Clawson mayor who resigned, then changed her mind, gets her job back
Reese Scripture is again the mayor of Clawson.
Scripture resigned nearly a month ago. But in mid-May, she changed her mind, citing an obscure city council rule that she said allowed her to return. She also said dozens of residents told her they wanted her back at the city’s helm. On Tuesday night, she became mayor again.
Shortly after Clawson City Council convened Tuesday night, in a virtual meeting online, the group revealed a legal opinion supporting Scripture’s return.
“Welcome back,” said council member Paula Millan as she relinquished the mayor’s job she’d held since Scripture’s resignation, going back to her former title: mayor pro tem.
A hired former magistrate is expected to weigh in on whether Reese Scripture can undo her abrupt exit, which she says the council never voted to accept.
Clawson City Council to fill vacancy after mayor’s sudden resignation
On May 4, Clawson Mayor Reese Scripture suddenly resigned. The city is accepting applications through May 27 to fill the vacancy on the Clawson City Council.
Photo provided by the city of Clawson
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CLAWSON At the top of the May 4 Clawson City Council meeting, Mayor Reese Scripture unexpectedly read a letter announcing her resignation and signed off the virtual meeting.
Scripture cited issues with how the city administration was handling its budget process.
On Nov. 5, 2019, Scripture clinched the mayoral seat with 61.33% support or 1,345 votes to former Mayor Deborah Wooley’s 38.48% or 844 votes. As a resident, Scripture had sued the city for allegedly violating the Open Meetings Act and received an $18,000 settlement the day after the election.
The mayor of Clawson abruptly resigned Tuesday following issues with the Oakland County community s budget.
Reese Scripture, who was elected in November 2019, announced her decision at the start of the City Council s virtual meeting on Tuesday.
Reading a lengthy statement to the council, Scripture cited the panel s plans this month to pass a budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year.
The council had been slated to vote Tuesday on scheduling budget workshops over two days next week, followed by a public hearing on May 18.
Scripture said there was little time to properly review a proposed budget, for which she hadn t received a copy. She noted there was no information on the city s year-to-date financial status or other documentation to help inform the council s decision.