Mural contracts spark ethics investigation into Detroit planning director

This story was copublished with BridgeDetroit.

Detroit’s director of Planning and Development is under investigation for multiple alleged ethics violations after executing contracts without City Council approval .

The Detroit Board of Ethics voted Tuesday to open an investigation into Antoine Bryant for five potential violations of the city’s ethics policy . The investigation focuses on Bryant’s decision to sign a $215,000 mural contract with the nonprofit Street Art for Mankind, in violation of the city charter.

The investigation comes after a review of emails obtained by BridgeDetroit and Outlier Media showing Bryant communicated with Street Art for Mankind over several months in 2023 about installing murals to promote the NFL draft. The New York nonprofit painted several murals on prominent downtown buildings before a contract was officially signed, but Bryant executed the agreement anyway.

“I think there’s still many questions that need to be answered,” said Christal Phillips, executive director of the ethics board.

Chief Operating Officer Brad Dick said the city has “complete confidence” in Bryant, who will receive counsel from the Law Department in the ethics board proceedings.

Any contract over $25,000 requires the City Council’s approval. Councilmembers voted to reject the Street Art for Mankind contract in January, expressing frustrations with Bryant’s decision to work around them.

The ethics panel cited another incident when Bryant amended a sales agreement for the Brodhead Armory without council approval.

A Legislative Policy Division report found Bryant appeared to violate the charter in 2023 by making two amendments to a sales agreement for the city-owned former naval armory without City Council approval. The council previously approved a sales agreement with the Detroit Parade Co. in 2021.

Council President Pro Tem James Tate said earlier this year that Bryant’s actions in the two incidents did not sit well with him. Tate could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Members of the ethics panel referenced the joint investigation from BridgeDetroit and Outlier Media.

Phillips said the timing was coincidental, and a memo to seek an investigation was already prepared for Tuesday’s meeting.

“Our office decided that this would be something that we should investigate and the board agreed,” Phillips said. “This has extensive reporting and has been in the news for some time. News articles and things that come to our attention do make an impact and we do take into consideration anything we see in the news and city meetings.”

Phillips said the board is interested in whether Bryant hindered the mayor’s and City Council’s ability to make an unbiased decision on the mural contracts by reporting his actions after they had already been taken.

Phillips said the board would notify Bryant of the investigation on Tuesday, starting a 14-day clock to respond to the allegations. After 30 calendar days, the board will consider evidence and decide whether the issue should move forward with a hearing .

The board is starting by investigating five ethics violations:

• Willful neglect of duty: A public servant shall not intentionally fail to perform the duties of the public servant’s office or position.
• Self-interested regulation and participation: A public servant shall not vote or participate in the negotiation of a city contract with an entity that the public servant, or an immediate family member, has a financial interest.
• Improper use of city property: A public servant shall not use city property in violation of city policy and procedures.
• Incompatible employment or rendering of services: A public servant shall not accept employment or render services in conflict with the public servant’s official duties.
• Representation of private person, business or organization: A public servant shall not act as an agent, attorney or representative for another person, business or organization in matters pending before a city agency.

Administrative hearings resemble court proceedings and are open to the public. The board is responsible for impartially considering the evidence before voting on whether a violation has occurred and what penalties will be given as a result.

Penalties can include a warning, disciplinary action and removal from office, according to the charter.

Detroit Documenters Christiana Beckley and Pamela Taylor contributed to this story.

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Mural contracts spark ethics investigation into Detroit planning director · Outlier Media