Bill Text: MI HR0144 | 2011-2012 | 96th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to request the Auditor General to conduct a review of the practices of the Office of the Wayne County Executive pertaining to severance payments made when an officer left the county to work for the Wayne County Airport Authority and to look into contracts and agreements involving the Wayne County Community Mental Health Agency.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-10-20 - Referred To Committee On Oversight, Reform, And Ethics [HR0144 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2011-HR0144-Introduced.html
Rep. Olumba offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 144.
A resolution to request the Auditor General to conduct a review of the practices of the Office of the Wayne County Executive pertaining to severance payments made when an officer left the county to work for the Wayne County Airport Authority and to look into contracts and agreements involving the Wayne County Community Mental Health Agency.
Whereas, Recent reports centering on the details of severance payments made to the former chief development officer of Wayne County have raised great concerns throughout metropolitan Detroit and the entire state. The payment of $200,000 made to Turkia Awada Mullins upon leaving one county post to become the new chief executive officer of the Wayne County Airport Authority seems to have taken place outside the expected guidance of a contract. A letter shrouded in many questions seems to be the only basis for the severance payment; and
Whereas, Another very troubling element of the severance payments, which also include a payment made to an executive assistant, is the involvement of parties that may have had existing relationships with the individual receiving the severance package that were based on her prior position in county government; and
Whereas, At the very least, this severance scandal in Wayne County has raised significant questions about the personnel and management practices followed in this instance. Although the county's board of commissioners is responsible for awarding funds and entering into contracts, there is no indication to date of the board's approval of the severance payments in question. This disturbing lack of documentation raises serious questions; and
Whereas, Concerns have also been raised over the operations of the Wayne County Community Mental Health Agency. This agency, which has been the subject of prior investigations, is engaged in a significant amount of contract work; and
Whereas, Clearly, in all aspects of government, best practices need to be followed and accountability must be maintained. The people of the state's most populous county have every right to expect that the highest standards will be met; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we request the Auditor General to conduct a review of the practices of the Office of the Wayne County Executive pertaining to severance payments made to Turkia Awada Mullins when she left her position as Wayne County's chief development officer to become the chief executive officer for the Wayne County Metro Airport Authority and a review of the practices pertaining to other economic development contracts executed during the tenure of Turkia Mullin and Azzam Elder as chief development officers to determine whether the best practices were used and the proper protocol was followed in the entering into and executing of contracts; and be it further
Resolved, That we also call upon the Auditor General to look into contracts and agreements involving the Wayne County Community Mental Health Agency to determine if best practices in the handling of public money were followed; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the Auditor General.
