Detroit City Council Gets Down to Business

DETROIT - The 2010 Detroit City Council held its first official meeting Tuesday with President Charles Pugh presiding over a roll call of all members at the Coleman A. Young Municipal 13th floor auditorium; soon to be renamed Erma L. Henderson per a resolution offered by Council member Joann Watson.

The proceedings began with a prayer from Dr. Charles Adams, followed by citizens coming forward with comments and requests, and then the Council got down to business, old and new. Over 100 contracts approved by the Finance Department and Purchasing Division in November 2009 were accepted almost without exception. They contracts ranged from weatherization programs for low income residents, to funding water system improvements on streets throughout the city.

Turning to new business, Council launched into discussion of a 10% salary cut for itself, Mayor Dave Bing and City Clerk. The council has until January 15th to reject the reduction in pay per guidelines of the city’s charter. The Detroit News reports “Council members and the city clerk normally make $81,312 a year, and the president makes $85,456. Bing has been donating his salary to the police department.” A recommendation to extend the 10% reduction in pay to city contracts was put forth by Council member Brenda Jones and will addressed by the Council of the whole at a later date.

Approval of council committee assignments hit a slippery patch of controversy when the appointment of Gary Brown to serve on the Police and Fire Retirement Board of Trustees was voted down; Brenda Jones will assume the seat. The appointment of Saunteel Jenkins, one of the five new council members, to the General Retirement System Board of Trustees was approved.

Other appointments approved in Tuesday’s session included the following committee assignments.
 Internal Operations Committee: Brenda Jones Chair; Andre Spivey Vice Chair and James Tate

 Economic Development Committee: Saunteel Jenkins Chair, Kwame Kenyatta Vice Chair and Ken Cockrel

 Neighborhood Committee: Kwame Kenyatta Chair, James Tate Vice Chair and Joann Watson

 Public Safety Committee: Gary Brown Chair, Brenda Jones Vice Chair and James Tate

 Budget Committee: Ken Cockrel Chair; Brenda Jones Vice Chair and Andre Spivey
The finances of the city were not on the agenda, but the Council, which approves the Mayor’s budget will be facing that challenge as it comes to terms with a $300 million deficit.