Flint’s emergency manager is out of the job (for now). And the city’s mayor and city council are back in charge of the financially troubled city.
Today's court hearing centered on whether the panel, appointed by the governor, to review the city of Flint's finances violated the state's open meetings law. An attorney for the state insisted the process followed by the panel was not 'secretive' even though it's meetings were not open to the public.
But Judge Rosemarie Aquilina appeared incredulous.
In the end...the judge ruled this afternoon that the panel that recommended the appointment of an emergency manager in Flint violated Michigan’s open meetings law. As a result, the judge ordered emergency manager Michael Brown out and reinstated the city’s elected leaders.
Attorney Robert Fetter argued against the emergency manager. He was glad the judge acted quickly to reinstate Flint's elected leaders.
“I’m sure the governor and the treasurer are going to appeal. Which I think is unfortunate that they continue to fight to hold these meetings in public," says Fetter.
The attorney for the state declined comment.
Fetter admits the governor could eventually reappoint Michael Brown as Flint’s emergency manager.
