- Marchers protesting EM’s converge on Gov. Rick Snyder’s home near Ann Arbor on MLK Day Jan. 16
Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 12:41 PM
By Jonathan Oosting | joosting@mlive.com MLive.com .
State financial review teams operating in Detroit and the Highland Park Public Schools held a series of private meetings in violation of the Michigan Open Meetings Act, according to an Ingham County Circuit Court Judge, who reportedly has voided their work.
Judge William Collette last week issued a temporary injunction ordering the Detroit review team to comply with the Open Meetings Act. WDIV reports Collette ruled today that all work by the team is null and void.
Collette also voided the work of the Highland Park schools review team, according to The Detroit News, including the recommendation of an emergency manager.
Robert Davis
Today’s ruling came in response to lawsuits filed by Robert Davis, a Highland Park school board member, union activist and vocal critic of Public Act 4, Michigan’s controversial emergency manager law.
Gov. Rick Sndyer appointed the Detroit review team in late December after a preliminary examination revealed “probable financial stress” in Detroit, and he appointed Emergency Manager Jack Martin to run the Highland Park schools last month.
The Snyder administration has argued that review teams are not subject to the Open Meetings Act, which is designed to promote transparency in state government, and a spokesperson said last week that the state would appeal Collette’s preliminary injunction.
It’s not immediately clear what today’s ruling means for the review process in Detroit or Martin’s job in Highland Park, but the ruling could have implications for municipalities and school districts across the state currently under control of an emergency manager.
“We will abide by whatever process guidelines are mandated by the judge’s ruling and cooperate accordingly,” Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said in a released statement. “We have been open and transparent about the City of Detroit’s financial condition and will continue to do so.”
The Michigan Treasury and Snyder’s office have not yet responded to a request for comment.
The Detroit review team had up to 60 days to review the city’s finances and was expected to present its findings later this month to Snyder, who could decide to appoint an emergency manager or sign a consent agreement with city officials.
