  Leland_palmer Member Username: Leland_palmer Post Number: 697 Registered: 08-2004 |
We have a new quote: "You ain't going to discriminate up in here," yelled Conyers to her fellow board members. I'm SO enthused about her leadership. I guess she is just being passionate. Christine MacDonald / The Detroit News http://detroitnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20080917/M ETRO/809170460/1361 DETROIT -- A chaotic pension board meeting ended Wednesday afternoon with a 5-4 vote to rescind allowing Sharon McPhail, the outgoing general counsel for Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, to use her eight years as a Wayne County assistant prosecutor to sweeten her city pension. But it's not clear if the vote was valid. At least three separate but related votes were taken related on the McPhail issue. But confusion was rampant as members starting shouting over each other and proposing separate resolutions. The board's official note-taker was even perplexed over how many votes were taken and what they meant. "We are going to have to revisit this next week," said Kathleen Leavey, the board's chairwoman, as they tried to back-track the votes on her legal notepad. The controversy started last week after the board, by a 4-3 vote, approved McPhail's use of her county time. Based on the number of years she said she has served the city, and her $142,801 salary, the value of her pension now would nearly double to roughly $31,000 a year, according to pension guidelines. It's a relatively unheard of move for the General Retirement System, which normally doesn't accept time from other governmental agencies. The measure was introduced by pension board member and Kilpatrick assistant DeDan Milton and seconded by Council President Pro Tem Monica Conyers, Kilpatrick's most supportive ally on the council. City Treasurer Jeff Beasley and David Clark also voted yes. McPhail, 59, said she will have to pay into the fund to buy her eight years of service and that it won't cost the city. But opponents say it could cost the system and that the board jumped the gun because it should have done an actuarial study of what McPhail would owe the system before voting. Board member Sheila Kneeshaw, who sponsored the McPhail recision, said state law requires the study. The chaos intensified when the board voted on Kneeshaw's resolution. It was 5-4, while board member David Clark was out of the room. Right after the vote, Conyers ran to a back conference room and tried to pull Clark back in the room in time to vote against the recision. He didn't get there in time. Then in retaliation, Conyers successfully moved to rescind the pension adjustment given in the 1980s of a woman who was allowed to transfer county credits when she moved from the county Health Department to the Detroit Health Department. Conyers and other McPhail supporters had used the example to bolster McPhail's case for the pension change. They voted 7-3 to take back that measure. "You ain't going to discriminate up in here," yelled Conyers to her fellow board members. Shortly after, Kneeshaw chided members for voting last week when several members were absent. "It wasn't in order last week when you were here," Kneeshaw yelled. It appears the City Council will have to approve any change to McPhail's pension. And they have requested a legal opinion and more information from finance staffers. | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 585 Registered: 05-2008 |
"You ain't going to discriminate up in here," yelled Conyers to her fellow board members. My GOD she is such a beast! At least it won't be too long before she implodes. The process has started. | ||
Chrissy_snow Member Username: Chrissy_snow Post Number: 264 Registered: 07-2008 |
Even though that's what the news quoted, I'd be willing to bet she said: "Y'all ain't gon't discriminate up in heah!" She was awfully upset about not being able to help her BFF! Remember when she sent that letter to Granholm and it "accidentally" ended up signed and delivered by McPhail? I fear for Detroit, now that she's been given more power. | ||
Gargoyle Member Username: Gargoyle Post Number: 108 Registered: 04-2006 |
Here's some sour grapes I just picked: I have worked at the DMC for 25 years, "serving Detroit" and my pension will be a whopping $648 a month. Obviously, I chose the wrong profession. | ||
Daddeeo Member Username: Daddeeo Post Number: 120 Registered: 09-2008 |
It will interesting to see how this affair turns out. The tide is running against McFail as she tries one last grab at ripping off taxpayers. These guys have no shame. | ||
1kielsondrive Member Username: 1kielsondrive Post Number: 158 Registered: 08-2008 |
Politicians at their very best! | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 2254 Registered: 07-2007 |
what educational level did conyer's reach? She acts like an immature spoiled brat. | ||
Dday Member Username: Dday Post Number: 917 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: Ghetto fabulous | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 590 Registered: 05-2008 |
Lefty, I understand she has a law degree. Go figure... | ||
Neilr Member Username: Neilr Post Number: 811 Registered: 06-2005 |
She has a law degree; but after 4 (IIRC) attempts, she has yet to pass the Michigan bar exam. Or any other state's bar, for that matter. | ||
Chrissy_snow Member Username: Chrissy_snow Post Number: 273 Registered: 07-2008 |
Wasn't it said that John Conyers had his employees helping her do her homework when she was in law school? And it wasn't just a rumor, I believe he got in trouble for it too. So it stands to reason that if they "helped" her, they likely DID IT for her, seeing as how she can't (or hasn't) pass the bar yet. Obviously, she didn't really earn the degree either. | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 1727 Registered: 12-2003 |
Doesn't matter how many law "degrees" she has, if she hasn't passed the bar, she isn't a lawyer. |
