Flint, Michigan's City Council continues to grapple with attendance issues, failing once again to meet the required quorum for conducting official business. Mayor Sheldon Neeley convened a special meeting yesterday with the hope of addressing the city's backlog of business; however, the council was adjourned early due to four members' absence, as reported by ABC12.
"We are not going to be able to come to agreement. We are still at a stalemate for the appointment of third ward, and so no business is getting done," Fourth Ward Councilwoman Judy Priestley said after yesterday's meeting, as reported by ABC12, highlighting the deadlock that prevents the council from even agreeing on leadership positions. With the Third Ward seat vacant after Quincy Murphy's death in October and the remaining members split 4-4 on a replacement, the friction among council members persists. According to WNEM, 1st Ward Councilman Leon El-Alamin has voiced his concern, saying, "It's disheartening. We're giving a disservice to the residents."
The council hasn't met a quorum since Oct. 14 due to various reasons, including safety concerns following an incident where a handgun was pulled out during a meeting, further exacerbating the council's issues. The specific council members who failed to attend the recent meeting were Jerri Winfrey-Carter, Tonya Burns, Dennis Pfeiffer, and Jonathan Jarrett, as Mid-Michigan Now reports. This lack of attendance comes at a time when Flint is poised to revamp city infrastructure and services, including a $60 million federal grant-funded battery manufacturing plant proposal.
A resident, expressed by Lottie Durrett in an interview with Mid-Michigan Now, hopes those absent council members stand their ground. She called for a change, referring to past chaos under previous leadership. Meanwhile, Mayor Neeley expressed frustration, stating in a release, "Many residents of Flint are becoming more and more disappointed in the actions of this city council and the members who fail to show up to work and perform their sworn duties." He further emphasized the significant pending initiatives and projects at risk due to the council's inaction.
