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Steve Myers
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Several Flint City Council members and City Administrator Peggy R. Cook owe the city about $27,000 each under a court ruling issued Wednesday that upheld pay cuts imposed by former Flint emergency financial manager Ed Kurtz.
Ingham County Judge Joyce Draganchuk voided a council vote in July 2004 that reversed the pay cuts after Kurtz resigned. She ordered all money be returned to the city and dismissed the city and Mayor Don Williamson from the suit.
The ruling sides with state Attorney General Mike Cox, who sued in August, arguing that the council violated the state Constitution, which bars retroactive pay for public officials.
The Flint Journal was unable to reach Cox's office for comment Wednesday.
City Attorney Trachelle Young said the city is happy the judge dismissed the mayor and the city from the case.
Williamson signed the resolution rescinding the pay cuts and took no action to stop the payments, but he later said he didn't know about the resolution and opposed it once he found out about it.
Several council members said Wednesday they were unaware of the ruling but likely would appeal.
Council members have argued that Kurtz lacked the authority to cut their pay, and a state law passed during the takeover to clearly give him that power retroactively was unconstitutional.
The payments - which total about $185,000 - ranged from $15,000 to $17,500 in cash and payments of about $9,700 to each member's retirement account. Seventh Ward Councilman Matt Schlinker returned his raise before Cox's lawsuit, and 8th Ward Councilman Lawrence B. Murphy refused to accept his.
Full Story:
http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-29/111652142027620.xml |
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Thu May 19, 2005 12:54 pm |
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Steve Myers
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the back pay
Ed Taylor (2nd ward) $17,436 $9,700 $27,136
Scott Kincaid (9th ward) $17,328 $9,700 $27,028
Johnnie Coleman (3rd ward) $17,080 $9,700 $26,780
Peggy R. Cook* (4th ward) $16,411 $9,700 $26,111
Carolyn Sims (5th ward) $16,364 $9,700 $26,064
Mark A. Horrigan (6th ward) $16,136 $9,700 $25,836
Darryl E. Buchanan (1st ward) $15,185 $9,700 $24,885
* Cook received the payment as a former City Council member. She resigned her 4th Ward seat to become city administrator. |
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Thu May 19, 2005 12:58 pm |
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