Flint city council breaks charter, Ethics and Accountability Board to step in

FLINT, Mich. (WNEM) - At 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, the Flint City Council will be in breach of the city's charter after failing to meet quorum, once again, during a special meeting Tuesday evening.

It was inside the commission chamber at the Genesee County Administration Building.

The council was meeting to appoint a new 3rd Ward councilperson to the seat after the death of Councilman Quincy Murphy.

"Once quorum has been broken and now charter has been breached, that means the Ethics and Accountability Board gets involved, because we're responsible in making sure that the charter is abided by," said William Harris, vice-chairman of the City of Flint Ethics and Accountability Board.

Quorum was broken after Councilman Jonathan Jarrett, 9th Ward, left the meeting because of what was said to be a prior commitment. Councilman Dennis Pfeifer, 8th Ward, was absent at the meeting. Councilwomen Jerri Winfrey-Carter, 5th Ward, and Tonya Burns, 6th Ward, cited safety concerns as a reason why they did not attend.

"That safety plan that was issued at best is vague in its content. It's very vague in its content, and I'm not, I don't feel safe," said Burns.

Burns is referencing a safety plan between council and police, but said it only applied to City Hall and not the Administration Building, where the meeting took place.

"All we did was, add a few more measures to the public safety request that they wanted us to put in place," Councilwoman Candice Mushatt, 7th Ward, said. "There's a plan that is in place, and we work with the Flint Police Department, also with our city attorney, so we're hoping that that will be the encouragement that our colleagues need to show up."

Now, the issue will go in front of the Ethics and Accountability Board, which will hold a special meeting Friday. Members are expected to discuss next steps for the council.

"To stay on them and to make sure that, hey, you need to appoint. You need to appoint, whether that's through special letter, whether that's through calling them, in having a special hearing, a formal hearing, informal hearing, whether it's through sending out letters and things of that nature, it is our job to hold them accountable," said Harris.