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City council fails to appoint new 3rd Ward councilman by deadline

Written by Tanya Terry

The Flint City Council did not make their deadline to select a new council member to fill the 3rd Ward seat. The deadline was Tuesday, October 29. But because the meeting had to be adjourned before the appointment was made, on that date the council instead became in violation of the city’s charter.

According to Mayor Sheldon Neely, this has never happened before, and the State of Michigan will most likely step in.

Interviews for the 3rd Ward seat were to be conducted and the appointment was to be made on Oct. 14 But that meeting was adjourned early after a verbal altercation between the family of Former 3rd Ward Councilman Quincy Murphy and the family of Beverly Biggs-Leavy, a candidate of Murphy’s former seat, led to a gun being pulled out.

The following week three council members: Councilwoman Tonya Burns, Councilwoman Jeri Winfrey-Carter and Councilman Dennis Pfeiffer said they didn’t show up for the meeting due to safety concerns. Since there were not enough council members present to reach a quorum that meeting also was adjourned early.

On October 29, although five council members showed up, 9th Ward Councilman Jonathan Jarrett got up and left. So, again the meeting had to be adjourned.

Regarding to perceived lack of safety at the council meetings, Chief Terence Green of City of Flint Police Department made the following statement: “In light of recent events, including an incident involving a firearm at a city council meeting, I want to take this opportunity to assure the public that the safety of our community and the integrity of our city council proceedings remain our top priorities.

“My team and I have conducted a thorough analysis of our security protocols and have implemented several measures to enhance safety for both the public and our city council members. Here are some of the key safety measures we have already put in place:

1. **Increased Police Presence**: We have permanently increased the police staff at city council meetings.
2. **Enhanced Staffing for Potential Disturbances**: After receiving information about possible disturbances, we have increased police staff to six officers.
3. **Police Escorts**: We have provided Council members with police escorts to and from city council meetings.
4. **Perimeter Security**: We have installed perimeter gates and access controls for locations where city council members park their personal vehicles.
5. **Video Surveillance**: A video surveillance system has been installed to monitor the complex.
6. **Social Media Monitoring**: Our Real-Time Crime Center staff regularly monitor social media for threats against city council members and meetings.
7. **Investigation of Threats**: We aggressively investigate threats and harassment complaints against city council members.

“In addition to these enhanced public safety measures, we will enforce city council rules related to council meetings and the meeting process itself. We understand the critical role that city council meetings play in allowing citizens to voice their concerns, and it is our duty as the lead police agency in Flint to ensure these proceedings are conducted in a secure and respectful environment.

“I urge the public to adhere to the protocols established by the city council and to engage in discussions with professionalism and respect. Your cooperation is essential in creating an environment where everyone feels safe to express their views.

“Moreover, if anyone is aware of any personal agendas that could jeopardize the safety of our council members or the public, I encourage you to report this information to our police personnel. Together, we can prevent potential disruptions and ensure that our city council meetings serve their intended purpose.

“Let us work together to respect our differences and contribute positively to the community we cherish. We are dedicated to providing a safe platform for dialogue and decision-making, and we appreciate your ongoing support and cooperation.

“Thank you for your attention to this important matter.”

The 3rd Ward seat has been vacant since longtime community activist and Flint City Councilman Quincy Murphy died September 29.

The Flint Courier News will continue to provide updates on this and other Flint City Hall issues.

 

 

 

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