Another Michigan emergency manager is seeking to use broad new powers granted to him by the new emergency manager law.
Pontiac emergency manager Michael Stampfler is working to void a contract with the city's police dispatchers union.
The city's police department voted to dissolve itself last March because of the city's budget problems.
The city and the Oakland County Sheriff's Department are working to draw up a contract to police Pontiac's streets, but a contract with the dispatcher's union is holding up the process, according to the Oakland Press.
From the Oakland Press:
Pontiac Emergency Manager Michael Stampfler has submitted a letter to the Michigan Department of Treasury requesting to end the contract with the police dispatchers’ union. “I don’t know that anyone has yet to use ... the section of the legislation saying we want to do this,” said Stampfler, adding work is being done to have the transition from the Pontiac police to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office completed by July 1. The proposed contract for law enforcement and dispatch services hasn’t been signed because of the contract with the dispatchers’ union. Officials from the Michigan Association of Police, the union representing the dispatchers, were not available for comment.
Some groups are planning to challenge the new emergency manager law in court. Nullifying a union contract could be one place were a challenge to the law begins.
