Dearborn Heights council withholds selected claims and pauses payments to law firms amid dispute with administration

The council’s claims and payments docket became a focal point on Sept. 9 as members debated unpaid invoices, the mayor’s refusal to sign certain checks and the city’s potential liability.

Councilman Hassan Saab moved to remove specific claim line items from the payment list — including several legal invoices — citing lack of backup and concerns that some firms had not been paid while others had. The motion included removing items 19, 31–33, 35, 44 and 51 from the claims list pending further review; later, after broader debate, the council approved a motion to withhold certain payments to law firms until the body can ensure equitable payments across firms. The roll call for the larger action passed 5–1.

Administration warned the body about audit and liability exposure: Chief of Staff Mariana Hernandez said roughly $123,000 in invoices are more than 90 days overdue and that auditors will flag unpaid prior‑fiscal‑year obligations. Legal counsel and several council members described the mayor’s refusal to sign checks as a policy refusal and said the council could consider legal remedies; outside counsel explained that a writ to compel the mayor to sign checks could be difficult while parallel federal litigation and injunctions exist.

Council members who supported withholding said the move is a way to compel fairness and ensure all law firms with valid, council‑approved contracts are paid. Opponents warned that withholding payments risks further litigation and could hurt the city’s ability to secure legal advice.

What’s next: Administration was asked to compile and circulate complete backup for the claims removed, to reconcile unpaid invoices older than 90 days, and to advise council on legal exposure and options to resolve the backlog.