Didnt the City of Detroit just go through bankruptcy, cutting benefits to retirees? Doesnt look like City Council Members suffered any sanctions! City Council members as of 2013 earned over $73,000 annually, plus health and retirement benefits, a city-paid cell phone and vehicle, according to the Detroit Free Press. Additionally, Council members are provided a $500,000-plus annual budget to hire staff, usually between four and eight employees. DETROIT, MI -- City Council member Saunteel Jenkins resigned in OCtober to lead the nonprofit group THAW -- The Heat and Warmth Fund, which helps low-income Detroiters pay their utility bills. Now its the Councils duty to appoint her replacement. City Council members as of 2013 earned over $73,000 annually, plus health and retirement benefits, a city-paid cell phone and vehicle, according to the Detroit Free Press. Additionally, Council members are provided a $500,000-plus annual budget to hire staff, usually between four and eight employees. Anyone may submit an application for consideration. In order to qualify for appointment, the Charter requires applicants be 18 and a U.S. citizen. Applicants must also have been a registered voter and Detroit resident for a year at the time of their application. Applications, resumes and optional writing samples must be submitted to the City Clerk Janice M. Winfreys office at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center between Nov. 19 and Dec. 5. The Clerks office will then verify the applicants meet the qualifications and provide a list to Council. Members are able to select up to three people from the qualified list by Jan. 9. The Legislative Policy Division then compiles a list of Council choices to determine who will be interviewed during a public Committee of the Whole meeting the week of Jan. 19. Council will then conduct a vote to whittle the pool down to three candidates using a weighted voting system. Each member may choose three candidates, designating a first choice, who received three points; second choice, who received two points; and a third choice, who receives a point. With the field narrowed to three, another vote will be conducted. If one applicant received 2/3 the vote, they will become the appointment. If none do, another vote will be taken only considering only the two candidates who received the most votes. If the there is a tie among the applicant receiving the second most votes, the Council bust have a run-off vote among those candidates to determine who will be a finalist. A statement issued my Council President Brenda Jones Saturday did not say what would happen if among the final two candidates the Council could not elect one by a margin of 2/3 or greater. The appointee would then serve until the next general election, at which time the Charter requires a public vote to permanently fill the seat vacated by Jenkins. Jenkins was elected to serve a 4-year term ending in 2017.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 14:54:17 +0000
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