FLINT, MI — City officials are quietly laying the groundwork to pick a permanent city clerk following the sudden retirement of Inez Brown, who held the position for 25 years.
A divided City Council huddled in a closed session during a special meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 9, to discuss about two dozen applications received for the position.
Members approved a resolution to invite candidates to be interviewed during a special meeting of the council on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
“We’ve sent all the candidates through the (background) process,” Human Resources Department Director Eddie Smith told council members on Wednesday.
City Attorney William Kim said council members could discuss applications in a closed meeting but would be required to interview the candidates during a meeting that is open to the public. Council President Dennis Pfeiffer said once candidates accept invitations to be interviewed, their names will be made public.
The deadline for applicants for the position was Oct. 31.
Three council members — Eric Mays (Ward 1), Jerri Winfrey-Carter (Ward 5) and Tonya Burns (Ward 6) voted against having the clerk succession process behind closed doors.
“This is a public job,” Burns said. “I made a promise to be transparent … I just don’t like this.”
Brown announced her retirement in September.
She had been chosen from a field of 17 candidates for the clerk’s job in 1997, according to Flint Journal files.
Brown came to the position after having worked as a regional advocate for the U.S. Small Business Administration office in Chicago and as an aide to former U.S. Sen. Don Reigle for more than 20 years.
After Brown announced her retirement, the council voted to appoint Davina Donahue, formerly deputy clerk, as Flint’s interim clerk for the remainder of the year. She oversaw the city’s general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Mays said that based on Donahue’s performance on Tuesday, she deserves the position on more than an interim basis.
“I’m ready to (appoint) Miss Donahue,” the councilman said. “She did a fantastic job.”
Read more at The Flint Journal:
Flint City Clerk Inez Brown to retire after 25 years
Flint deputy clerk appointed to interim role after clerk’s retirement; will run Nov. 8 election
$11.5M for Flint’s historic Berston Field House gets initial approval
