Kevyn Orr is more secretive than promised about his work as Detroit's emergency manager, a Free Press documents check shows.
Orr pledged to conduct his work transparently to keep the public informed.
But records obtained by the Free Press show Orr has backed off that pledge since June when awarding contracts to certain firms hired for work related to the city’s restructuring.
Orr also has sidestepped some of the city’s previous contracting policies — such as having the Law Department vet proposed contracts. . . — when hiring these firms, records show.
"Orr has not passed along information about at least six contracts his office has approved since June," bankruptcy beat reporters Joe Guillen and Matt Helms write.
Under the state’s emergency manager law, Orr does not need the council’s approval to award contracts. But after he was appointed in March, Orr said it would be important to keep the council informed. . . .
City Council President Saunteel Jenkins said Friday she was surprised to learn of the contracts and that information should have been shared with the council “because what we’ve been told is that there would be transparency.”
Orr's spokesman, Bill Nowling, acknowledges to the Free Press that not all contracts and amendments are posted on the city’s website or relayed to the city clerk.
“No system is perfect,” Nowling said. “We are trying to address these issues as they’re brought to our attention as forthrightly as we can.”
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