Atty. Bluhm isn't "calling all the shots," she's doing her job. She's not doing anything "shady" in any "back rooms," she's working in her office at City Hall. She sees our City Charter presented VERY clearly, and she is defending the Charter as approved BY THE VOTERS.

Do you have a law degree? Are you a Troy resident?

Wow--so it was worth recalling JD because she was giving Troy a bad name, Well it doesn't seem any better now with this fiasco. Attorney Bluhm is doing her job, but she must be missing something if the State Attorney General's office is ready to initiate litigation. Government can't be trusted. I watched the YouTube video about Ed Kempen filing paperwork to run for Mayor and his paperwork wouldn't be accepted by the City Clerk; then the clerk staff claim that she was on the phone when he had questions for her. She was not on the phone! She was clearly staring at her computer screen, watching the clock and not speaking to him until after the deadline filing time of 4pm. Let's not forget, Dane Slater is a retired City employee who the City/Bluhm would like to keep as mayor for their own agenda. Also, pay attention to the names of the 41 people who filed for the vacant council seat -- some of them are related to city employees. So their agenda is to take care of the city employees and city employee pensions, not the residents.

Sounds like the Attorney General's office needs to learn how to read and perhaps boost their comprehension skills. The Troy City Attorney's argument is very clear and it's odd that the AG didn't get it straight. If the AG is going to waste everyone's time taking action needlessly, they should at least get it straight what they're arguing.

After reading the letter from the AG's office, I still back Lori Blum 100%-she is an excellent attorney and has the knowledge and the necessary information in order to sucessfully argue her point regarding the City's Charter. Chris P., I also can't understand why the AG's office can't comprehend what Mrs. Blum has written.
To Anonymous-how can one sign up for an election that as of this point has not been called?
Further, my husband is a former volunteer firefighter for this city and just because he has retired with over 20 years of service does not mean that he quit caring about Troy-Also because Troy is only 36 square miles and some families have lived here since before the inception of the City of Troy, you will find many names on that list of people whose families have been here longer than you or I. I do not believe as you do that all people who run for an office in Troy have their own agenda. Hopefully, the council members will weed through and choose the best candidate for the open position. I know that we still have a divided council and it is my sincere hope that they will put aside their politics and appoint a person who is impartial and nonpolitical. Only time will tell.

What makes me sick here is that at Monday Night's City Council Meeting, Attorney Laurie Bluhm was SPECIFICALLY asked "Did you receive any response from the Attorney General's Office" by Councilman Henderson, she said "Uh, I have an email, but have not opened it yet" give me a break, she knew exactly what that email contained and now she is eating crow!!! What a mistake to not tell the truth on tape! She still could have avoided all of this is she investigated this recall in's/out's prior to the election. Now us taxpayers will have to eat the fruitless bill of $90,000.00 for a February election. She knows she is wrong, she is back pedaling now. Such a screwed up disappointment! Troy is now the laughing stock of the nation, thanks Bluhm!

Ms. Bluhm claims that we need to honor our charter, well... It appears to me that the charter needs to be updated so that it complies with state election laws...I was of the understanding that State laws, and in this case election laws, trump city charters. And why would she NOT open an email from the AG's office before a council meeting, when she knew darn well that the subject would come up.. and YES I think she knew what it contained.. and we are getting a black eye in the news once again.

"The City is not claiming that our Charter trumps state law. Instead, since there are two conflicting State Statutes, the City is obligated to follow the path that allows us to uphold both state law and our charter."

Correct me if I'm wrong...but would we not end up "paying" twice for this lawsuit? Our city taxes pay our City Atty's salary, which will be used to defend a frivolous suit. And our state taxes pay our state employees. Isn't the state concerned about the wasteful spending of this tax money?

Dumb and Dumber: a YouTube video boasting personal checks, routing numbers, names and addresses exhibit poor judgement risking bank fraud in cyberspace:THE perfect example why these characters are not fit to serve.
I support our skilled city administration and trust the process should litigation be necessary.

From everything I read regarding a recall, the city is supposed to appoint a replacement only until the next election so the people can choose their mayor. The next election cycle IS February, not November. I dont understand how our City Atty could have missed it - It seems very clear to me. The state is very clear on this issue so that the cities cant appoint replacements.

So, its important to pay for special elections for the library in August but not a Mayoral replacement?? cmon.. the pendulum swings both ways.

We pay the city atty a salary just as the state pays it employees a salary, so they are getting paid anyway, so i dont believe its wasteful because they already collect a paycheck.

How about Snyder appointing an emergency mayor? Save us the cost of the lawsuit, election, etc. The last I knew from civics class, state law trumps city law. Just get this over with and get on with city business. This whole thing is just nuts.

Funny how so many are quick to be all doubtful about legitimate, well educated, trained city employees. But it often turns out it's the political hacks making money off the taxpayers that are the crux of the problem. Food for thought:

http://www.keeptroystrong.com/2012/11/so-naive.html#comment-form

As a former part time employee in the City (I worked in the private sector before for years and do so again now), I am stunned and appalled at how Concerned Troy Citizens, the TCU, etc., purposely create a drumbeat to cause residents to doubt our employee's talents, advice and efforts to SERVE us with excellence. Fellow residents: please stop and think who you are trusting and who you are not trusting. Many of our employees not only work here, they also live here. Volunteer here. Are raising their kids here. Pay property taxes here. They care deeply about the city, the city infrastructure, it's reputation, and the safety of its residents. Their kids are in school and on soccer teams, marching bands, etc., with everyone else's kids. When employees, former employees, and relatives of employees speak up to express concern, they actually really know what they're talking about. And, understand this, they are not politically motivated. But they are deeply informed and truly understand the issues, the opportunities and the harm of career politicians practicing hyper partisan politics where it has no business being practiced. That's the behavior that's hurting Troy's reputation and wasting our tax dollars. And that's exactly the behavior being thrust upon us all right now. I trust our City Attorney completely as well as Mayor Slater, Councilwoman McGinnis, and Councilman Campbell. They're wise, pragmatic and experienced in these matters and worthy of trust.

Getting sued by the State of Michigan, having a recall and not knowing what a recall would do, a Transit Center to nowhere that nobody is ever going to use, closing the library on Saturdays the day when most citizens need it, suing Hooters and other businesses to stay out of Troy , a million dollar red brick sidewalk to a park nobody uses, a solar house that cannot heat itself and which nobody can use, millions of dollars spent on the Downtown Development Authority and nobody even knows where "downtown Troy" is, and a dozen others is what makes the City of Troy the shame of Michigan. What a bunch of clowns! Ditto for the people who elected the clowns.

It was always going to end up in court. It's also apparent that this issue is political gamesmenship (and initiated by the Gosselin/Clark group). There is not a City employee involved in that. The City employees are trying to interpret the law for the citizens. There is no political motivation for the City Attorney nor Clerk to do anything but their jobs. The Attorney and Clerk work for the Council. They are doing their jobs very well. As for Ms. Galen, her outstate views of Troy have been disproved multiple times.

It was going to end up in court because of the conflict between the Statute and the Charter, which the City Attorney has specified. The City can't follow the Statute and not be in violation of several other Charter provisions. These provisions are not being taken into account by the State at this point, and they must be addressed. If the AG had agreed, case closed. As of right now, the AG doesn't agree. The City Attorney is left with no choice but to defend the Charter. There is no intent to prevent the voters from choosing representation, it's just a question of when.

Total waste of tax payer dollars.
When will it end.
I posted long ago this was going to end up costing us 100-150k by recalling Janis.
I would tell you to look at my comments under the recall Janis Facebook page, but they long ago deleted my posts and blocked me from posting civil common sense comments on their page. Talk about suppressing free speech.
I also read last week the so called high speed rail to Chicago (you know, the one the troy rail system was going to connect to) has been nixed by the federal department transportation. No federal money for high speed rail system.
How can some of you say your motives are in the best interest of Troy?
The motives behind this recall were purely political posturing for self interest.
This recall accomplished nothing and will cost us all plenty.

@Lynn H. I realize the city clerk couldn't accept the applications because at that time an election didn't exist, but she didn't have to lie being on the phone, because you could clearly see on the video she was staring at a computer screen waiting for 4:01pm to take the pressure off of her and then proceed to the counter. The retired Troy city employees who are residents are concerned about their pensions. Why did Szerlag and Lamerato leave? They know the city, like other major cities in the country, cannot afford to pay pensions and health care for public sector retiree without eventually running out of money. Regarding your partisan comment, how many public sector employees vote Democrat through their unions..i.e. 100%, to protect their extravagant retirement taxpayer funded retirement packages.

As I have said before, the city Atty did NOT do her due diligence and research, or maybe she just didn't think of it but she strikes me as a very bright and competent woman.... If she would have contact the Ag office BEFORE the recall and asked them, she would have been told she needed a Feb election... I'm not an atty, but it seemed pretty cut and dry.. Next election means February!!

Cookiepro2, help me out here: the Kempen and Brake charade is part of the suit? I haven't had time to read everything.

Let's recall the City Attorney and get someone who gives a damn in there! She is simply wasting hundreds of thousands of the tax dollars, and when asked ANY question during a city council meeting, she stumbles and answers....duh....yea I guess so...maybe, but kinda sorta, well I guess, sure, think so, wait, but really. We deserve better! Watch the next Monday Night council meeting and her response, you will see what I mean.

Larry you are an idiot.