In Our Opinion … Elected officials need to play by the rules

Despite growing pressure from some members of the public, Hamtramck’s city council continues to insult the community.
How’s that?
The council has turned a deaf ear to criticism that it’s improper to keep adding items onto its meeting agenda without giving the public any prior heads up.
One case in point was the recent last-minute agenda add-on to hire a new city manager. That’s right, the public was not given any prior notice for something as important as bringing on board a new city manager.
Adding items onto the council agenda at the last minute is reserved only for matters that need immediate and urgent attention.
Hiring a city manager is not something that should get shoved onto a meeting agenda without giving anyone advance notice, and reeks of deceitfulness.
Why the last-minute need to consider such an important matter like hiring a city manager?
This is also unfair to the city manager who was hired. This process casts a shadow on the procedure, giving the appearance of a back-door deal done behind closed doors.
Why in the world would the mayor and council usher in a new city manager in such an underhanded way ?
Both the mayor and city council need a reset. This is not the way to conduct the business of the community.
Posted March 20, 2026