Share this petition.. Westland City Council President Jim Godbout needs to step down.

Godbout's bully tactics and rude behavior toward citizens must come to an end. His constant lies about fellow council members and citizens reached a new low. On Monday June 6th with his attack on Council-members Herzberg and Coleman.

Under Godbout's leadership we are now in a 10 million dollar water meter debacle and the illegal overcharging of residents OVER estimated water bills.  Many homeowners have gone over a year without an actual read. This is simply bad leadership and a money grab.

Westland rates are the highest in the state.  President Godbout has done nothing to mitigate costs like other communities. Instead we are nickel and dimed to death.

Our water bills are so high, Godbout's personal water bill wasn’t paid in full for over 3 years. It was not until March 2016 when Godbout paid the outstanding balance- only after being exposed for his egregious failure to be pay his bill.  

The misuse of office doesn’t stop at Godbout - Adam Hammons and Christine Bryant. Have large outstanding balances as well. See this link https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-woBXhwb9N3Rzk3YjRnWlJZRk0

Anyone can look up their bills on the city web page. Here: https://accessmygov.com/OnlinePayment/OnlinePaymentSearch

Due to Godbout’s position, Mayor [Wild] did not enforce the water ordnance on delinquent City Council members.  
THE CITY ORDNANCE Sec. 102-66. - Penalty for late payment. Charges for water consumption and sewage disposal charges not paid on or before the last net payment date, as indicated on the face of the bill therefore, shall be subject to a ten percent penalty charge.
(Code 1981, § 39-50)Sec. 102-67. - All water and sewer bill charges shall constitute a lien on the property served. Sec. 102-68. - Certified statement of unpaid past due water bill charges; collection as general city taxes.On May 1 and October 1 of each year, the city clerk shall deliver to the mayor a certified statement of all then unpaid water and sewer charges which were six months past due as of the preceding April 1 and September 1, respectively. The mayor shall place such charges, together with an additional 30 percent penalty, on the next general city or county tax roll and the charges shall be collected as part of the general city or county tax roll on which such charges appear. (Code 1981, § 39-52)

The list of continued failed leadership actions include:

-The current 2016 Deerhurst class action water lawsuit, which alleges the city is over charging residents and taking millions from the water fund and illegally transferring into the general found!  See this link http://www.kickhamhanley.com/class-action/deerhurst-v-westland  

Go to Plaintiffs' Responses to Defendant's First Set of Interrogatories and Requests to Produce and start on page 6.

-Lead/ Copper water cover up with the city whistle blower exposing mismanagement and negligence.

-Ken's Red Barn Flag gate, Godbout did nothing nor did he speak out about this national embarrassment.

-Godbout sponsored and supported (two times) a proposed new rule at council not air citizens comments for all council meetings. This failed due to citizens out cries.

-Voted for Chief Reddy double dipping salary of over 200 k  and the embarrassing Adams triple dipping parks director, making over 200k.

-No published meeting minutes for study sessions.

It's time for a new start in Westland Mich, "His time is up"!