During the September 18, 2023 meeting of the Grand Haven City Council, the public learned of two separate whistleblowers that had made complaints against the Board of Light and Power (BLP). Both complaints allege the BLP inappropriately responded to requests for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) documentation and may have improperly deleted emails. In addition, both complaints involve the review of a large number of emails. Despite the similar nature of these two complaints, they are being handled very differently.
During the September 18, 2023 council meeting, it was apparent to anyone watching, that three members of city council, along with the city attorney, were working together in opposition to two other council members. The public was outraged, and several members of the public expressed their disgust during the final public comment period.
(1:48:40) Cecil Bradshaw, “Unless I didn't hear it clearly, city council met with the city attorney, and the city attorney made some recommendations, and the city council agreed on those recommendations; all five of you agreed on those recommendations. Two of you chose to go against the city council decision, and put something on the agenda. The city attorney did not talk to the BLP. And what I see tonight substantiates some of the things I said initially this evening. You guys don't play together. You don't work together. And what really disturbs me, is that two of you went to the city attorney, [] it's wrong. You heard that it's not advised. You heard that it's not the right way to do things and yet you did them. To me this council has got personal agendas and politically motivated ambitions. I truly am disappointed. Mike, I appreciate your comments. Mayor, I appreciate your comments, but I am so disappointed in how this thing went down. It is wrong and it is the City of Grand Haven that is being run, like a I don't know what it's being run like, you don't even take the advice of the city attorney for crying out loud. I don't understand it. I probably will not understand it.”
(1:53:10) Jim Hagen, “I also am really appalled by the behavior of Council Members Cummins and also Lowe. When you get instructions from council, and there's agreement, I think it's a violation. I can't believe it's not against the law for council members to violate what you agreed on, and then go ahead and meet with a city attorney. And the city attorney didn't talk to the BLP as he was supposed to. I think this is another example of why the BLP needs their own attorneys. I mean, it seems to me, that they're not getting the service from the city attorneys as they should. I personally don't understand how more time couldn't have been spent on what was supposed to be done instead of having maverick council members go out and decide what's best. To me it's definitely politics.”
(1:54:36) Geri McCaleb, “Unless things have really changed, I think Miss Lowe still doesn't live in the city, even though she sits on this council, and makes decisions that will affect everybody's life. [] You know, the things I said at the beginning, just proved out to be true in this meeting. [] [referring to council members Lowe and Cummins] People stand up here and use the word criminal conduct, when nothing has been even researched; and this comes before the council.
Mayor, I appreciate the way that you brought this out, that the truth here is that none of this has been researched. There is no evidence that has been collected, but the charges are brought, and right before absentee ballots go out. You guys are classic. [] It's unbelievable!”
Why is Attorney Bultje assisting Council Members Lowe and Cummins, to execute a different plan than what was agreed upon by the full council during closed session?