Pontiac official says Detroit City Council powers will be gone if EFM appointed

PONTIAC, Mich (wxyz) - Pontiac City Councilman Donald Watkins says he believes an EFM in Detroit will strip the Detroit City Council of its powers.

Watkins speaks from experience because he and his council colleagues have been working under EFM Louis Schimmel since September of 2011. They have been working without pay.

Watkins says he doesn't believe this is the Democratic way and he worries about elected officials not having any say in how to run their city.

He says he believes there could be layoffs and the selling of assets. If any council members stay, Watkinds says they will have to get approval for everything they do.

Last week we talked to Lou Schimmel and the mayor of Pontiac who works as a consultant now for Schimmel. Both said their advice to Detroit city leaders is to embrace this as a positive.

Watkins says he can't embrace it and is hoping city business will be back in the hands of Pontiac officials soon.