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Council delays Hurley board appointments amid dispute and ethics-board escrow notice
Summary
Council postponed multiple Hurley Hospital board appointments and a street vacation hearing; the City’s Ethics and Accountability Board notified council it would escrow pay if the council failed to fill a vacant 3rd‑ward seat.
Flint — A series of council actions on appointments and a public dispute with the Ethics and Accountability Board (EAB) marked the meeting as members postponed several hospital board nominations and a planned public hearing.
The council considered motions related to Hurley Medical Center board appointments and other personnel actions. A motion to reconsider Resolution 250008 (an appointment to the Hurley Board of Managers) failed on a 4–3 vote, recorded as 4 yes, 3 no. Later, multiple appointments that had been presented by administration were postponed to the council’s next meeting at the administration’s request: Resolution 250006 (an appointment of Phyllis Schultz to the Hurley Board) was postponed to the next meeting by a 7–0 vote; Resolution 250007 (appointment of Dr. Khalid Mohammed) was postponed by roll call 6–0; and a vacation of Robert Street (Resolution 240341.1) was postponed to Feb. 10, 2025, so the public hearing can be held.
The postponements came as members of the public and the EAB pressed the council on filling a vacant 3rd‑ward seat. Joe King, chair of the Ethics and Accountability Board, read a written determination and notice that the EAB had twice notified the council in writing about a failure to fill the vacancy and — after a January 23, 2025 determination that the council remained out of compliance — directed that council members’ compensation be placed in escrow with the city treasurer if the council did not comply by Jan. 27, 2025. King read portions of the EAB’s letter into the record during public comment.
Residents and community leaders also addressed the council on related governance questions. Linda Polley urged council to appoint an interim replacement for the 3rd ward seat until the August election, saying constituents are being deprived of representation. Rich Jones delivered a petition seeking public acknowledgement and a release of information related to the November 2, 2024 death of a 17‑year‑old (the petitioner identified the family and requested bodycam footage and an impartial investigation). Several speakers also criticized council conduct and urged faster action on appointments.
In the appointment debate, Phyllis Schultz — one of the nominees — spoke to her record and service; other council members praised her work and urged the council to support appointments in the future. Council members said they postponed the items at the administration’s request and that nominees continue to serve until they are formally replaced in accordance with the charter.
No final appointments to the Hurley board were confirmed at the meeting. Council members said they would revisit the items at the next council meeting and that the clerk would distribute the list of requested information and any administration clarifications before that session.
