Ann Arbor Metropolis Council met on Feb. 21 to debate a decision requesting a “authorized opinion” on lawyer Jennifer Salvatore’s follow-up report on a confidential investigation into former metropolis administrator Tom Crawford launched in December 2021. If handed, this decision would go to a metropolis lawyer for authorized recommendation on the investigation.
Crawford was fired in July 2021 after Salvatore’s authentic report got here out alleging Crawford had made discriminatory feedback since he took his place in September 2020. Following this report, Salvatore was employed by town to conduct an investigation following up on points that arose within the first report that weren’t coated throughout the scope of the primary report.
Councilmember Kathy Griswold, D-Ward 2, who co-sponsored the decision alongside councilmember Jeff Hayner, D-Ward 1, informed The Michigan Day by day that she launched the decision after she acquired a number of questions from non-public attorneys throughout the Ann Arbor group over the perceived discrepancies and public confusion.
“I’m not even saying there was something mistaken, however I’m saying that I’m getting suggestions from our group,” Griswold stated. “And it simply felt prefer it wouldn’t go away. And, so, as a council member, I wished to have a closed session and work out the variations.”
One such discrepancy Griswold offered through the assembly was that Salvatore decided Crawford had discriminated towards Human Assets Director Tom Guajardo by not giving him a severance bundle in his contract when he was employed, whereas his colleagues had all been given severance packages. Nonetheless, these severance packages had not been given till one 12 months of employment, which offers some discrepancies within the conclusions of the report.
Griswold informed The Day by day this decision took place as a result of she wished to enter closed session with the remainder of the council to debate the issues over the report. In response to Griswold, she tried to enter closed session on this subject however was informed they wanted an recommendation memo, or a documented piece of authorized recommendation on the problem, earlier than they may accomplish that. Griswold stated she proposed the decision to get a authorized opinion so as to information the council on this member.
Throughout the assembly, Griswold cited the 2016 Flint Water Disaster by which a lag in refining the quantity of lead within the water provide resulted in further harm to youngsters. Griswold stated this instance demonstrated the significance of timeliness, particularly on this concern, expressing her help for timeliness on this matter.
“I attempt to advocate not just for reality, but in addition for fast decision,” Griswold stated.
Councilmember Julie Grand, D-Ward 3, disagreed with the sentiment Griswold expressed, and stated this example was not as urgent or probably dangerous because the state of affairs in Flint.
“I hope that that is the final dialogue we’ve got about this at our desk,” Grand stated. “It’s been irritating, particularly after we hear this in comparison with youngsters being poisoned by lead. I’m fairly assured in saying that no youngsters had been harmed within the work of this report.”
Moreover, Grand stated this concern didn’t warrant outdoors opinions and expressed her help for the council’s attorneys.
“I’m snug with taking recommendation from our personal attorneys,” Grand stated. “For these in the neighborhood which might be attorneys that want to give recommendation, that’s tremendous, however they aren’t our attorneys and I don’t intend to deal with them as such.”
Griswold then learn a portion of the Salvatore bill into the general public document. The bill detailed a number of calls with town lawyer, Stephen Postema, about reviewing the report earlier than its ultimate publication. Griswold stated this was a transparent indication town lawyer, or somebody of their workplace, was concerned within the ultimate report.
“I’m simply considerably stunned that our metropolis’s lawyer workplace, given their involvement, didn’t handle these errors (the perceived discrepancies) beforehand, and that they don’t need to handle them now,” Griswold stated.
Councilmember Jen Eyer, D-Ward 4, stated Griswold ought to learn the memo offered by town lawyer’s workplace and expressed her lack of help for the decision.
“This can be a waste of our time,” Eyer stated. “This isn’t what we ought to be up right here doing. This political theater, let’s simply transfer on.”
Councilmember Ali Ramlawi, D-Ward 5, stated issues about this report, and others prefer it, solely work to discredit the studies and the council as a complete.
“Anyone who takes the time to learn (the studies offered by metropolis council), truth examine and look by means of it with an goal eye will know that these (accusations) lack credibility, consistency and undermine this personal physique’s credibility,” Ramlawi stated. “That’s what you get, taxpayers of Ann Arbor.”
Councilmember Linh Music, D-Ward 2, stated she had acquired little to no concern in regards to the high quality of the report from her constituents.
“I’ve not acquired a single inquiry in my ward about this concern,” Music stated. “Whether it is actually a difficulty.”
Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor stated he helps the conclusions from the report, and defined town lawyer was in shut contact with Salvatore in the course of the investigation. He additionally stated that whereas town lawyer could not agree with the conclusions made by the exterior investigator, the lawyer did confirm the details offered within the report.
“It’s my perception that this doc is certainly fully correct, that there are not any discrepancies in it,” Taylor stated. “And that stands for the varied investigations up and down the road which have been offered to us by Legal professional Salvatore.”
Ramlawi stated that if the councilmembers who had been towards the decision had been so assured within the report, they need to help the decision.
“In the event you’re so positive in regards to the details, and also you’re so positive in regards to the accuracy, then go forward,” Ramlawi stated. “What does this take? Just a few hours? This isn’t an enormous dig, this isn’t a heavy elevate.”
Grand stated a few of Ramlawi’s feedback insinuated councilmembers who had been towards the decision had been purchased and didn’t symbolize their constituents’ greatest pursuits. Grand stated she discovered this insulting.
“It’s ridiculous, simply have good concepts, we’ll help it,” Grand stated. “However cease accusing us of getting intentions that aren’t in one of the best curiosity of the people who we symbolize on this metropolis simply since you don’t get your approach.”
The council then voted on the decision. Councilmember Elizabeth Nelson, D-Ward 4, councilmember Lisa Disch, D-Ward 1, Ramlawi, Hayner and Griswold voted for the decision, but it surely in the end did not go.
In an interview with The Day by day, Griswold stated she was disenchanted on the failure of the decision.
“Do I believe they’re hiding one thing? Completely,” Griswold stated. “Do I believe the report is totally factual? No, I don’t.”
Day by day Workers Reporter Riley Hodder may be reached at rehodder@umich.edu.