Warren — A Warren City Councilwoman is calling for the council to pursue possible misdemeanor charges against Mayor Lori Stone if she is found to have violated the city’s charter or state law over appointing people to a compensation panel.
Speaking during a Warren City Council meeting this week, Council Secretary Mandy Moore accused Stone of failing to do her job and violating the charter when it comes to appointing members to the city’s Elected Officer Compensation Commission. Moore alleged that not appointing people to the commission by Oct. 1, 2025, is a violation of state law and a violation of the city’s charter.
“There is no reason for it ― absolutely no reason,” Moore said at Tuesday’s meeting.
But Stone says the issue “feels a little out of touch” with the community. She hears from community members about public safety, economic development, affordable housing development and other topics.
“When it comes to community priorities, increasing compensation for elected officials isn’t high on their list,” she said.
But Moore believes the City Council could address the issue by asking the city attorney to file charges over it. Any person found guilty of violating the charter may be punished by a fine that can’t exceed $500 or imprisonment for up to ninety days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, according to charter language that Moore shared with The Detroit News.
But City Council Attorney Jeffrey Schroder said in January that Stone was required under state law and Warren’s Code of Ordinances, not the city charter, to appoint members to the Elected Officer Compensation Commission by Oct. 1. The commission is supposed to meet every odd year to determine the salaries of Warren’s elected officials. Schroder couldn’t be reached for comment.
The spat marks the latest conflict between Stone and members of the council. They’ve also clashed over creating a land bank authority, and some council members have been critical about how Stone needs to appoint more members to various commissions, beyond the elected officer commission.
Multiple steps would need to occur before Stone could be charged or fined. Moore told The News on Wednesday that the City Council will vote at a future meeting to have Schroder write a legal opinion on whether Stone violated the charter or state law and what the penalties are. The council will then meet in closed session and make a decision on the matter. Moore said any violations of the charter are referred to the city attorney.
“I think that we should pursue it, and maybe it’ll get the mayor’s attention if she’s charged $500,” she said.
Stone’s response
Stone on Wednesday said she has to note “the hypocrisy around this.” She said former Mayor Jim Fouts didn’t seat the Elected Officer Compensation Commission in 2019, 2021 or 2023, and the council didn’t act. Moore was on the council during all of those years.
“What’s different now? Why now?” she said.
Moore said the commission hasn’t met since the 2010s.
“During the Fouts administration, we had so many other things going on,” she said. “I think that we just didn’t pay attention.”
Subpoena
The City Council asked Stone in October for copies of all of the applications to the Elected Officer Compensation. Shroder said Stone “refused to turn over the documents.” The council ultimately voted on Dec. 16 to authorize a subpoena to the mayor for the documents.
Schroder said the subpoena was served on Jan. 7, and Stone submitted the documents on Jan. 13.
Moore said she is “not satisfied” with what the council received, and she believes that some documents may be missing.
Stone said in January that she respects the legal process and complied fully with the subpoena.
asnabes@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Warren council member calls for pursuing charges against Mayor Stone
Reporting by Anne Snabes, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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