Policy changes, audits and employee transitions

The Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network will be seeking a new leader soon. It was announced in last week’s board meeting that current President and CEO Eric Doeh made the tough decision to step down.

Highland Park City Council effectively violated state law when it failed to approve an amendment to balance last year’s budget before approving the 2024-25 city budget proposal . The city was $1.8 million over budget in fiscal year 2023-24. Council President Jamal Thomas said it was over budget by “only” $150,000 a month, which he said was “fantastic.”

Detroit’s City Councilmembers heard a presentation on green energy and sustainability. Diane VanBuren, co-chair of the council’s Green Task Force Renewable Energy Committee , said the city went from being a “solar beginner” in 2022 to a “solar star” in 2024. According to the task force’s presentation, with the city’s Neighborhood Solar Initiative , Detroit will rank 31 out of 67 in major U.S. cities with solar per capita.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District board approved a three-year spending plan for the $94.4 million received from the literacy lawsuit . The board also approved the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school year calendars.

Education

Public commenters at the Detroit Public Schools Community District board meeting expressed dissatisfaction with the district’s policies , investigations and disciplinary actions for staff. They were specifically displeased with the outcome of the investigation into Thirkell Elementary-Middle School Principal Stephanie Gaines, who was suspended for 30 days without pay and will return to the school in July .

Commenters were also concerned about teachers being sent to the Employee Transition Center — known by some as “teacher jail” — without knowing the specific reasons why. Teachers are sent there during investigations of misconduct, policy noncompliance or civil rights violations. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said there are 29 employees currently in the center.

A student ambassador asked why a new policy says school supplies donated to teachers through the DonorsChoose website are now considered the property of the district and not those individual teachers’ classrooms. Vitti said that although almost all teachers use fundraising websites correctly, the district’s inspector general uncovered some misuse of funds, so they changed the policy to “cut down” on fraud.

6/11/2024 Detroit Public Schools Community District Regular Board Meeting, documented by Paige Rollins and Sherrie Smith

Health

A big announcement was shared at the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) Board of Directors meeting last week. Current CEO Eric Doeh will be vacating his position. A date for his leave was not given. Per its bylaws, the board needs to form a search committee of up to five members to identify potential successors. Board Members Bernard Parker, Angela Bullock, William Phillips, Karima Bentounsi and Kenya Ruth volunteered to fill the committee. An interim CEO is expected to be identified shortly.

Doeh joined DWIHN in 2017 as chief network officer and has been CEO since 2021. His responsibilities include overseeing the organization’s daily operations and partnerships with several agencies, including the Detroit Police Department . During the board meeting, Doeh shared how much the agency means to him, especially the support he received after his wife’s passing.

6/20/2024 Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network Board of Directors, documented by Amber Umscheid and Julia Kapilango

Finance

6/10/2024 Detroit General Retirement System Investment Committee: Committee members questioned a $15 million investment approved in June 2023 and made through banking corporation BNY Mellon that doesn’t appear on any bank statements.

Documented by Nathaniel Eichenhorn, Perry Sylvester and Shiva Shahmir

6/18/2024 Detroit General Retirement System Board of Trustees: Seeking a greater return at a higher risk, the board approved an increased level of investment in private credit funds. It also denied a Freedom of Information Act appeal by Outlier Media and Detroit Documenters.

Documented by Perry Sylvester

Politics

6/11/2024 Detroit City Council Formal Session: Councilmember Angela Whitfield Calloway questioned awarding a Livonia construction firm with a $5.5 million contract paid using the city’s funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Plus, the “ Dining with Confidence ” ordinance was approved: The public can look for green or red signs posted in restaurants indicating whether they passed inspections by the Detroit Health Department.

Documented by Damien Benson and Meghan Rutigliano

6/18/2024 Detroit City Council Formal Session: The council approved an approximately $45.2 million grant to purchase 45 new hybrid buses. It also appointed Eva Garza Dewaelsche to the Board of Police Commissioners for a term that starts immediately and ends October 2028. Dewaelsche is the CEO of nonprofit SER Metro and owner of local newspaper El Central.

Documented by Gabriel Gamlin and Heather Alder

For more on City Council, check out Malachi Barrett’s City Council Notebook at BridgeDetroit.

6/12/2024 Wayne County Ethics Board: The meeting began with no agenda and poor audio, and the board had published the wrong link for the virtual meeting. An inmate’s complaint of physical abuse was referred to the county prosecutor. A hearing was set for July 17 to address complaints made by serial litigator and former Highland Park politician Robert Davis against Wayne County Commissioner Martha G. Scott.

Documented by Amanda Absher and Asha McElroy

6/17/2024 Highland Park City Council: The city was $1.8 million over budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The council failed to approve an amendment to balance that budget; officials admitted that this violates the state’s Budget Act.

Documented by Autumn Jackson-Hines and Benjamin Haddix

Development

6/12/2024 Detroit Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors: The board adopted the authority’s operating budget for fiscal year 2024-25, renewed a service agreement with the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. for one year, and discussed audits and other financial safeguards for the agency.

Documented by Perry Sylvester and Tyrone Anderson

Utilities

6/18/2024 Detroit Board of Water Commissioners: American Foundation for the Blind representatives called for the city water department to improve its online bill payment system, allow walk-in access to its offices to pay in person, and to increase the allowed water usage for residents on the Lifeline Plan .

Documented by Sherrie Smith and Yvonne Szymczak

Transportation

6/20/2024 Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan Board of Directors: Executive Director Ben Stupka gave updates on the integration of the QLine into the authority’s operations, which is expected to be complete by October 2025.

Documented by Carole Hawke and Sandi Nelson

Policing

6/13/2024 Detroit Board of Police Commissioners: After multiple rounds of voting and a clarification of the rules by the board parliamentarian, commissioners elected Darryl Woods as the next board chair and reelected Tamara Smith as vice chair.

Documented by Chandler Vaughan and Roshaun Harris

6/20/2024 Detroit Board of Police Commissioners: The board approved a motion to draft a policy governing interactions between police and legal observers at protests. The meeting ended abruptly due to a loss of a quorum.

Documented by Nathaniel Eichenhorn and Shaheda Jenkins

For more on the Board of Police Commissioners, check out the latest BOPC Watch .

This story was written by Outlier Media’s Noah Kincade and Lynelle Herndon, with Detroit Documenters Amanda Absher, Amber Umschied, Carole Hawke, Meghan Rutigliano, Nathaniel Eichenhorn and Perry Sylvester.

Policy changes, audits and employee transitions · Outlier Media