WARREN, Mich. (WXYZ) — The newly appointed Warren City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to rescind a controversial measure that the council approved in September. Mayor Jim Fouts said he was "blindsided" by the initial vote, because he was unaware of it and unable to interject on the decision.
The measure would have provided lifetime health care benefits to all of the council.
"I already had issued an order to NOT implement this shortsighted and potentially costly decision," Fouts said.
In November, Fouts sent a veto letter to the Warren City Clerk regarding the measure, saying that it was voted upon "illegally" because he wasn't aware of the move. Fouts said after the council rescinded the amendment that it was a "symbolic vote" implemented after his veto.
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The "amendment was made in violation of the agreement the city made with the state regarding increasing liability to our pension and health coverage plans as well as violating the requirement that proposed amendment be actuarily evaluated," Fouts wrote in the veto letter.
Going forward, Fouts said that a letter was sent to all council memebrs requesting that anything "added on and passed," that might have an impact on the financial stability of the city, must be hand delivered to his office.
