Loretta Stanaway reported results from the Friends of Lansing’s Historic Cemeteries’ silent auction and raised two operational concerns to the council on Jan. 6: the city phone system’s lack of caller identification by staff desk and an apparent gap in the affidavit-of-disclosure process for police officers who are promoted.

Stanaway said the silent-auction lot for time inside Ariel’s Mausoleum raised $1,000. She also described difficulty reaching city staff through the phone system because messages do not indicate the desk or person reached, which complicates follow-up when callers do not know whether a number still reaches a particular staff member. Finally, she suggested the city require employees, including police officers, to refile or update affidavits of disclosure when they are promoted to ensure records remain current.

Why it matters: Clear phone routing and up-to-date disclosure records affect transparency and the public’s ability to reach and hold city staff accountable. The auction result is a community fundraising note shared during public comment.