Detroit committee advances Neighborhood Opportunity Fund awards after ethics guidance prompts recusals; education category held

The Detroit City Council Development Standing Committee continued deliberations on Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) recommendations during a virtual meeting, advancing most funding categories while ethics guidance prompted recusals and held the education slate for more information.

Committee leadership and city staff told members they had received last-minute guidance from the law department and the Board of Ethics about potential conflicts of interest tied to family relationships and board service at applicant organizations. Marcel Todd, director of the planning commission’s legislative policy division, told the committee that “the conflict of interest issues that were raised yesterday must be addressed, before your honorable body goes any farther,” noting city attorneys and Board of Ethics staff had been consulted.

Why it matters: NOF distributes federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars for neighborhood programs and services. Advice from the Board of Ethics and the law department can trigger the need for additional disclosures or a waiver from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Those steps can delay or change who can vote on award approvals and — if not handled correctly — risk federal funding.

Board of Ethics and law-department guidance

Crystal Phil…