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Residents urge Clawson council to adopt vacancy and disclosure rules; raise Renshaw Apartments concerns
Summary
Multiple residents used public comment during the July 15 council meeting to call for a clear ordinance to fill vacated council seats, to stop asking speakers to provide addresses on the public record, and to request follow-up on Renshaw Apartments and Hunter Community Center outreach.
Clawson — Several residents at Tuesday night's meeting pressed the Clawson City Council to adopt clearer procedures for filling vacated council seats, to stop requiring home addresses at public comment, and to schedule promised community meetings about Renshaw Apartments and Hunter Community Center operations.
Jamie Gilles Takanoji told the council: "it is illegal to require that we give our address," and urged the council to change any local ordinance that still asks speakers for a full street address during public comment. She also urged the council to "start a process for a vacated seat" and said the city has been out of compliance with its charter on that point.
Erin Redmond raised questions about appointment practices and whether the city checks for financial defaults before making appointments. She asked that any new standards be announced to applicants in advance to ensure consistent treatment. Brent Allman and other speakers echoed calls for a formal vacancy process ahead of potential November council changes.
Joanne McAuley, a long-time resident, said she and others were surprised when an "open meeting" about Renshaw Apartments and Hunter Community Center occurred at the budget hearing, describing residents as "blindsided" because they had expected a standalone meeting. She said residents had been told an open meeting would be scheduled after council decided not to put the sale of Renshaw Apartments on the May ballot.
No formal council action was taken on the items during the meeting. City Clerk Michelle reported separately that the election commission had approved a proposal to consolidate precincts 3 and 4 (to be redesignated) and that a state-level resolution will be submitted to finalize the change; new precinct maps and voter ID cards will follow state approval.
Speakers asked the council to consider drafting or codifying procedures before future vacancies occur. Council members acknowledged the concerns and suggested the council could place the matter on a future agenda for ordinance review.
