[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6107726,"mediaKeyId","2772833-2b8a11f43360682ef00920c2d0b72a60","parentId",2772833,"title","Callers ask council to simplify HR hiring and permit sick‑leave donations for civilian staff","audioSeconds",159,"startMs",204305,"endMs",363530,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2772833-2b8a11f43360682ef00920c2d0b72a60&start=204&end=363","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2772833-2b8a11f43360682ef00920c2d0b72a60/thumbnail_204305.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6107726/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Callers-ask-council-to-simplify-HR-hiring-and-permit-sickleave-donations-for-civilian-staff","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107726-926d2414191426a24b4fa54205074998/orig.mp4?Expires=1770877917&Signature=X5jy551AUH7N7du6Guu~J1YMMJDEU3su8~LnEqAbUjkI3DQkzn0thRGfD~haaLzbMZBndnrgqAvYqAe-g6i3pUM-Aqf-sffYKHGcj4hpMzCSzXnrYkm-pd-3lMKUGhkeIataJbBJAJL1~kxJFBIfgzwmYzENb9L9zwK55MP4u1R~hT7qMPoRlP6nKvqYhnGojBWE~EMQzUytXqpg3UHueMkw1soN-QkxDgHsr0jddDVhWyMuQyy5RUDI9uoqc0J5bKGIkbdLU3wiYdyvmfzO3fGz7k-ubunioGLNiNQvGxyzA1lx~fBaM2GQYVkD4tf453ho7Cx4fjb~Uq0vKNaC8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Detroit, MI ","date","2025-03-21T00:00:00Z","article","Two residents used public comment to press the council on human resources procedures and staffing policy.

William M. Davis asked whether the city has a program allowing civilian employees to loan or give sick time to coworkers. “Do y'all know if y'all have a plan yet for, like, regular civilian, you know, employees that they could loan or give some of their sick time to other fellow coworkers in case they're having, problems with, you know, they've exhausted their sick time. I know police and fire have a plan,” Davis said.

Davis also raised a separate concern about youth services in District 7, saying the district “has the most young people of any district.”

Steven Howering, who identified himself as a small-business owner, criticized hiring processes. “I feel like HR has gotten so bureaucratic in both the private and government sector... 4 phone interviews for a, you know, entry level job is kinda ridiculous,” Howering said.

The transcript does not record a response from HR staff or council members during the public comment segment, and there were no motions or directives recorded in the excerpt.

Why it matters: Work‑rules for leave donation and hiring procedures affect employee morale, recruitment, and continuity of city services; changes typically require policy review by HR and possible collective-bargaining implications.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Detroit City Council Budget Hearing AM Public Comment 03-21-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Two callers told the council the city's human resources processes are overly bureaucratic; one asked whether civilian employees can donate sick time to colleagues, and the other called for fewer interviews for entry‑level hires.","taxTitle","Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan","taxId",48464,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6107731,"Caller questions $21 million transfer from PLD, asks for staffing and contract details",35,151845,186995,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2772833-2b8a11f43360682ef00920c2d0b72a60&start=151&end=186","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2772833-2b8a11f43360682ef00920c2d0b72a60/thumbnail_151845.jpg","/articles/6107731/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Caller-questions-21-million-transfer-from-PLD-asks-for-staffing-and-contract-details","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107731-77fa39b8ccea4d92bef9a90c40195d7f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770877917&Signature=IQN3IVGg~03bW8doLNfB3VDOKV3Fu~k6sbQdeX-Qv3DGlSQViOUJBVmDV-EOYxiYINLYQE1Hf8SZcYTYVd2izQMrN9x6Wjca3dAHKyXYt4G~CqDqUqx0kpaZtsG7ub2NvbF3uTmKFlOlrzhq7Ijg9r9FpU3UO7jQ0gHv8LY-cC~gZpqclE4y6dCMDbGEpj072d742dvKi6n8Cml697FYOCibQdPlwJdElchXW3j6OSgi~N2YvG9GdJKJ9Z2o4A~1NSmgWKKoHpVqAp4m7inY2V5NdCbbMjlzP7zWUdKZbiCFh5dYjUgG7kuqm2DpMWpVaNB6X9EOgjY~3ZntBowjCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An unnamed caller used the council’s public comment period to ask for details about a reported $21,000,000 transfer from an entity referred to in the transcript as PLD and to question staffing levels and contract performance.

The caller asked, “what did we budget for? How many employees did we budget for for, PLD?” and said, “$21,000,000 was transferred from PLD, and I'd like to know how that was transferred when they have not fulfilled the contract that they had, and why would we extend the bankruptcy by entering into another and not even addressing it with the citizens? Just add it at budget time. That is that is, unconstitutional and unconscionable, actually.”

The same caller also asked for clarification from a staff member named in the remarks: “I would like to ask mister Brown, why do we have a reservoir that was 3,000,000, but we don't know what is what materials are coming into our house even though it's been paid for several times?”

The transcript does not show any response from council members or staff during the public comment segment, and no formal investigation or motion is recorded in the meeting minutes excerpt provided.

Why it matters: The caller raised specific budgetary and contract-performance questions about a large transfer and sought transparency on staffing and procurement; those are matters that would typically be addressed through budget review or staff reports.","An unnamed caller at public comment asked the council to explain a $21,000,000 transfer from PLD, questioned whether PLD has staff and unfulfilled contracts, and raised concerns about a $3,000,000 reservoir expenditure.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6107736,"Residents tell council Detroit workforce programs aren’t reaching communities, urge more outreach and funding",471,28090,499330,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2772833-2b8a11f43360682ef00920c2d0b72a60&start=28&end=499","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2772833-2b8a11f43360682ef00920c2d0b72a60/thumbnail_28090.jpg","/articles/6107736/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Residents-tell-council-Detroit-workforce-programs-arent-reaching-communities-urge-more-outreach-and-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107736-7dda639fac9b45e6fd793eeb3b78e96f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770877917&Signature=HftL6qiycJBTYvaK9cjLUoZ~tbhE0dpN1TdPlhSpsQibYh0LfZkeIZFwzWImtPJgUu88itEbhTgY24zPS7SoW8Q5HwhHZ6ov0VT5VR-9ZwYVzogARvaSRTRmToaqpRDXEwzTnnDllHGEASfGypAk~R2pWHyifEuGdq75aE7-1tbtnM0s6URkHkejq85xs1qmZ5hrGaLkBQtkddkWLiuitsmEUboMCP-N5OaFxnprBo7R-OFyylb9j05sTV-OpgFFA03P~UiiUKcC96qXmXnqV62znkZCrd2yeUBVt1h5LKVMKA6zFNsOwnmZrZtlifDOHShg2e52r711~JLzcnzUGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Detroit residents used the council’s public comment period to criticise the city’s workforce programs and urge better outreach and funding for neighborhood accessibility and senior services.

A caller who did not give a name said Detroit Employment Solutions and Detroit at Work “need to be questioned under oath and under penalty of perjury. They have set a bunch of lies today, like 80% success rate, I don't believe it.” The same caller also noted, “Last month, 20 black men and women graduated from Grand Circus. They had previously graduated from the Apple Developer Academy last year.”

Betty A. Varner, a neighborhood resident, said she has repeatedly invited workforce staff to local events without success. “The workforce program is a great program, and I have reached out multiple times, wanted them to come to events that my organization, the DeSoto Elswore Black Association has given in their neighborhood and community, and we have not been successful,” Varner said. She asked the council to “please allocate monies to the programs that I normally talk about, the Detroit Home Accessibility Grant and the senior and disabled program.”

Cindy Dara, another caller, said she participated in Jumpstart and did not find the program useful for her goals. “I was in Jumpstart, and I wasn't a success, but I never liked most of the jobs they were offering. I wanted to tutor kids in math and stuff,” Dara said.

Ronald Foster, a small-business owner, asked whether workforce partners would connect small businesses to health-related options. “When it come down to small business and employees, are any of these organizations going to bridge the small business with health choice,” Foster asked.

None of the comments in the transcript record a response from city officials during the public comment segment, and no formal action was taken on the items raised. The council recessed the meeting to return at 2 p.m.

Why it matters: Workforce contractors report success rates that the public questions, residents say outreach has not reached neighborhood organizations, and callers asked the council to commit funds to accessibility and senior programs that serve vulnerable populations.","During public comment, multiple callers criticized Detroit Employment Solutions and Detroit at Work for poor follow-up and limited community outreach, praised some training graduates, and asked the council to fund neighborhood accessibility and senior programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Callers ask council to simplify HR hiring and permit sick‑leave donations for civilian staff

Caller questions $21 million transfer from PLD, asks for staffing and contract details

Residents tell council Detroit workforce programs aren’t reaching communities, urge more outreach and funding