Questions still go unanswered from Romulus City leaders

What does it take to get an answer to your questions from the Romulus, Mayor, Council or Clerk? I guess the answer to that question is 'It depends'.

During the City Council meeting on December 7th I asked several questions after council voted five to two for the Associated News to serve as their official newspaper when they admitted to not printing or distributing a newspaper. Councilpersons Kathleen Abdo, John Barden, Celeste Roscoe and Tina Talley voted in support of the motion and councilpersons Eva Webb and Virginia Williams voted against it.

On December 11th, I sent questions via email to the council members, Clerk Ellen Bragg, Mayor Leroy Burcroff, Purchasing Director Gary Harris and asked the clerk to forward my email to the City's attorney Steven Hitchcock. Still no answer to my questions.

Then on Monday, December 14th, during council meeting, I asked many of the same questions and a few new ones. It was at this point that Clerk Bragg stated that she would discuss the concerns with the Attorney. I thought great. Finally I will get some answers.

Well, now it's December 21st with no answers, so I shoot off another email to the same people asking when I will get some answers to the same questions from December 7th. Still no answer to my questions.

So I sent an email to Clerk Bragg on December 24th asking to be added as a petitioner for the Monday, December 28th meeting. (That would allow me to speak early in the meeting – not under public comment).

Finally on Monday, December 28th, I receive an email from Clerk Bragg. However, it's not answers to my questions. It's a statement to say I will not be added as a petitioner because when she received my request on Thursday, the packets to the council had already gone out because the office was closed for the holiday.

No problem, she knows I want to speak so I'm sure she let council know about it before the meeting. But in a rare move as the Public Comment portion of the meeting begins, Mayor Pro Tem Barden announces that he will not be granting any extra time tonight. (You see, each person under Public Comment gets three minutes to speak and it is up Mayor Pro Tem Barden to grant you additional time.) He said he made that decision because people had been getting on him for letting members of the audience go over the three minutes. Which I was probably going to do, because I want to still get some answers. Councilwoman Williams said, she disagreed with him making that statement and Councilman Wadsworth spoke up and said that the council could overrule his decision.

Now, when it is my turn to speak, I ask do they have any answers to my questions yet. Mayor Pro Tem says, we will handle under 'Unfinished Business'. That is normally handled by Mayor Burcroff who wasn't in attendance at the meeting. But then, Councilwoman Williams asks Attorney Hitchcock how is it that the council got an answer and Mrs. Steward didn't get an answer to her questions.

Really? I am the person that has been asking for answers to questions on this issue for over twenty (20) days and I haven't gotten anything; Maybe that is their process.

After more discussion and as my time came to an end, Clerk Bragg did say that I would be getting my answers soon. You can watch the meeting on youtube https://youtu.be/hbZ-De_VgMw or any other meeting on youtube. Go to http://www.romulusgov.com and click on Watch City Council meetings.

I will keep you posted. My problem is that it took less than one week for the Romulus City Council, Clerk, Attorney, Mayor and Purchasing to make a decision, however it is taking over five weeks for them to explain how they came up with that decision.

Why did I tell you all of this? I want to impress upon you to pay attention to what is happening in your city and how decisions are being made and by who. It is very important for residents and business owners to attend City Council meetings and be a part of the conversation.

A democracy cannot thrive where power remains unchecked and justice is reserved for a select few.

Congressman John Lewis

Gina Wilson Steward

CEO/Publisher