Flint City Council's attempt to reconsider the Hasselbring Senior Center's lease agreement was paused yesterday due to a lack of quorum, as several members were absent. As reported by ABC12, among those not present at the meeting were First Ward Councilman Leon El-Alamin, Second Ward Councilwoman Ladel Lewis, Fourth Ward Councilwoman Judy Priestly, and Seventh Ward Councilwoman Candice Mushatt, rendering the assembly unable to officially vote on the lease approval for the center that serves Flint's elders.
The Hasselbring Senior Center has become a point of contention, as the city administration under Mayor Sheldon Neeley seeks to take over control of programming, alleging violations of the lease terms by the current nonprofit management. As WNEM reported, Councilmembers Jerri Winfrey-Carter and Tonya Burns called the special meeting to approach a lease that provides stability and respect for the seniors utilizing the center. They aimed to not only to revisit the agreement but also to avoid further threats of eviction against the center's leadership. "I will not do any regrets; as long as I sit in my seat, I must speak up for the seniors," Burns stated.
Amid a legal battle, with Hasselbring's nonprofit filing a lawsuit to block a city takeover, tensions have increased. The city's Chief of Staff, Ed Taylor, responded with restraint to inquiries yesterday, stating, "At this time, we have no further comment on the matter. However, we remain committed to transparency and ensuring that the interests of the Flint community, particularly our senior residents, are upheld throughout this process," as reportd by ABC12.
For the Flint residents who were able to speak at the meeting, the issue is straightforward. Many have alleged that some council members are aligning with the Mayor instead of supporting the center's management. "The residents of Flint seem to can't see what's going on from the mayor's office and in our council," one resident opined during the public comment section, as mentioned in Mid-Michigan Now. Beverly Lewis, the Executive Director of Hasselbring Senior Center, addressed those present, saying, "It was voted twice, unanimously, eight to zero, not because they didn't want us to have a lease, not because they thought we were right, not because they thought the mayor was right, but because they knew there was something wrong with the lease."
With the dearth of council members, the matter is set to be decided by a judge on Thursday. Residents fear a city takeover could lead to a lack of sufficient funding for the programs upon which so many seniors depend. In the words of Councilman Jonathan Jarrett in the report from Mid-Michigan Now, "If the city were to pay someone $50,000, they would have to pay fringes, which would take that probably to about $70,000 to $75,000 of the $130,000" necessary for the center's annual budget.
