

FLINT, Michigan -- A judge today

reinstated the authority of Flint Mayor Dayne Walling

and the Flint City Council after ruling that the state illegally appointed emergency manager Michael Brown.

 

Walling said he plans to take action tomorrow regarding the orders Brown issued while in office, since the judge invalidated every action Brown has taken

since he was appointed Dec. 1 -- nearly four months ago.

 

Walling said those changes could mean that the appointees and other public officeholders that Brown fired will return to work.

 

"There will be changes made starting tomorrow based on the judge's decision," Walling said. "Because the city has to fully comply with the law as it stands

now. I will work with the city attorney to make sure that there's proper communication to all parties that were affected by the managers orders."

 

Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said the state went "too far" in appointing Brown without making the financial review team's meetings

open to the public.

 

The eight-member body met five times in October and November before issuing its recommendation that Gov. Rick Snyder appoint an emergency manager for Flint.

 

"I cannot ignore the public in their right to know," Aquilina said in issuing her ruling.

 

"I think the Open Meetings Act is as important as our constitution," she said. "We can't operate behind closed doors."

 

The case is similar to one recently heard by Ingham Circuit Judge William E. Collette, who ruled that the appointment of the Highland Park Schools emergency

manager was not appropriate because the review team did not follow the Open Meetings Act.

 

After that case, the state reconvened the review team in public and the governor reappointed the emergency manager following the public proceedings.

 

The state could appeal the judge's decision. Heather Meingast, the attorney representing the state, referred all questions to a spokeswoman, who could not

immediately be reached for comment.

 

Today's hearing stemmed from a lawsuit filed against Brown and the state by the president of the city's largest employee union, Sam Muma of AFSCME Local

1600.

 

Walling said the judge's decision "does not change the challenges that are facing our community with finances and public safety and economic development."

 

"Now, there is a familiar process in place for city operations that will involve resolutions going through city council, but this process will now have

to go forward at an accelerated pace to make up for lost time."