Public Invited To Discuss New Detroit City Charter

DETROIT (WWJ) - The Detroit Charter Revision Commission will hold a public hearing on Saturday to get input from citizens.

Commission member Ken Coleman said the final draft makes an effort to bring government closer to the people by proposing Council by district.

"At least seven of the nine of them. Two of them would continue to be elected at large," Coleman said.

"We also have proposed that citizens have real tangible involvement in city government; that seven of the eleven Board of Police Commissioners be elected from those districts. We're also asking that advisory committees like recreation and other committees have that same kind of representation," he said.

Florence Walton reports that the move to improve Detroit's charter was born out of the scandals that rocked the city during the reign of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

So, Coleman says the final draft includes changes that address the issue of corruption.

"And we are proposing the creation of an inspector general position. That individual would investigate allegations of fraud, waste and corruption," Coleman said.

Coleman said they are also proposing that there be lobbyist registration in Detroit.

The hearing is scheduled for Saturday, May 14 at Noon at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center.

CLICK HERE to view a copy of the final draft on the Commission's web site.