Benton Harbor Town Hall Meeting 12/15/2010

Emergency Financial Manager Joe Harris discussed plans for further consolidation during a town hall meeting Wednesday night.

Harris is currently in negotiations with the city's police and fire departments to create a new Public Safety Department, which would be led by the current police chief.

"Police officers are trained as firemen, firemen are trained as police officers so we don't need as many because as you may know, 95 percent of the time our firemen are waiting for a fire, so it makes sense to make them more efficient and put them in the street," said Harris.

If the deal is approved, training would begin on January 3rd.

Additional emergency response vehicles are being purchased to help officers respond to emergencies.

Plans to merge the fire department with St. Joseph's never materialized.

During his presentation to residents, Harris was interrupted twice by people voicing opposition to his plans.

The town hall meeting came less than one week after six commissioners announced plans to file a class action lawsuit against Harris.

"Keep in mind that decision was not made by the commission, it was made by commissioners, who say they did not violate the open meetings act. I don't see any reason why that should bother me. If there are people that are opposed to me, that's expected," said Harris.

Commissioners Marcus Muhammad and Duane Seats, who helped organize the lawsuit, were in the audience for Harris' presentation. The commissioners also called for Harris' resignation or removal by Governor-elect Rick Snyder.

"That doesn't change what I have to do. If someone else comes in, my guess is that they would continue what I'm doing. It's unusual, but it has happened at least once where a governor has replaced an existing EFM, but it's not a political job," said Harris, who added that while he was appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm, he was approved by the Emergency Loan Board, which ultimately would have the power to remove him.

Harris also discussed changes to the city's water department, a sore point for some residents. He discussed plans to issue bills on time and accurately, instead of two months late and based on estimates.

In exchange for attending the town hall meeting, residents were given a free 20 lb. turkey, donated by Wal-Mart and the Consortium for Community Development.

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