Westland City Council appoints Shannon Inman as city clerk, approves multiple purchases and $10,000 ARPA grant for local food pantry

The Westland City Council voted to appoint Deputy Clerk Shannon Inman to fill the unexpired term of former City Clerk Richard LeBlanc and approved a series of procurement and funding items during its July 23 meeting.

The council adopted the appointment of Shannon Inman by acclamation to serve as city clerk through certification of the November 2, 2027 general election. During the roll call on the acclamation vote, all members present voted yes; one member, Councilman Hart, was recorded as absent and excused.

Council members then considered several items that had been on the consent calendar and other purchases moved to the business agenda. Item 2a (formerly consent item g) approved an agreement with Bill and Rods to supply, deliver and install appliances required to outfit Fire Station No. 2 for a total amount not to exceed $22,266. A resident had asked why the city purchased appliances from a Livonia business rather than a Westland vendor; the deputy chief explained the city solicited three quotes, and the Bill and Rods package was the lowest bid and included delivery and installation that other quotes did not. "We had three quotes ... and this ended up being the lowest bid," the deputy chief said.

The council approved a number of other capital and equipment purchases and renewals, including: a replacement skid-steer trailer from Michigan Cat (amount not to exceed $18,440.46); a two-year professional-services agreement with Nye Hart for the Finance Department ($15,100 per year); a Cityworks workflow management license renewal effective Nov. 15, 2025, through Nov. 14, 2030 (annual cost recorded in the record at about $107,800); cybersecurity and records-software renewals; and several Department of Public Services vehicle chassis, dump bodies, plow packages and sewer-repair equipment with amounts recorded on the agenda ranging from roughly $65,321 to $133,130 depending on the item. These purchases were presented as capital-improvement fund items aligned with previously adopted budget allocations.

The council also adopted revised council policies and procedures after committee review. Council members who served on the rules committee described the policy updates as adjustments to timing and First Amendment–related language; other council members criticized the length of time the review took. "I find it very disappointing that it has taken until 2025 to make any changes to our policies and procedures," Councilwoman Castillo said during debate.

On a contested vote, the council approved a prepared resolution authorizing the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support Elmwood Blessing Box programming in an amount not to exceed $10,000. The council roll call for that item recorded Councilwoman Emily Baumann voting no; all other members present voted yes and the motion passed. Several council members and the pantry's CEO, Elizabeth Freeman, described the pantry as a seven‑day‑a‑week operation that had rapidly served large numbers of residents since opening in Westland; Freeman said the pantry had already assisted hundreds of families in the first days after opening.

Other public comments and council business included questions about the city's digital-sign policy for neighborhood groups, a resident's suggestion about reviewing civil‑defense plans, and several council-member announcements about upcoming community events and programs.

The meeting record shows most procurement motions passed by voice or roll call with no recorded dissent; when residents asked why vendors from outside Westland were used, staff said the city followed competitive-quote or state-contract procedures and selected the lowest responsive bidder when appropriate. The council adjourned after the scheduled agenda items.

Votes at a glance

- Appointment of Shannon Inman as city clerk — Adopted by acclamation; roll call: all present voted yes, Councilman Hart absent/excused. - Agreement with Bill and Rods for appliances for Fire Station No. 2 — Approved; amount not to exceed $22,266; motion passed (no roll-call dissent recorded). - ARPA allocation to Elmwood Blessing Box — Approved; amount not to exceed $10,000; roll call: Yes 6, No 1 (Councilwoman Emily Baumann voted no), Absent 1 (Councilman Hart). - Multiple capital/equipment procurements (various vendors) — Approved; amounts listed on the agenda included: skid-steer trailer $18,440.46; Cityworks subscription ~ $107,800/year (11/15/2025–11/14/2030); dump‑box replacement $91,938; Freightliner chassis $122,326; plow package $133,130; 1‑ton chassis $65,321; additional sewer and jet equipment (vendors: Emtek, Frederickson Supply, Truck & Trailer Specialties). (All motions recorded as passed.) - Adoption of amended council policies and procedures — Approved; motion passed.

The council did not create new ordinances at this meeting. Several items noted as consent-calendar approvals were passed together as listed on the agenda, and multiple line-item purchases were described as already budgeted in the city's capital-improvement allocations.