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Council amends MSB contract to keep WLND staff, sparks heated debate over oversight
Summary
Westland City Council approved an amended agreement with the Municipal Service Bureau (MSB) to transfer WLND/community media services to MSB while adding conditions intended to protect four current staff and to increase council access to programming; the vote followed extensive public and council debate about process and oversight.
The Westland City Council on Monday approved an amended agreement moving the city’s community media operation (WLND) under the Municipal Service Bureau, with new language intended to retain the four people currently providing WLND services and to clarify supervision and council access to programming.
Councilwoman Roseanne Sampey led the motion to add amendments that require MSB to keep the four current full‑time staff with benefits, to direct MSB personnel by a city‑appointed director or that director’s designee while a permanent communications director is hired, and to institute background checks and minimum programming commitments. After several procedural votes and an hours‑long exchange among council members and the mayor’s office, council approved the amended agreement by roll call.
The council’s amendments were motivated in part by concerns that WLND lacked a director after two recent staff deaths and that council…
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