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Patricia Troost and Ashley Bremmer recall, Cedar Springs, Michigan (2014)
| Cedar Springs City Council recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Ashley Bremmer |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2014 Recalls in Michigan Michigan recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall city councilors Patricia Troost and Ashley Bremmer in Cedar Springs, Michigan from their positions was launched in December 2013.[1] Troost and Bremmer were recalled.[2]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Michigan
Mark Laws first filed petition language with the Kent County elections office in December 2013. The petition alleged that Troost and Bremmer had "violated public trust by not following policy, procedure and protocol for the open meetings act" and "violated public trust by stating the process procedure to be followed for considering possible new city logo and then disregarded the process without notice."[1]
This petition language was rejected at a clarity hearing held on December 31, 2013. Laws filed new petitions with the following revised reasons for recall on January 10, 2014:[3]
- "On July 11, 2013 the city council motioned and supported to adjourn to a closed session and then adjourned. The Open Meetings Act 267, 15.267, 8A allows a closed session if the named person requests a closed hearing. No such request was made."
- "City council has a protocol in place requiring any change of import to be on agenda for public input and comment before it can be acted on by council in a following meeting. Former council member Merlington wrote this protocol. The new logo that was approved in November 2013 council meeting was not presented to the public for input or comments.”[3]
At a clarity hearing on January 29, 2014, the Kent County Elections Commission approved the petition language. On February 21, 2014, however, circuit court judge Mark Trusock reversed that decision. Laws filed new petition language upon conclusion of that hearing. Another clarity hearing was scheduled for March 7, 2014.[3][4] The following petition language was ultimately approved:[5]
- "On July 11, 2013, Ashley Bremmer/Patrica Troost voted to go into a closed session, to hear complaints against council member Truesdale. The Open Meetings Act 267, 15.268, 8a allows for a closed session if it is requested by the person to be disciplined or reprimanded. Council member Truesdale made no such request."
- "On November 14, 2013 Ashley Bremmer/Patricia Troost voted to change the city logo and tagline. For many years it has been procedure of the council to not take action on an item not previously on agenda for public input and comment. This change in the logo and tagline was not presented to the public for input or comment before the change was made."
Bremmer and Troost opted not to appeal the decision, allowing Laws to begin collecting signatures. Petitions containing the signatures of at least 170 qualified electors needed to be submitted by August 1, 2014.[5][6] Enough signatures were submitted and verified to move the recall forward.[2]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Post, "Language filed for recall of two city councilors," December 27, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 MLive.com, "Voters clean house in Red Flannel Town: Cedar Springs may get logo back," November 6, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Post, "New Recall petitions filed," January 17, 2014
- ↑ The Post, "Court reverses decision on recall," February 27, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Post, "Go ahead given on recall petitions," March 20, 2014
- ↑ Fox 17 "Petition Drive to Recall Cedar Springs Council Members Moves Forward," April 9, 2014
