Pontiac City Council members say that the city’s Emergency Manager, Michael Stampfler, is trying to intimidate them and control their speech.
Jul 31, 20207297 Shares608047 Views“„… Watkins told the forum that the EM has been unresponsive to potential business investors, especially African American businesses.
“„“The emergency manager law is an elimination of the system of checks and balances — he does whatever he wants,” Watkins told forum attendees. “There’s no separation of powers — he’s the executive, the judicial and the legislative branch.”
“„In his letter, Stampfler asked for the proof he has been unresponsive to business investors. He said the public works department has 25 employees. He also said posting the budget online was compliant with state law.
“„He gave Watkins a deadline of Aug. 15 to publicly correct his statements.
“„“I have no intention of kowtowing to Michael Stampfler,” Watkins said
“„The 2011-2012 Budget is available online in two different locations, with a letter addressed to the taxpayers. I did not realize that posting a letter online and having a public hearing, where no answers from the finance department were permitted, justified a ‘Presented Budget’. I was wrong.