LMich
02-17-2009, 08:10 AM
Question: So, in Flint upon the death or resignation of the mayor the current city administrator takes over? I ask, because this is different than many other cities in the state the council president takes over the mayor's spot.
And, this is obviously a snub to the former city administrator, Darryl Buchanan, if its true that the former mayor essentially demoted him to deputy mayor to get Brown in knowing he was going to resign giving Brown the spot over Buchanan. What's the history, there, between Williamson and Buchanan?
Furthermore, the city administrator job is state mandated in Flint, right? When do you guys get to end the office?
http://blog.mlive.com/newsnow_impact/2009/02/large_brown-and-secretary.jpg
Ryan Garza | The Flint Journal
Secretary Kerry Furze delivers the city's official letterhead to temporary Mayor Michael Brown today as he starts his first day in charge at City Hall. "It's personally exciting," Brown said. "I think we have an opportunity here."
New mayor promises changes at Flint city hall (http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/02/new_mayor_promises_changes_at.html)
by Joe Lawlor | The Flint Journal
Monday February 16, 2009, 9:57 AM
FLINT, Michigan -- Michael Brown set foot in his new office as temporary mayor of Flint for the first time this morning and warned the city to brace for massive changes. "Look, there's furniture. I didn't expect that there would be any," said Brown, as aides brought him notebooks, pens and calendars. "It's functional."
Brown took over as temporary mayor today, replacing former Mayor Don Williamson, who resigned effective Sunday. Brown immediately held a staff meeting with about 20 members of the Williamson administration.
"I never dreamed I'd be sitting here today talking to you," Brown said at the meeting this morning. He was tapped by Williamson to be city administrator just two weeks ago, paving the way for Brown to step into the temporary mayor's job when the mayor resigned.
Brown, wearing a conservative dark suit and a Flint pin, briefly talked about how the city was facing difficult financial challenges, then asked staff members to introduce themselves.
"There will be changes," Brown said. "I don't know what they are yet."
Brown had nonstop meetings leading up to the takeover, but he barely set foot in City Hall until today.
Flint Journal extras
"I don't have a pass (yet) to get into the parking garage," Brown said Friday, laughing. A councilman gave him one over the weekend.
Voters will choose a permanent replacement for Williamson in August.
Brown said he has some tasks to work on right away, including a joint appearance with the City Council, naming a new city administrator and evaluating the city's current budget and staffing.
He made it clear, though, that his to-do list today did not include firing any staff.
"That would be a knee-jerk reaction," Brown said. "I need to have the facts to look at, and I just don't have that yet."
Still, Brown has made it clear that his temporary administration will contain fewer people than the Williamson administration.
And Brown does promise some major staff moves this week -- including hiring a city administrator and a finance director.
"I've been working on getting a team in place," said Brown, a former vice president with the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce. He said he's not ready to say who they are, because both have yet to accept the jobs.
A news conference was being planned for late this afternoon with several City Council members.
"We're letting people know that this is a time for transparency and openness," Brown said. "This is an opportunity, right off the bat, to say this is a different deal."
Councilman Delrico Loyd said he's sure there's going to be a shake-up at City Hall under Brown's administration.
"There will be decisions that will be made that won't be favorable to some of the people from the Williamson regime," Loyd said. "Drastic changes have to be made, and I believe Michael Brown has the courage to make those changes."
Brown said he didn't want to comment yet on the future of Deputy Mayor Darryl Buchanan. Buchanan previously was city administrator until Williamson appointed him deputy mayor job two weeks ago.
Another target for Brown is the city's law department, headed by City Attorney Trachelle Young, a close ally of Williamson's.
Brown said he plans to have an outside group evaluate the department.
"A good city attorney's office can generate revenue. If you have legal representation that's losing cases and losing big judgments, then all of that has to be analyzed," Brown said.
The city could be on the hook for more than $12 million from losing sewer lawsuits, and the city might have to pay millions to take over Genesee Towers.
In another switch from past administrations, Brown said he will attend City Council meetings.
"The mayor shouldn't just sit in his office. You can't run a government that way, at least not functionally," said Brown, the former head of the local United Way. "There has to be communication."
Brown comes into power at City Hall as it prepares to deal with a looming financial crisis. The city finished the 2007-08 fiscal year with an $8.3-million deficit. Auditors have said that despite layoffs and cutbacks last year, there are shortfalls in this year's budget.
Brown said he believes the city needs more accurate, up-to-date information on its finances.
"We're going to start a financial analysis on Day One," Brown said. "We have to have a clear handle on what problems we're facing."
BTW, these quotes (http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/02/resigning_flint_mayor_don_will.html) I found from Williamson, last thursday, upon the announcement of his resignation are hilarious:
When asked whether he thought resigning from the city would affect his chances to be elected governor, Williamson said his record as mayor will help him win.
"I'm going to go down as the greatest mayor this city has ever had," Williamson said.
Williamson also said that he could do a better job with the state's finances than Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
"I can do a better job than they're doing, blindfolded and on my deathbed," Williamson said.
Williamson said the doubters will soon be eating crow.
"People who say these things, I pity them," Williamson said. "These are people who have never done anything productive in their lives."
What a headcase.
And, this is obviously a snub to the former city administrator, Darryl Buchanan, if its true that the former mayor essentially demoted him to deputy mayor to get Brown in knowing he was going to resign giving Brown the spot over Buchanan. What's the history, there, between Williamson and Buchanan?
Furthermore, the city administrator job is state mandated in Flint, right? When do you guys get to end the office?
http://blog.mlive.com/newsnow_impact/2009/02/large_brown-and-secretary.jpg
Ryan Garza | The Flint Journal
Secretary Kerry Furze delivers the city's official letterhead to temporary Mayor Michael Brown today as he starts his first day in charge at City Hall. "It's personally exciting," Brown said. "I think we have an opportunity here."
New mayor promises changes at Flint city hall (http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/02/new_mayor_promises_changes_at.html)
by Joe Lawlor | The Flint Journal
Monday February 16, 2009, 9:57 AM
FLINT, Michigan -- Michael Brown set foot in his new office as temporary mayor of Flint for the first time this morning and warned the city to brace for massive changes. "Look, there's furniture. I didn't expect that there would be any," said Brown, as aides brought him notebooks, pens and calendars. "It's functional."
Brown took over as temporary mayor today, replacing former Mayor Don Williamson, who resigned effective Sunday. Brown immediately held a staff meeting with about 20 members of the Williamson administration.
"I never dreamed I'd be sitting here today talking to you," Brown said at the meeting this morning. He was tapped by Williamson to be city administrator just two weeks ago, paving the way for Brown to step into the temporary mayor's job when the mayor resigned.
Brown, wearing a conservative dark suit and a Flint pin, briefly talked about how the city was facing difficult financial challenges, then asked staff members to introduce themselves.
"There will be changes," Brown said. "I don't know what they are yet."
Brown had nonstop meetings leading up to the takeover, but he barely set foot in City Hall until today.
Flint Journal extras
"I don't have a pass (yet) to get into the parking garage," Brown said Friday, laughing. A councilman gave him one over the weekend.
Voters will choose a permanent replacement for Williamson in August.
Brown said he has some tasks to work on right away, including a joint appearance with the City Council, naming a new city administrator and evaluating the city's current budget and staffing.
He made it clear, though, that his to-do list today did not include firing any staff.
"That would be a knee-jerk reaction," Brown said. "I need to have the facts to look at, and I just don't have that yet."
Still, Brown has made it clear that his temporary administration will contain fewer people than the Williamson administration.
And Brown does promise some major staff moves this week -- including hiring a city administrator and a finance director.
"I've been working on getting a team in place," said Brown, a former vice president with the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce. He said he's not ready to say who they are, because both have yet to accept the jobs.
A news conference was being planned for late this afternoon with several City Council members.
"We're letting people know that this is a time for transparency and openness," Brown said. "This is an opportunity, right off the bat, to say this is a different deal."
Councilman Delrico Loyd said he's sure there's going to be a shake-up at City Hall under Brown's administration.
"There will be decisions that will be made that won't be favorable to some of the people from the Williamson regime," Loyd said. "Drastic changes have to be made, and I believe Michael Brown has the courage to make those changes."
Brown said he didn't want to comment yet on the future of Deputy Mayor Darryl Buchanan. Buchanan previously was city administrator until Williamson appointed him deputy mayor job two weeks ago.
Another target for Brown is the city's law department, headed by City Attorney Trachelle Young, a close ally of Williamson's.
Brown said he plans to have an outside group evaluate the department.
"A good city attorney's office can generate revenue. If you have legal representation that's losing cases and losing big judgments, then all of that has to be analyzed," Brown said.
The city could be on the hook for more than $12 million from losing sewer lawsuits, and the city might have to pay millions to take over Genesee Towers.
In another switch from past administrations, Brown said he will attend City Council meetings.
"The mayor shouldn't just sit in his office. You can't run a government that way, at least not functionally," said Brown, the former head of the local United Way. "There has to be communication."
Brown comes into power at City Hall as it prepares to deal with a looming financial crisis. The city finished the 2007-08 fiscal year with an $8.3-million deficit. Auditors have said that despite layoffs and cutbacks last year, there are shortfalls in this year's budget.
Brown said he believes the city needs more accurate, up-to-date information on its finances.
"We're going to start a financial analysis on Day One," Brown said. "We have to have a clear handle on what problems we're facing."
BTW, these quotes (http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/02/resigning_flint_mayor_don_will.html) I found from Williamson, last thursday, upon the announcement of his resignation are hilarious:
When asked whether he thought resigning from the city would affect his chances to be elected governor, Williamson said his record as mayor will help him win.
"I'm going to go down as the greatest mayor this city has ever had," Williamson said.
Williamson also said that he could do a better job with the state's finances than Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
"I can do a better job than they're doing, blindfolded and on my deathbed," Williamson said.
Williamson said the doubters will soon be eating crow.
"People who say these things, I pity them," Williamson said. "These are people who have never done anything productive in their lives."
What a headcase.
