[I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]
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GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. AND AT THIS TIME WE ARE GOING TO, WE HAVE A PRETTY HEAVY AGENDA TONIGHT. LET'S SEE, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE, MADAM. CITY CLERK. COUNCIL MEMBER HAMMOND PRESENT AND ALSO MADAM CITY CLERK, IF YOU COULD DOCUMENT FOR THE RECORD, MY WARD EIGHT COUNCIL MEMBER, FRIEDLI IS ON FEDERAL DEPLOYMENT AND HAS BEEN EXCUSED BY THE MAYOR FOR HIS UPCOMING ABSENCES. COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WASN'T AN OFFICIAL. EXCUSE. I DON'T. CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? COUNCIL.
MADAM. CITY CLERK, COUNCIL MEMBER FREHLEY WILL NOT BE IN ATTENDANCE AND I AM AWARE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS, PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER ZIEGLER. COUNCIL MEMBER.
CUMMINGS. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. MITCHELL. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. CALDWELL.
PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. MARTIN. ROGERS. MAYOR CHAPMAN, WE HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU. AND TONIGHT'S INVOCATION WILL BE DONE BY REVEREND CATHERINE SHARPE FROM VICTORY BAPTIST CHURCH. AND, AFTER THAT, WE'LL HAVE THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG AND THE. OKAY. WE'LL HAVE THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG. THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND. MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD EVENING.
I GREET YOU IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GOD THAT CREATED THE HEAVENS AND EARTH. LET US PRAY.
FATHER GOD, WE COME THIS EVENING THANKING YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE. WE PRAY, OH GOD, THAT. AND WE ASK FOR YOUR WISDOM AS WE SIT IN THIS MEETING TODAY. LORD, LEAD AND GUIDE EACH MEMBER. LET YOUR SPIRIT REST HERE THIS EVENING AND WE GIVE YOU ALL THE GLORY, ALL THE HONOR AND THE PRAISE. WE BLESS YOUR HOLY NAME. ON THIS EVENING, LORD GOD, WE PRAY AND ASK THAT YOU HAVE YOUR WAY. WE BLESS YOU. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AMEN. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND TONIGHT'S SERGEANT OF ARMS IS LIEUTENANT
[V. ANNOUNCEMENT OF SERGEANT-AT-ARMS - Lt. Farmer]
FARMER. THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT FARMER, FOR YOUR YOUR SERVICE. AND NOW WE WILL HAVE THE, MOVE[VI. ADOPTION OF THE COUNCIL AGENDA]
FORWARD TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION AGENDA? SORRY, MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. SECOND. OKAY, OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.ALL THOSE OPPOSED, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. AND NEXT WE WILL MOVE TO THE APPROVAL OF
[VII. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES]
THE CITY COUNCIL. MINUTES FOR, IT SAYS HERE THE SPECIAL CALL MEETING ON JULY 16TH AND THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING FOR JULY 20TH. WE HAVE TWO SO MOVED. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. SO NOW WE WILL HAVE DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR TODAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT[IX. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
SECTION. THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE AGENDA. THE CITY CLERK SHALL MAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, FROM FORM AVAILABLE IN THE CITY HALL LOBBY PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING. ALL SPEAKERS MUST COMPLETE A COMMENT FORM AND PROVIDE A COMPLETED COMMENT FORM TO THE CITY CLERK BY 6 P.M. THROUGH 6:25 P.M. PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING. SUBJECTS MAY INCLUDE ANY SUBJECT OF CHOICE. THERE WILL BE THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR EACH SPEAKER. SHOULD THE SPEAKER DESIRE TO GIVE HIS OR HER TIME TO A SPEAKER, HE OR[00:05:02]
SHE MAY DO SO, NOTATING WHICH SPEAKER SHALL RECEIVE THE TIME ON HIS OR HER COMMENT FORM, PROVIDED THAT THE SPEAKER GIVE, PROVIDED THAT THE SPEAKER, GIVEN HIS OR HER FORM, THAT HE OR SHE GIVES ALL OR PART OF HER TIME UP TO THREE MINUTES OR TO, TO ANOTHER SPEAKER FOR A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES PER SPEAKING TIME. SPEAKERS MAY ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ONLY DURING THE TIME OF THE AGENDA. TIME OF THE AGENDA. SPEAKERS MAY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES IN THEIR ADDRESS.PRIOR TO THIS, PRIOR TO SPEAKING, QUESTIONS FROM THE SPEAKER MAY NOT BE ADDRESSED DURING THE PUBLIC SPEAKING SECTION OF THE AGENDA. EASTPOINTE RESIDENTS HAVE PRIORITY OVER THE SPEAKERS. THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF TOTAL OF NOT MORE THAN 60 MINUTES FOR THE PUBLIC SPEAKING SECTION OF THE AGENDA. SPEAKERS MAY ALSO ADDRESS THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
SPEAKERS SHALL OBSERVE ALL RULES IN DECORUM. NO DEBATE, DISRESPECT OR OBSCENITY SHALL BE TOLERATED. THE PRESIDING OFFICER SHALL RULE ANY SUCH INDIVIDUALS OUT OF ORDER THAT FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING. MADAM CITY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS THIS EVENING? YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE SEVEN SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. FIRST WE HAVE MISS MARIE TERRY, AND SHE HAD TIME GIVEN TO HER BY MR. ERIC BROOKS. SO SHE'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. AND RESIDENTS OF EASTPOINTE. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT WHEN WHEN RESIDENTS COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, THAT YOU LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS WE RAISED AND NOT MAKE OUR PARTICIPATION PERSONAL, EVERY RESIDENT HAS THE RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THE ISSUES AFFECTING OUR CITY WITHOUT DISCUSSIONS BECOMING ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL INSTEAD OF THE ISSUES. THE PEOPLE ELECTED YOU TO GOVERN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO FOLLOW THE CITY CHARTER, PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF THE CITY FINANCES, PROTECT TAXPAYERS DOLLARS, AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL RESIDENTS. TODAY, THE ISSUE BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS THE CITY BUDGET. THE RESIDENTS ARE ASKING YOU TO WORK TOGETHER, ATTEND YOUR MEETINGS, REACH A QUORUM, REVIEW THE BUDGET CAREFULLY, MAKE ANY NECESSARY CORRECTION TO THE LINE ITEMS, AND FINALIZE A BUDGET THAT WILL REFLECT THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. PERSONAL DISAGREEMENTS SHOULD NEVER INTERFERE WITH THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE. LEADERSHIP MEANS PUTTING THE INTERESTS OF EASTPOINTE AHEAD OF POLITICS, PERSONALITIES AND THE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. I ASK EACH EACH OF YOU TO FULFILL THE DUTIES YOU WERE ELECTED TO PERFORM. WORK TOGETHER AS ONE GOVERNING BODY AND MOVE EASTPOINTE FORWARD. THE PEOPLE ARE COUNTING ON YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS CITY. MOSTLY EVERYONE IS LOOKING DOWN. NO ONE IS LOOKING FORWARD. I NEED YOU GUYS TO HEAR ME WHEN I TALK. I REALLY NEED YOU GUYS TO GET THIS, I REALLY DO, AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO FOCUS ON THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE AND FOLLOW THE CHARTER. THE CHARTER ACTUALLY GOVERNS THIS CITY. IT ACTUALLY DOES COMPLETE THE BUDGET AND GIVE THE RESIDENTS THE GOVERNMENT THAT THEY DESERVE. AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT ALL POWER IS BEHIND ME. ALL THE POWER SITS IN THOSE SEATS, ALL THE RESIDENTS. SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO APPOINT SOMEBODY AS A COMMISSION TO THE BOARD, MAKE SURE YOU GUYS FOLLOW THE CHARTER WHEN YOU APPOINT THEM. IF THEY HAVE ANY TYPE OF BUSINESS WITH THE CITY THAT YOU APPOINT, THAT'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE CHARTER, YOU BETTER READ YOUR CHARTER. AND THEN AGAIN, IF THIS BODY IS NOT THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TO COMFORT US, THE SENIORS, Y'ALL KNOW WE GOT SCHOOL CLOSING. WE DON'T HAVE NO BUSINESSES, THEN YOU GUYS DO NEED TO REMOVE THE CITY MANAGER. IF YOU CANNOT GET THAT BUDGET RIGHT. I STAND ON THAT. AND I'M A RESIDENT OF THIS CITY AND I'M NOT RUNNING FOR OFFICE. I AM A RESIDENT. I PAY MY TAXES. AND ONE THING I CAN SAY TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS. THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS NOT A TOY TO PLAY WITH. SO WHEN I LEAVE THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT, I'M LEAVING AS A RESIDENT, NOT AS SOMEBODY TO BE DEFINED OR TALKED ABOUT. SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. REALLY, REALLY.
THIS IS A BUSINESS RIGHT NOW AND WE PAY YOU TO DO THE JOB. I DON'T PAY YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE
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RESIDENTS, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF Y'ALL LEAVE YOUR PERSONAL BUSINESS AT HOME AND DON'T BRING IT TO THIS, THE CITY COUNCIL AND LEAVE THE RESIDENTS ALONE AND DO YOUR JOB.I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AGAIN, THE POWER LIES BEHIND, NOT IN FRONT. DO YOUR JOB. AND IF THAT BUDGET IS NOT RIGHT, Y'ALL KNOW WHAT YOUR NEXT STEP IS. I'M PUSHING. I WANT YOU GUYS TO PUSH FORWARD AND MAKE SURE THIS BUDGET IS RIGHT. IF THAT CITY MANAGER CANNOT DO THAT BUDGET, PLEASE FOLLOW YOUR CHARTER. THANK YOU. UP NEXT, WE HAVE ALICIA HENSON. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. I AM A NEW RESIDENT. I JUST MOVED IN IN JULY, LATE JULY, AND I HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE FROM THE TIME I GOT HERE UNTIL I ACTUALLY GOT MY KEYS. I DROVE OVER WITH FAMILY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA 4.5 HOURS EARLY THAT MORNING. SO I ARRIVED AROUND TEN AND I WAS READY TO SET UP MY UTILITIES BECAUSE MY LANDLORD SAID THAT IT HAD TO BE DONE IN PERSON. I LOOKED UP THE REVIEWS AND GOOGLE HAS A COMPLAINT THAT'S AS OLD AS EIGHT YEARS AGO OF SOMEONE HAVING THE SAME COMPLAINT THAT I HAVE TODAY, SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS ADDRESSED IT YET IN PERSON, BUT I AM HERE TO, REQUEST AND ENCOURAGE DEMAND. I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT LANDS, BUT THE REQUIREMENT OF HAVING IN-PERSON SERVICE FOR UTILITY SETUP IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING, ESPECIALLY IN 2026. I SUBMITTED MY PETITION AND TASHA LARD REPLIED THE NEXT DAY. I APPRECIATE HER WHEREVER SHE IS, AND SHE AGREED THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME UPDATES MADE TO THE SYSTEM. I REGISTERED WITH GAS SOUTH ORIGINALLY BY ACCIDENT, AND I HAD TO CLOSE MY GAS SOUTH ACCOUNT, BUT I REALIZED IF I CAN REGISTER FOR THE WRONG COMPANY ONLINE, I HAVE TO COME IN PERSON FOR THE RIGHT COMPANY. AND THE DAY THAT I GOT HERE, I COULDN'T EVEN GET EVERYTHING DONE BECAUSE THE SYSTEM WAS DOWN. AND IN THE COMMENTS AND GOOGLE, PEOPLE SAY THE SYSTEM IS DOWN. SO I FINALLY CAME BACK. THE SYSTEM WAS UP, AND THEN I COULD SHOW MY LANDLORD THAT I HAD A UTILITY IN MY NAME. FIVE HOURS LATER, THANKFULLY, MY FAMILY WAS WITH ME AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY MOVERS, BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE SOMEONE HAVING TO TAKE TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO COME IN PERSON, WAIT THEIR TURN, GET AN ACCOUNT NUMBER, WAIT FOR ALL THE FILES TO BE UP LIKE THIS. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT Y'ALL DID DURING COVID, BUT I'M VERY SHOCKED THAT THIS IS STILL A THING RIGHT NOW. SO I'M MOVED IN. I'M GOOD. ASIDE FROM THAT, I'M ENJOYING IT. I LOVE THE AREA, BUT I CARE SO MUCH. AND I WAS INCONVENIENCED SO MUCH. I HAD TO COME IN PERSON AND SAY, PLEASE FIX THIS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE MOVING HERE.
TO HAVE TO ADD TO YOUR GOOGLE REVIEWS. THAT'S. UP NEXT WE HAVE VINCENT CALLENDER. MADAM CITY CLERK. CAN YOU ALSO LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS HAS, CAME TO THE MEETING? THANK YOU. I ACTUALLY HAVE HER AND COUNCIL MEMBER ZIEGLER. OH, I DIDN'T SEE. I'M SORRY, COUNCILWOMAN ZIEGLER. GOOD EVENING. VINCENT. CALENDAR, 1877 IDLEWOOD DRIVE.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE YOUNG LADIES THAT ARE HERE TODAY AS AN EDUCATOR WHO IS CELEBRATING, THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE OUR STUDENTS SUCCEED, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. I'VE BEEN DISHEARTENED FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN FROM THE ACTION OF COUNCIL OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS. ON TOP OF THAT, I FELT THAT THURSDAY'S MEETING CALL WAS A, A STUNT. SO, THE ACTIONS OF THE COUNCIL, CAUSED ME GREAT CONCERNS BECAUSE IT COMES ACROSS AS YOU ALL AS BEING UNPREPARED, HAVING PERSONAL VENDETTAS, AND DEMONSTRATES A LEVEL OF INTRANSIGENCE THAT WILL HARM US ALL. I HAVE SEEN MEMBERS MAKE FALSE CLAIMS TOWARDS THE CITY MANAGER. THAT INCLUDES INCREASING CITY'S PAY.
THE CITY COUNCIL'S PAY FOR FILLING, UNAPPROVED ROLES AND INCREASING HIS SALARY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THOSE ARE ALL SHOWN NOT TO BE TRUE. YOU DEMAND OF HIS FIRING FOR NOT DELIVERING ON AN UPDATE ON LINE ITEM BUDGET, DESPITE THE FACT THERE WAS NO DEADLINE ASSOCIATED TO THAT DIRECTIVE. AND ACTUALLY, IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF FINANCE WAS WORKING ON THAT LINE ITEM BUDGET. BUT ALSO THE PROBLEM WITH IT, WITH THE BUDGETARY PROCESS, WHICH I'M FAMILIAR WITH, IS THAT YOU DO NOT ASK FOR A LINE ITEM BUDGET 15 DAYS PRIOR BEFORE A BUDGET IS DUE. THE PROCESS TAKES TOO LONG TO DO, ESPECIALLY THE SIZE AND THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT YOU HAVE WITHIN THE CITY. IF YOU HAVE HELD YOURSELF TO SOME OF
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YOU HAVE HELD YOURSELF TO THE LEVEL THAT YOU WANT TO HOLD THE CITY MANAGER, YOU YOURSELF WILL BE FIRED BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE, YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DELIVER ON A DIRECTIVE OF PASSING THE BUDGET BY A GIVEN DEADLINE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PASS A BUDGET. IT'S TRUE THAT THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE WANT TO PROVIDE, WHICH WE SHOULD PROVIDE, BUT WE HAVE TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WERE PROVIDED WERE GIVEN TO US BY THE SUPPORT OF COVID FUNDS THAT DO NOT EXIST ANYMORE. THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE THE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO OFFER ALL THESE SERVICES TO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE WHO WE KNOW ARE IN NEED. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY WORKS TOGETHER, THAT YOU ALL WORK TOGETHER TO DELIVER ON PASSING THE BUDGET. IF IF YOU ARE ABLE TO DO THIS, WE WILL ABLE TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALL ALSO WORK TOGETHER TO WORK ON THE ISSUES THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS OUTLINED REGARDING THE QUAGMIRE OF OUR FINANCES. WE MUST CLEAN UP THE FINANCES IN ORDER FOR OUR CITY TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. AND OUR FAILURE TO DO OUR WORK AS DEMANDED OF YOU ALL WILL CONTINUE TO PUT A STAIN ON OUR CITIES THAT LOOK LIKE US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UP NEXT, WE HAVE MISS CHERYL WOODRUFF AND MISS NESSA HALL GAVE HER MINUTES TO HER, SO SHE'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AS PART OF MY TIME TONIGHT. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. INSTEAD OF ME TRYING TO SPEAK AND SHOW TELL YOU ALL HOW DIRE MY SITUATION IS, I BROUGHT A VIDEO. I'VE HAD. I'VE HAD IT CUT. IT'S 60, ACTUALLY 16 MINUTES LONG. HOW LONG? I STOOD IN THE WATER THAT NIGHT, THAT EVENING AND THE STORM TRYING TO GET SOME RECOGNITION. SO YOU ALL CAN SEE HOW WHAT I'M REALLY WAS GOING THROUGH. SO I LET HIM START THE VIDEO AND I'LL LET YOU ALL WATCH. I DON'T WANT TO AT ONE TIME. OKAY. OKAY. WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? THE RAIN IS HAVING A HARD. RESPECT.ANYWHERE FROM THREE THREE INCHES OF MORE RAIN. IT ALL THE RAIN TRYING TO MAKE IT DOWN TO THAT ONE PIPE. YOU CAN, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT HAS OVERCOME THE LOW FLOODS, THE LOW AREA WHERE THE PIPE IS, WHICH IS RIGHT THERE WHERE THOSE TWO TREES, THAT PIPE IS RIGHT THERE BY THOSE TREES. IT'S COMPLETELY FILL THAT UP. THIS IS UP THE STREET COMING FROM DOWN THE STREET. THAT'S MY MAILBOX TO THE SIDE ALL THROUGH THERE. THAT'S MY BACK DOOR. YOU CAN'T SEE IT THROUGH THERE WHERE THE WATER ACTUALLY, THAT'S ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS HOUSE. IN THE CARS WHICH WERE COMING THROUGH THE WATER. SO WE WAS TRYING TO ALLEVIATE THAT. I WAS OUT THERE, MY HUSBAND STANDING THERE, THAT'S THE LADY HOUSE THAT'S UP ON THE HILL. THAT'S THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. THAT'S THE WATER DRAIN WHERE MY HOUSE IS RIGHT THERE, AND THE WATER IS GOING INTO MY HOUSE. I ENDED UP FULL FIVE FEET OF WATER IN THE HOUSE. JUST FROM THAT RAIN ALONE. WE HAD RAIN COMING AFTER THAT. ALL THAT'S THE SIDE OF MY HOUSE, AND WATER COMING DOWN THE STREET. ALL THE AREAS I, I'M TRYING TO JUST TRYING TO JUST GET IT TO LET YOU ALL SEE.
EXACTLY. THAT'S ALL THAT IS. IT'S LIKE A RIVER. THAT'S THE FRONT OF MY HOUSE. AND THAT WATER IS COMING DOWN FROM DOWN, UP, DOWN THE HILL FROM FROM THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD, FROM THE BACK STREET. ALL THAT WATER IS COMING TOWARD OUR HOUSE. COMING IS NO WAY TO CONTAIN IT. THAT'S MY HOME. YOU CAN SEE OUR CARS ON THE PARKING PAD, ALL OTHER CARS IN THE WATER. I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT TO THE BACKYARD SO ALL Y'ALL CAN COULD GET US. SEE FROM THE STREET FROM FROM THE BACK SIDE OF THE STREET. THE STREET BEHIND ME WHERE THEY BUILT BROKE IN. THIS IS THE NEIGHBOR TO THE LEFT OF ME. THERE'S AN EASEMENT RIGHT THERE BY THAT SMALL BUSH WITH THAT WATER SUPPOSED TO BE GOING THROUGH, BUT THEY IT HAS OVERTAKEN THEIR YARD. SO ALL
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THIS WATER HAS JUST SURROUNDED MY HOUSE, COMING INTO MY HOUSE. THEN I, I JUST KEPT VIDEOING AS WE, WE WILL GET TO SEE FROM THE BACK END OF THE HOUSE, HOW MUCH WATER. ONE NEIGHBOR RAN OUT OF HER HOUSE, LAID ON THE HILL BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WAS GETTING WATER, BUT SHE TOOK OFF RUNNING TO THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET. I'M, I'M OUTSTANDING IN ALL THIS MUDDY WATER. THIS IS FROM THE NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR. ALL THE WATER COMING FROM THAT BACK STREET. I WAS TRYING TO GET TO GET THEM TO GET THEY'LL HAVE THE BACK PART SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE THAT WATER IS COMING FROM. THE STREET BEHIND ME. IN THE VERY BACK. I WENT ALL THROUGH THE WOODS SO YOU ALL COULD ACTUALLY GET A, A SIGHT OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAY THE WATER IS COMING FROM THE BACK, FROM OFF THAT BACK STREET WHERE YOU BUILT THAT HOUSE, IT WAS NOWHERE FOR THE WATER TO GO. WHEN THEY BUILT THOSE TWO HOUSES UP ON THE, ON THE SAME SIDE THAT I. MY HOUSE IS ABOUT THREE HOUSES. TWO OF THEM ARE BUILT, NEW HOMES ARE BUILT THERE. THEY BROKE THAT GROUND. MUDDY WATER STARTED TO RUN EVERY TIME IT RAINED UNTIL THEY FINISHED BUILDING THAT HOUSE. IT WAS MUD ALL OVER. THIS ONE, I WAS OUT THERE FOR 16 MINUTES ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE VIDEO ALONE. THIS IS FEW DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, AROUND 2017, AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON MANY YEARS BEFORE THEN. BEFORE IT EVEN GOT THAT BAD, I HAD ALREADY COME TO THE CITY TO LET THEM KNOW THE STORM WATER HAS NOWHERE TO GO, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE FOLLOWED UP ON ANYTHING THAT I'VE SAID FOR AS HOW THAT PIECE, THAT HOUSE GOT THERE. YOU CAN SEE IT. IT'S, IT'S JUST NOT LIVABLE. IT'S IT'S, IT'S LIKE A SWAMP NOW.IT'S DANGEROUS. I'M GETTING COLDS FROM THE CITY COLD DEPARTMENT. THE HOUSE IS JUST, IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO DO WHATEVER THEY SAY TO TRY TO KEEP MYSELF BECAUSE THAT'S THE TYPE OF PERSON I AM. THEY CAME BY AND STUCK ON THE DOOR THE OTHER DAY. THEY WANT THE. ONE OF THE GUTTERS WERE HANGING. I WILL HAVE THAT TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE I DO ABIDE BY THE LAW. I WON'T BREAK THE LAW. IF THEY SAY THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT, THAT'S WHAT I'LL DO. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WANT YOU ALL TO JUST, JUST, JUST VISUALIZE. A FEW DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WE COULDN'T PUT OUT ANY DECORATIONS THAT YEAR. AND THEN HERE COME THE RAIN COMING FROM ALL OVER, JUST COMING IN. EVERYBODY. THE LADY ACROSS THE YARD, HER YARD FULL OF WATER, ALL THE ALL THE NEIGHBOR'S YARDS ARE FULL OF WATER. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE MISS KENDALL PHILLIPS. HELLO, COUNCIL. I AM KENDALL PHILLIPS AND I AM A WARD, A RESIDENT. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, I'VE BEEN ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS AND I'VE HEARD ONE THING AND LEARNED ONE THING THAT FEELINGS DON'T MATTER. SO WE'RE DEALING WITH DOCUMENTATION RIGHT NOW. I BROUGHT SOME DOCUMENTATION HERE. I'VE STOOD BEHIND THIS PODIUM BEFORE AND I'VE SENT ALL OF YOU GUYS EMAILS SIMULTANEOUSLY LETTING YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT THE OPEN RECORDS THAT I RECEIVED AND ASKING FOR SOME ANSWERS. HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS RED SPEED AND THIS SCHOOL ZONE CAMERAS? I WAS GETTING TICKETS OFTEN AND EVERYBODY WHO LIVES AROUND ME, DOCTOR HEMMING, THANK YOU FOR REACHING OUT TO CHIEF AND THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, GIVING THEM ONE MONTH TO GET BACK TO ME WITH ANSWERS. AND THAT WAS JULY 1ST. IT'S AUGUST 1ST. STILL NO ANSWERS. FISCAL YEAR 2026. THE BUDGET SAID THAT THERE WAS A $15,000 REVENUE FOR RED SPEED. I ASKED OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, ELIZABETH CARTWRIGHT. MAY 16TH, 2026. WHAT I READ
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SPEED OF REVENUE WAS, AND SHE STATED IT WAS 183 000 TODAY, DURING OPEN RECORDS REQUEST, I FOUND OUT THAT THE RED SPEED FUND HAD $266,000 IN IT. I PUSHED FURTHER, FOUND OUT THAT OPEN RECORDS REQUEST FROM JUNE 21ST, FROM 2025 TO. MARCH 2026, RED SPEED HAS GENERATED $683,000. WE COMING UP HERE EVERY WEEK AND EVERYBODY'S SAYING WE NEED THESE THINGS.WHERE IS THE MONEY? WHERE'S THE MONEY? I'M SAYING, IS THIS MONEY THAT WE CAN USE FOR OUR SENIORS, FOR THIS FLOODING, FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE SUFFERING WITH EVERY DAY? HOW MANY TIMES DOES A RESIDENT HAVE TO COME UP HERE BEFORE YOU GET AN ANSWER? I MEAN, SHE'S BRINGING DOCUMENTS. I'M BRINGING YOU GUYS DOCUMENTS AND I STILL CAN'T GET AN ANSWER.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. DO WE HAVE $1 MILLION IN RED SPEED? TICKETS OR NOT? THAT'S MY QUESTION. NEXT WE HAVE MEGAN MIDDLETON. SORRY. MAKE SURE I DO THAT RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MEGAN MIDDLETON. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AT THE ATLANTA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK, WHICH IS LOCATED HERE IN EASTPOINTE. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. LAST FALL, COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL INVITED ME HERE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, GIVE YOU ALL SOME INFORMATION ON SOME OF THE DISTRIBUTION NUMBERS WE WERE SEEING AT THE TIME. BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A NEW MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S A NEW YEAR. SO I WANTED TO COME BACK AND JUST REINTRODUCE MYSELF. I KNOW SOME OF YOU WERE ABLE TO ATTEND OUR EGG DONATION EVENT. HOWEVER, I WAS ACTUALLY TRAVELING ON BUSINESS, SO I DIDN'T MEET SOME OF THE NEW MEMBERS AND JUST APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO AND WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM HERE AS A RESOURCE, AS IS THE ATLANTA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK.
SO THANK YOU ALL. LASTLY, WE HAVE STEPHANIE GORDON AND SHE HAD TIME GIVEN TO HER BY KEVIN ARNOLD. SO SHE'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
STEPHANIE GORDON 4564 PARKWAY CIRCLE. I AM HERE THIS EVENING TO ADDRESS THE CIRCUMSTANCES REGARDING COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMINGS APPOINTMENT OF MR. TAYLOR TO THE ETHICS BOARD.
BRIEFLY, A TIMELINE OF THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT OCCURRED EARLIER THIS YEAR. ON FEBRUARY 4TH, COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMING CONTACTED THE CITY ATTORNEY TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING MR. TAYLOR'S ELIGIBILITY TO THAT BOARD. THE CITY ATTORNEY RESPONDED SAME DAY, ADVISING THAT MR. TAYLOR HAD CONFLICTING INTERESTS DUE TO TWO PREVIOUSLY FILED ETHICS COMPLAINTS AND THEIR PENDING STATUS, STATING THAT THEY BOTH OCCURRED WITHIN THE ONE YEAR TIME FRAME OF CONSIDERATION FOR HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD. COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMING THEN SENT THAT VERY EMAIL FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY TO MR. TAYLOR THAT SAME EVENING. THE NEXT DAY, FEBRUARY 5TH, COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMING CONTACTED THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE WITH ESSENTIALLY A REPRIMAND THAT SHE NEEDED TO ADHERE TO THE CITY CHARTER IN MAKING SURE THAT MR. TAYLOR'S HEARINGS WERE TO BE SCHEDULED PROMPTLY. PLEASE NOTE AT THIS POINT THAT IS INTERFERENCE WITH OPERATIONS. THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SCHEDULING OF HEARINGS.
ONCE SHE RELAYS THE ETHICS COMPLAINTS OVER TO THE ETHICS BOARD AND THAT RESPECTIVE ATTORNEY, SHE IS DONE. THAT IS A VIOLATION OF THE CHARTER MOVING FORWARD. FEBRUARY 17TH.
COUNCILMEMBER HEMMING THEN PROCEEDED TO APPOINT MR. TAYLOR TO THE ETHICS BOARD. SHE DID NOT DISCLOSE, AND I DID WATCH THE VIDEO OF FEBRUARY 17TH. SHE DID NOT DISCLOSE TO THE FULL BODY OF COUNCIL THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY PREVIOUSLY STATED THERE WAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. MR. TAYLOR HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO THAT BOARD AND STILL CURRENTLY SERVES. JUST LAST WEEK OR SO, THE CITY WAS ADVISED IN. THIS INFORMATION WAS RECENTLY EXPOSED. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE AS A FORMER ELECTED OFFICIAL, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON EVERY SINGLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO ADHERE TO THE CHARTER. COUNCILMEMBER HEMMING LOVES TO
[00:30:01]
TALK ABOUT ADHERING TO THE CHARTER, BUT THIS COURSE OF ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN IN FEBRUARY IS NOT IN ADHERENCE TO THE STATE LEGISLATION, NOR IS IT IN ADHERENCE TO THE CITY LEGISLATION. NOW, FOR SOME REASON, COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMING WANTS ANOTHER LEGAL OPINION AND SHE WANTS DUE PROCESS. WELL, COUNSEL HEMMING DIDN'T BOTHER TO GIVE DUE PROCESS TO THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN SHE MADE THE APPOINTMENT. ONE OF MY FAVORITE POETS, MAYA ANGELOU, ONCE SAID, WHEN SOMEONE SHOWS YOU WHO THEY ARE, BELIEVE THEM THE FIRST TIME. AND ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITE POETS, MISS LAURYN HILL, SAYS IN HER LYRICAL BRILLIANCE, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO WIN WHEN YOU AIN'T RIGHT WITHIN COUNCIL? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO WIN WHEN YOU'RE NOT RIGHT WITHIN? SO MY ASK TO YOU AS A FULL BODY TONIGHT AND IN SUBSEQUENT DAYS IS TO ONE.PLEASE GO BACK IN TIME AND RESEARCH ALL THE ACTIONS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMING TOOK IN FEBRUARY, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A SMALL THING. THIS IS HUGE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VIOLATION OF OATH, WHICH IS ON STATE AT STATE LEVEL IS A FELONY. YOUR OATH IS IMPORTANT. YOU CANNOT VIOLATE IT. THIS IS NOT A TINY THING. THIS IS A BIG THING. IT IS HUGE. SO WHEN I FILED MY ETHICS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MATTER, I KNOW THAT WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, I WON'T BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THE ETHICS BOARD. AND I'M PERFECTLY FINE WITH THAT. SO IF IT ADHERES TO ME, IT ADHERES TO EVERYONE. AND ALL THESE GAMES THEY'RE BEING PLAYED RIGHT NOW TO NOT ADHERE TO WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY STATED EARLIER THIS YEAR IS JUST THE INDICATIVE OF AN OBSTINATE, OBSTINATE MINDSET. THE SELFISHNESS NEEDS TO STOP. THE GAME PLAN NEEDS TO STOP.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT TIME ENOUGH FOR THIS PERSON TO SERVE. MAYBE REVISIT IT NEXT YEAR WHEN THE LAW SAYS IT CAN BE REVISITED. BUT UNTIL THEN, FOLLOW THE LAW. BECAUSE WHEN YOU WANT TO BE THE CHARTER POLICE, YOU BETTER POLICE YOURSELF TOO AND MAKE SURE YOU ADHERE TO THE RULES, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO STAND HERE TODAY AND EVERY DAY NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS. WE ELECTED ALL OF YOU AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. BUT WHEN WE REACH OUT TO YOU, WHAT I'M HEARING TONIGHT, WHEN WE REACH OUT TO YOU, STOP IGNORING EMAILS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE ME, I DON'T CARE. BUT I'M A RESIDENT AND I DESERVE TO BE RESPONDED TO. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. IF I CALL YOU, I EXPECT A CALL BACK. WHEN I EMAIL YOU, I EXPECT AN EMAIL BACK. AND SO DOES EVERY RESIDENT WHO REACHES OUT TO YOU.
AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID TONIGHT, THIS ISN'T ABOUT PERSONALITIES OR PERSONAL FEELINGS. GROW UP, GROW UP, AND SERVE THIS CITY THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE SERVED. I WANT TO THANK MY WARD COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR STANDING UP AND SPEAKING OUT HERE. I WANT TO THANK THE WARD COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR DOING THE SAME. YES, CONTINUE TO DO IT AND KNOW THAT IF I DON'T GET TO TALK TO YOU, I AM SUPPORTING YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. AND GOD BLESS AMERICA. THOSE ARE ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WE HAVE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE FOR YOUR PUBLIC FOR THE
[X. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL]
PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING. AND, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL. OKAY.FIRST WE HAVE DOCTOR MARTIN ROGERS. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT. I WILL NOT BE COMPLICIT IN ILLEGAL AND UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR. I KEEP HEARING THAT THE CITY MANAGER INHERITED A LOT. HOWEVER, IT DIDN'T STOP HIM FROM TAKING THE JOB. FACTS. THE CITY MANAGER WAS HIRED ON MARCH 3RD, 2025. THE 2024 AUDIT WAS ALREADY OVERDUE WHEN HE ARRIVED. HOWEVER, ONCE HIRED, HE ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANAGING THE CITY'S RECOVERY FROM THAT DELINQUENCY. THE CITY MANAGER SHOULD HAVE IDENTIFIED WHY THE AUDIT WAS INCOMPLETE, PROVIDED A WRITTEN RECOVERY SCHEDULE WITH DEADLINES, AND ENSURED ALL MAJOR ACCOUNTS WERE RECONCILED AND HIRED ACCOUNTING SUPPORT TO CLEAR THE BACKLOG, WHICH HE DID NOT, BUT THEN HAD AND THEN HIRED TEMPORARY SUPPORT TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. REGULAR MEETINGS WITH AUDITORS AND WRITTEN PROGRESS REPORTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO COUNCIL.
ALL OF THAT IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE 2024 AUDIT IS NOT COMPLETE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CANNOT OBTAIN NEEDED VEHICLES, CREATING A DIRECT AND UNACCEPTABLE RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY. WHERE'S THE ACCOUNTABILITY? THE CITY MANAGER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADDRESSING IT, NOT ALLOWING IT TO CONTINUE INDEFINITELY. THE CITY IS NOW BEHIND THE AUDIT
[00:35:04]
FOR 2025, WHICH OCCUR UNDER HIS ADMINISTRATION. WHERE'S THE ACCOUNTABILITY? THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE HAS LOST ITS BOND RATING, WHICH MEANS WITHOUT A CURRENT BOND RATING AND COMPLETED AUDITS, EASTPOINTE S ABILITY TO FINANCE THE RECREATION FACILITY, THE POOL, PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES, ROADS, WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WILL BE DELAYED, RESTRICTED OR MADE FAR MORE EXPENSIVE. THIS IS NOT JUST PAPERWORK, IT DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS RESIDENTS EXPECT. SO RESIDENTS ASK WHY SOME MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL ARE AVOIDING ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN THE CITY MANAGER IS PAID WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS. I WAS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CUMMINGS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT SHOWED UP THIS EVENING. FOR THOSE OF YOU HERE IN PERSON, AND THOSE ARE VIEWING THE MEETING ON LIVE STREAM. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY WARD MATE, COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL AND THE WORD OF FAITH LOVE CENTER FAMILY. ON THE 25TH OF JULY, THEY DID A BOOK BAG GIVEAWAY AT SYKES PARK. THEY WERE ABLE TO GIVE AWAY ALMOST 200 BOOK BAGS TO DESERVING STUDENTS STARTING SCHOOL, TODAY. SO I WANT TO JUST THANK THEM FOR, ALL COMING OUT AND, FOR MISS WOODALL, YOU AND I, WE HAVE SPOKEN. I'VE SPOKEN WITH YOUR DAUGHTER, AND I DO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW ON TOMORROW, I'M GOING TO HAVE MY HUSBAND. HE'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE GUTTER. HE'LL HAVE THE GUTTER TAKEN CARE OF FOR YOU ON TOMORROW. SO WE ARE WORKING ON IT. LIKE I SAID, I HAVE REACHED OUT, TO OUR WATER AND SEWER DIRECTOR JUST TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN DO. I WILL ALSO SAY THIS. THOSE HEAVY RAINS THAT COME MY FRONT YARD LOOKS LIKE YOUR FRONT YARD AS WELL. I'M JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM YOU ON CHERRY BLOSSOM LANE AND MY YARD LOOKS LIKE THAT. I HAVE THE BEST PEAT MOSS, GROWING IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THAT WAR IS COMING THROUGH, AT THAT FAST PACE. SO WE ARE WORKING ON IT. PLEASE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS. YEAH, THIS, THIS GROUP, THIS DIOCESE UP HERE, WE ARE A FAMILY DYSFUNCTIONAL AT TIMES, YET WE'RE STILL A FAMILY. AND WE DO WANT YOU ALL TO CONTINUE TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE. WE KNOW BETTER, AND WE SHOULD. JUST AS, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GORDON SAID, WE DO. WE KNOW BETTER, AND WE SHOULD ALL DO BETTER. SO, JUST NOW, JUST LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW WE DO THE PERSONAL THINGS. WE DO NEED TO PUT THOSE ASIDE SO THAT WE CAN DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. I YIELD. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ATKINS. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE CITIZENS WHO'VE COME THIS EVENING TO SPEAK ON YOUR MATTERS. I BELIEVE THE NAME IS MISS HENDERSON, THE NEW RESIDENT HERE WHO WENT TO THE CUSTOMER. CARE TO GET YOUR UTILITIES, COMPLETED? I DO HEAR YOUR FRUSTRATION AROUND THAT.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS CITY UPDATING OUR PROCESSES FOR ESTABLISHING UTILITIES. TO YOUR POINT, WITH GAS SOUTH, NOT ONLY THAT UTILITY, BUT SEVERAL OTHER UTILITIES, YOU NEVER EVEN HAVE TO WALK INTO AN OFFICE. EVERYTHING CAN BE DONE BY PHONE OR ONLINE. SO IT IS MY HOPE THAT THIS BODY, ALONG WITH OUR CITY MANAGER, LOOK AT OUR PROCESSES FOR ESTABLISHING UTILITIES SO THAT IT CANNOT BE AN INCONVENIENCE FOR THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING TO LIVE HERE IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. I WOULD ALSO, I'M GLAD TO HEAR MY COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS SPEAK WITH MISS AROUND THE ISSUE AT 2932 DOGWOOD DRIVE FOR MISS WOODARD. MISS WOODALL, REGARDING YOUR WATER SITUATION. THANK YOU FOR THAT VIDEO. THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL TO SEE THAT. AND SO I'M HOPING THAT THERE WILL BE SOME ACTION FOR THAT, IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE REGARDING YOUR SITUATION THERE IN TERMS OF THE DRAINAGE AND THE FLOODING OF YOUR HOME, THE LAST THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CORRECT PUBLIC RECORDS REGARDING STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN RECENTLY MADE OR ATTRIBUTED TO ME. IT HAS BEEN STATED IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST RECENTLY THAT I READ AN EMAIL AND JUST REFUSED TO RESPOND AS IT RELATES TO A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING. THAT STATEMENT IS SIMPLY FALSE, AS REFLECTED IN THE OFFICIAL MINUTES THAT THIS BODY JUST APPROVED FROM OUR JULY 16TH SPECIAL CALLED MEETING, WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL VERBATIM RECORD FOR WHAT OCCURRED IN THIS MEETING. YOU CAN FIND MY QUOTE AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE EIGHT OF THAT SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MEETING MINUTES. LIKEWISE, IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT I REFUSE TO ATTEND A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON JULY 30TH. THAT CHARACTERIZATION IS ALSO FALSE. WHEN THE CITY CLERK CONTACTED ME ON TUESDAY REGARDING MY AVAILABILITY FOR THURSDAY MEETING, I ADVISED HER THAT I HAD A SCHEDULING CONFLICT AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND. A SCHEDULING CONFLICT IS NOT A REFUSAL. THERE ARE COUNTLESS LEGITIMATE REASONS WHY COUNCIL MEMBER CANNOT ATTEND A MEETING, BUT THOSE DO NOT CONSTITUTE REFUSALS. AND SINCE MY TIME IS UP, I WILL STOP THERE. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COUNCIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I'LL BE BRIEF. I JUST WANT TO
[00:40:08]
SAY AGAIN, ECHO A LOT OF THE SENTIMENT, FROM MY COUNCIL MEMBERS. BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT, SPOKE OUT. SPECIFICALLY THE, NEW RESIDENT HERE, DOGWOOD DRIVE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HEAR YOU, WE MAY NOT HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS AND BE ABLE TO RESPOND. NOW, I WILL SAY PICTURES, VIDEOS, THEY REALLY DO, YOU KNOW, SCREAM A THOUSAND WORDS. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK AND SHOWING US EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT YOU ALL HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO GETTING THESE THINGS RESOLVED. ANY OTHER COUNCIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME OUT TO SPEAK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND YOUR FOCUS ON THE MATTERS OF OUR CITY AND COMING OUT AND HAVING YOUR VOICE HEARD. I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, I KNOW, WITH THE STORM WATER AND THINGS THAT WE HAVE HAD, WE REPRESENTATIVE NIKEMA WILLIAMS HAS COME OUT AND DONATED AND DONATED, BUT HELP US DELIVER, OVER $1 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TOWARDS OUR STORM WATER BECAUSE THE WATER AND WATER IN OUR CITY AND HOW WE MANAGE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO BETWEEN HER AND DIRECTOR HERRERA, AT THIS TIME AND THEIR STAFF, WE JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THOSE EFFORTS ARE, WE ARE LOOKING, THOSE EFFORTS ARE BEING ADDRESSED IN SOME MANNER. I DO AGREE THAT, SOME OF THE PROCESSES IN TERMS OF THE DIGITAL PROCESS AND, YOU KNOW, COMING INTO THE CITY WITH THE, WITH YOUR UTILITY BILLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I THINK THAT WE ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES IN DIGITAL MANNER MOVING FORWARD. AND WE DEFINITELY HAVE SOME OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT THAT WILL KIND OF LEAN INTO WHAT WAS DISCUSSED DURING OUR PRESENTATION OR THE COUNCIL, THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMENTS. BUT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THOSE RIGHT NOW. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HEARD HERE TONIGHT. SO AT[Items XI.1 & XI.3]
THIS POINT, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE PRESENTATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. AND OUR FIRST PRESENTATION IS WE ARE GOING TO BE HONORING SOME VERY TALENTED AND SPECIAL YOUNG LADIES TONIGHT, STARTING WITH A PROCLAMATION FOR MISS KAYLEE, ARNOLD. AND WE WILL ALSO BE ACKNOWLEDGING MISS ZAYDA STAPLES. AND MISS ALISA BANDELE. IS SHE WITH US TODAY? OKAY, SO I'M NOT GOING TO READ BOTH ALL OF THEM, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO READ THEM. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME DOWN AND TAKE SOME PICTURES WITH YOU GUYS. OKAY. SO MISS KAYLEE, RIGHT? IS THAT HOW YOU SPELL IT? OKAY. KAYLEE. MISS KAYLEE ARNOLD IS A PROUD NATIVE OF EAST POINT, GEORGIA, AND A DISTINGUISHED GRADUATING SENIOR OF TRI-CITIES HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2026, AND HAS EARNED RECOGNITION THROUGH HER ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, PURPOSEFUL LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND COMMITMENT TO OPENING DOORS FOR OTHERS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT YOU ARE GOING OFF TO COLLEGE THIS YEAR. AND THEN OUR NEXT RECIPIENT IS MISS ZAYDA STAPLES. AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MISS ZETA. ZETA IS THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OF DARIUS HENDERSON. HENDERSON. IS THAT HOW YOU PRONOUNCE HIS NAME? OKAY. DISTINGUISHED.DISTINGUISHED HERSELF ACADEMICALLY BY GRADUATING WITH A 4.0 GPA, AVERAGE GPA, AND RANKING THIRD IN HER CLASS. SHE REFLECTS ON THE DISCIPLINE AND SERVICE AND EDUCATION THAT HAS SHAPED HER, EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY. BOTH OF THESE YOUNG LADIES ARE NOT JUST, VERY HIGH ACHIEVING ACADEMIC SCHOLARS, BUT THEY ARE ALSO, STUDENT ATHLETES. SO THEY SPEND THEIR TIME, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN THE COURT AND THE CLASSROOM. AND AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, ALSO DONATING THEIR TIME AND THEIR TALENTS TO CIVIC SERVICE. AND SO YOU ARE A TRIPLE THREAT AND WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD TO HAVE YOU A PART OF OUR, OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO FOR YOU BOTH, I KEISHA CHAPMAN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EAST POINT, ALONG WITH CITY COUNCIL, HEREBY RECOGNIZE, ZETA STAPLES AS WELL AS KAYLEE ARNOLD, FOR THEIR DISCIPLINE, LEADERSHIP, COMPETITIVE SPIRIT, AND COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE WELL-BEING OF OTHERS. AND, AND WE, THE WELL-BEING OF OTHERS IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO THEIR JOURNEY, ATROCITIES, HIGH SCHOOL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[00:45:02]
I LOVE YOUR OUTFITS. COME, COME OVER HERE AND. MADAM MAYOR SHOULD BE HERE. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.WAIT A SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER. CALDWELL. OKAY. MONDAY. OKAY. ALL. RIGHT.
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. COME ON. FRIENDS. SO, I WAS NOT APPROPRIATELY DRESSED FOR MY.
LET ME SEE. YOU WANT TO. COME ON, COME ON, COME ON, COME ON. OH, THIS IS THE. OH. 123. 123.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES. CONGRATULATIONS. WE ARE SUPER, SUPER DUPER PROUD OF YOU GUYS. YES. SO WHEN DID YOU, DID Y'ALL GET A PICTURE? GO AHEAD.
OH. OH THIS ONE. YEAH. YEAH, I GOT IT. YEAH. I. JUST. OKAY, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT, LADIES. AND IF WE CAN GET A COPY OF THOSE SCHEDULES FOR THE ATHLETIC EVENTS, THAT'LL BE AMAZING. SO THE COMMUNITY CAN COME OUT AND SUPPORT THE STUDENT. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, LET'S SEE. OKAY. AND THEN ITEM NUMBER FOUR, COUNCILMAN MARTIN ROGERS. YES, MADAM MAYOR, SINCE I ARRIVED A TAD BIT TARDY, I'D LIKE THIS ITEM REMOVED IN PLACE ON OUR THIRD MEETING AS A PRESENTATION IN AUGUST. THANK YOU, MADAM CITY CLERK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMITTEE REPORTS. WAIT, I THINK WE NEED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, I DON'T KNOW. MADAM MAYOR IS ASKING ABOUT GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR AN ITEM FOR WHICH THE PRESENTER NEEDED TO PRESENT EARLIER IN THE EVENING. AND SO IF THE COUNCIL SO MOVES TO DO SO THEN YES. NOW WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. OKAY. ALL ALL RIGHT. COUNSEL, DO WE HAVE A GO AHEAD? I HAVE AN ITEM, MADAM MAYOR. OKAY. A LEGAL ITEM, PLEASE. OH, OKAY. SO YOU WE WERE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THAT ONE ITEM, AND THEN WE WERE GOING TO COME BACK OUT. WE JUST WANTED TO HANDLE THAT BECAUSE THE PRESENTER WAS
[XIV. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
HERE. SO WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. I'LL MAKE IT FOR YOU.AND I'M SAYING I HAVE A LEGAL ITEM, MADAM MAYOR, BUT IT'S FOR THIS ONE. SO ARE YOU GOING TO DO THE LEGAL AND THE SECOND EXECUTIVE SESSION OR ARE YOU GOING TO. SURE. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR. NO. OKAY. SO I MAKE A MOTION TO RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR TWO LEGAL ITEMS. OH. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FOR DISCUSSION? WE HAVE A DISCUSSION, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD. YES. WE WERE ADVISED VIA EMAIL THAT WE NEEDED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, PREFERABLY AFTER PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THE PRESENTATIONS FOR ONE ITEM.
THAT WAS IT. AND THEN WE WOULD COME BACK AND COMPLETE THE MEETING AND GO INTO ANOTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THE END. THE PURPOSE OF GOING INTO THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION, AS MADAM
[00:50:04]
CITY ATTORNEY STATED, WAS THAT THE PERSONNEL NEEDS TO BE HEARD EARLY IN OUR MEETING. OKAY. SO AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. DO WE HAVE FOR TWO ITEMS? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OKAY. ANY MORE ITEMS? DISCUSSION. SO I GUESS THE ASK WAS CAN WE GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ONE LEGAL ITEM? CORRECT. THAT WAS THE ASK. THAT WAS MY ASK OVER EMAIL. THE MOTION NOW IS FOR TWO. CAN WE AMEND OR AMEND THE MOTION OR MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION SO WE CAN JUST MAKE IT ONE ITEM AFTER DISCUSSION. THERE COULD BE A MOTION A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. YOU GOT TO GET A VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION. DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS TO IT, THEN YOU'LL GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION.COLLEAGUES, THERE IS AN EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE I ASKED FOR THIS ITEM. SO OBVIOUSLY IT'S THE WILL OF COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD ENTERTAIN THIS ITEM. BUT IT IS A TIME SENSITIVE ITEM. AND THAT'S WHY I'VE ASKED TO ADD THIS ITEM TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. IS THERE A WE WE DIDN'T WE DON'T HAVE A SECOND. WE GOT A SECOND. SO I'M GOING TO CALL FOR THE VOTE AND THEN WE CAN. I'M SORRY, COUNCILWOMAN HEMMING COMMENTS.
SO WHAT ARE WE VOTING ON AT THIS. IS IT FOR TWO ITEMS OR ONE ITEM TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? IT'S THE SECOND WE HAVE ON THE GLOBAL TWO. MAYOR. YES. THANK YOU. IS THERE THERE ARE TWO LEGAL ITEMS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT THEY COULD BE THE SAME ITEM? I GUESS I WOULD HAVE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. I, I KNOW WHAT MINE IS, SO I KNOW.
THIS IS THE ITEM THAT, WAS SUBJECT TO AN EMAIL EARLIER THIS, WELL, LATE LAST WEEK.
OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER HEMMING, DOES IT SOUND LIKE THAT THIS IS THE SAME LEGAL ITEM. IT IS NOT THE SAME LEGAL ITEM. OH, IT'S NOT THE SAME LEGAL ITEM. OKAY. THANK YOU, I YIELD. OKAY. I'M GOING TO CALL FOR THE VOTE NOW SINCE ALL DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN HAS HAPPENED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? I. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. OKAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. WE WILL ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FO
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.