By Tanya Terry
A resolution was passed to suspend Councilman Eric Mays during the July 31 special meeting of the Flint City Council for conduct unbecoming of a city council member. The suspension lasts until September 1.
The suspension resolution language reads: “While suspended, Councilmember Eric Mays is prohibited from taking his seat or participating in any meeting of the City Council or its committees, in his official capacity as a city councilmember.” This was submitted by Council Vice President Ladel Lewis and Councilwoman Judy Priestley.
The resolution passed with a 5-2 vote and one absention. The resolution makes reference to the July 10 meeting, in which Mays was said to have shouted profanities at the chair and other councilmembers, as well as Mayor Sheldon Neeley and an audience member, and to have failed to conduct himself with appropriate decorum. Mays was removed by police from that meeting.
Councilwoman Ladel Lewis, Councilman Quincy Murphy, Councilwoman Judy Priestly, Councilwoman Dennis Pfeiffer and Councilwoman Eva Worthing voted to suspend Mays. Councilwomen Jerri Winfrey-Carter and Tonya Burns voted against suspending him. Councilwoman Candice Mushatt, the newest member of the Flint City Council, abstained from voting.
Mays called the resolution discriminatory.
A separate resolution appeared on the council’s nine-page agenda to suspend Priestley and Worthing. The resolution centered around Worthing standing from her seat in a threatening manner while arguing with Burns during a July 19 meeting and says Priestley failed to discipline Worthing. That resolution failed.
Lewis, Murphy, Priestley and Worthing voted against it. Pfeiffer and Mushatt abstained, and Mays, Winfrey-Carter and Burns were absent from the meeting at the time.
Meanwhile, Mays is working with attorneys to draft a lawsuit.
