Ryan Eashoo
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City Council tension simmers
Posted by Jerry Ernst | The Davison Flagstaff November 29, 2007 19:52PM
Categories: Davison, Davison Township
There was no mistaking the occasional acrimony as Davison's new mayor and City Council took the reins of city government.
Rancorous remarks ricocheted around the council table. It's a wonder no one ducked for cover during the exchanges.
"When you talk, you're talking to ME," Mayor "Mac" Fortner chided Councilwoman Joy Murray as she spoke directly to a colleague.
"And please let Mr. Hershberger finish -- we let you finish."
Fortner got as good as he gave.
"You, sir, are a landlord," Councilman Ron Emery said icily to the mayor. "And I think you should abstain from this vote because you have a conflict of interest."
The remark concerned Fortner's exhortation to repeal a two-week-old rental-inspection ordinance.
City Manager Peter Auger got into the act, too. Fortner tried to cut him off as Auger, undeterred, urged the council not to drastically and abruptly cut the salary for his successor.
Would council members Keith Flewelling and Don Csutoras have dampened the tension had they attended? Neither is known for mincing his own words.
Former council members Ralph Arceo and James Hansen, who were defeated in the Nov. 6 election, looked on silently. Recently deposed Mayor Fred Rappuhn slipped into council chambers for about 10 minutes and left again.
Fortner suggested some changes in procedures and ordered others.
He said council meetings should be tape-recorded, and he argued that holding one formal council meeting and one work session a month made little sense when the council could hold two formal meetings. Further Fortner initiatives are detailed in other articles in this issue.
Fortner, attired in suit and necktie, provided a more formal appearance than could be found in most councils in recent years. He also appeared to embody a technological throwback on a council used to communicating instantaneously with e-mail.
Fortner said he doesn't use e-mail. So how, Councilwoman Joy Murray asked, can information and messages be easily conveyed to him?
Call him on the phone, Fortner responded. |
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Flint Michigan Resident, Tax Payer, Flint Nutt - Local REALTOR - Activist. www.FlintTown.com |
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