December 2, 2023
To use words written by Councilwoman Lawler, it is with intense disappointment I am forced today to respond to the reckless actions of four of my council colleagues. Let me be clear-the actions of Ms. Lawler and three of my council colleagues are not at all about the welfare of the city or its residents. This is about power. Simple as that. They have a majority on the council and they intend to bend it to their whim. Further, I harbor no illusion that the majority of the council will be objective today.
The purpose in my statement today is to refute the allegations brought against me and to educate the public about the illegal actions of that majority faction of the council. These are the FACTS. Let us deal in the facts today—as FACTS are different than individual versions of the TRUTH as they pertain to allegations and actions of council members Lawler, Jackson, Williams and Reid.
To address allegation #1 – The October 11 th email to Ed Haas & Annette Norris:
FACT: On August 15, 2023 Council voted to remove the 4 EDC board members ignoring legal opinion from both City Attorney Harkness and EDC Attorney Karre. Both attorneys advised that this is out of the realm of Council authority and against the Home Rule City Act. The following is citing the opinion of Attorney Karre:
“The Home Rule City Act prohibits the City from removing a board member without cause. The EDC Bylaws, ratified by the City Council, only allow such removal to be for cause, as defined by those Bylaws. The list of for cause reasons in the Bylaws does not begin to include removing an EDC board member (much less four of them) because of a vote by the Board to terminate an employee. The EDC Board terminating an employee is not on the list of “for cause” reasons in the Bylaws and does not compare to the items that are on the list. There is nothing in “the law” that allows or justifies the Council removing an EDC Board member because of the Board terminating an employee. As an employer, the EDC has the right and authority to have, and to terminate, employees as a part of the usual course of business. The Council does not have the authority to interfere with that usual course of business. “
FACT: At this August 15 th meeting Councilman French, Councilwoman Davis and I implored council to go into closed session as scheduled to discuss this and to take into deep consideration the liability of being sued and costing the taxpayers of Albion considerable amount of money. This was not done. Councilwoman Lawler argued against this saying ‘I think the more information that we get, the more you all are trying to change our minds”. And Councilwoman Jackson encourages legal action by stating: “you talking about them suing us, they might as well come on because they gonna get sued back!” and again by stating “They want to sue us, so be it’!
FACT: On August 21 st , Albion City Council was informed that Ed Haas had retained legal counsel to move forth with legal action against the City of Albion.
FACT: On Oct.7, 2023 Albion community resident and former Mayor Dave Atchison filed multiple ethics violations against Lawler, Reid, Jackson and Williams for violating the City Charter.
FACT: On Oct. 11, 2023 Jerome Harvey sent out an email with the written statement that he alone re-hired Ms. Ammerman effective Oct. 9 th back to her position without board approval. The email was not confidential or privileged information as it was sent out to several individuals, including me. I forwarded that email to Mr. Haas in hopes of putting an end to the lawsuit that would have saved the taxpayers money in defending this lawsuit and hopefully right the wrong that was done by this council by possible injunctive relief. I have already stated why I sent this through my personal email in a public council meeting. Council must prove my intent of avoiding FOIA.
FACT: On November 6, 2023 Council approved for the expense of ten thousand dollars for Garan, Lucow, Miller to investigate the EDC’s handling of Ms. Ammerman’s termination, who is an at will employee. Also at this same meeting, Council approved the additional expense of hiring Conflict Counsel attorneys Fahey, Schultz to defend the lawsuit of Haas v City of Albion above and beyond the salary that we already pay our own City attorney.
FACT: Since the removal of EDC board members Haas, Newman, Norris and Evans, Ammerman was rehired; in addition to receiving a severance payment and back pay totaling $70,000. The payment of both severance and back pay is “double dipping” and resulted in an unearned windfall to Ms Ammerman. With the legal fees to defend the lawsuit and the investigation, this will have cost the city more than $100,000 in NEEDLESS spending. I ask you, is that how you want your tax dollars spent?
To address allegation #2 – My letter of support for the Federal Recompete Grant with possible award of 50 Million Dollars
FACT: The City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 3, 2023 to approve the City of Albion Community Comprehensive Plan, AIR-22-513 with a motion by Nora Jackson and seconded by Lenn Reid. The Albion’s Comprehensive Plan is a strategic document that guides the City in future decision making concerning land-use planning and for social, economic, and environmental development. The agreed upon plan specifically recognizes the need for workforce development training and the need for improvements to our major corridors to the city, including Austin Avenue which is in direct alignment with this grant. My quote from that letter: “The City Council and I are in full support of bringing in new opportunity to strengthen our workforce and employment strategies.”
Is that not the explicit opinion of the City Council, by unanimous vote on Oct. 3 2023, to support the City of Albion Comprehensive Plan? By unanimous vote, the letter of support already received council approval. Would council members Lawler, Jackson, Reid and Williams prefer that we lose the opportunity to bring in up to Millions of dollars to strengthen our workforce and employment strategies and improve the Austin Avenue area?
We all need to be asking what is being gained from these efforts? At the end of the day, this is all about power. Nothing more, nothing less—and certainly not about the welfare of the city or its residents. Instead of pursuing the business of the city, there are some who would wish to tarnish my reputation, who seek to punish me for attempting to be a good steward of the city’s finances by stopping egregious spending as well as providing support for bringing tens of million dollars into the community.
As Mayor, I was elected to serve ALL Albion residents and in both baseless allegations brought forth by Councilwoman Lawler, I was doing just that. As a lifelong resident of Albion, a woman of color, and the Mayor who won the majority of votes in two recent elections, I say enough. This is enough. This is an embarrassment. We need to focus on healing, on doing the business of
the city, and most importantly on stopping the undue influence of those who should not have a say in local politics. I refute in the strongest terms the allegations brought forth and ask that they be withdrawn immediately.
The Due Process Clause in the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution extends the
Bill of Rights to persons accused by state and local governments. Persons are entitled to
fundamental rights. One of those fundamental rights is to be judged by an impartial and unbiased
tribunal. The majority of this council are neither impartial nor unbiased. But there is still a
chance for them to do the right thing this morning.
I’m hopeful that in this season of giving they stop and make the effort to look past the things they think divide us and come together for the betterment of Albion. Think for YOURSELF and demonstrate your commitment to moving Albion forward instead of continuing the finger pointing, the drama, the unnecessary spending of tax payers money on legal matters. Thank you to the countless Albion residents who have called, emailed, texted and showed up to support me today. I assure you that I will continue to serve the people of my hometown as their Mayor with integrity, professionalism and civility that this position deserves.
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