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Wixom seniors tell council items removed, cell‑phone rule raises safety concerns after new coordinator hired
Summary
A senior center member told the Wixom City Council that personal belongings were removed without consultation, members were told not to use cell phones and that staff threatened consequences after a new senior coordinator started. Council members urged one‑on‑one talks and said administration will follow up.
Judy Salinski, a longtime participant at the Wixom Senior Center, told the Wixom City Council on Sept. 9, 2025, that center members have seen personal items removed without notice, been restricted from bringing cell phones and were threatened after a new senior coordinator began work.
The concerns surfaced during the council’s second call to the public. “A lot of our things have been taken away. ... They emptied one of our cabinets with no counsel with us at all and took away some of our things,” Salinski said, adding that groups that meet at the center have lost equipment and donated supplies. She said members were told not to bring cell phones and reported being “threatened … they said there will be consequences on Wednesday.”
The complaints prompted responses from several council members who said they would press administration for more detail and encouraged direct dialogue between senior‑center leadership and city staff. Council Member Sharp said he had discussed improved communications with Deputy Mayor Resnick and City Manager Brown after similar remarks were raised at the Aug. 12 meeting and asked that staff follow up. “I’m hoping there is something happening, between the senior center, constituency leadership,” Sharp said.
Deputy Mayor Resnick recommended a one‑on‑one meeting between the senior commission’s chair, Jean Koleski, and the new senior coordinator to resolve concerns. “Get a one‑on‑one dialogue so you can funnel up the concern and get constructive open dialogue going,” Resnick said, adding that some matters appeared resolvable but cautioning patience with new personnel who have been on the job only a few weeks.
Council Member Behrman said a directive barring members from bringing cell phones would be a safety issue and urged senior‑center users to report that rule to the city manager’s office if it occurred. “If you’re being told that by the senior coordinator, you need to probably go to the city manager’s office. You should not be told you can’t bring your cell phones in,” Behrman said.
Council Member Regacham said the council needs to identify who made the threats and whether the issue stems from a personality conflict or administrative direction. Council Member O’Dain asked for more specifics from the senior‑center membership so the council and staff can address distinct complaints.
City staff and council members said they would continue working with senior‑center leadership and administration to clarify policies and investigate the claims. Several members urged an in‑person meeting between commission leadership and the coordinator as a first step.
Votes at a glance: The meeting opened with routine actions that were approved by voice vote: the minutes from the regular city council meeting of Sept. 9, 2025 (approved), the consent agenda (approved) and a motion to adjourn (approved). The transcript records the motions passing by voice (“Aye… Carries”) but does not list mover/second names or individual tallies.
