Retired attorney Eugene “Gil” Wanger helped rewrite the Michigan Constitution in 1961

Retired attorney Eugene “Gil” Wanger helped rewrite the Michigan Constitution in 1961.

Now he’s taking a crack at Lansing’s City Charter.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” the ever-polite Lansing resident wrote the Charter Commission, “Enclosed are four Charter recommendations for your consideration.

“They are based on my observations and experiences over the years as Lansing’s Delegate to the Michigan Constitutional Convention, Chairperson of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners, City Attorney of Lansing, an attorney practicing municipal law and a lifelong Lansing resident.”

Wanger was just 28 when he led the effort to enshrine Michigan’s death-penalty ban.

Now, at 91, he said his charter proposals are ones he “picked up and tucked away” over the decades. Two of them center around increased transparency, while the other pair would implement new operating procedures for the city-owned Board of Water & Light.

The first proposal would establish a new staff member called the city transparency officer, who would be tasked with establishing standards for annual reports “issued by every department, office and agency of the city.”

“They can be aggregated into an annual report for the citizens, who will then actually be able to see what their city is doing for the first time in history,” Wanger said.

He called on the City Council to establish “mandatory penalties” if departments don’t comply with the new standards, while the transparency officer would be charged with enforcing them. Additionally, he wrote, “the appointment, removal, compensation and budget appropriations of the city transparency officer and the above penalties shall not be subject to the approval of or a veto by the mayor.”

Brian Jeffries, who chairs the commission elected last year to review the charter and recommend changes, called Wanger’s pitch “a great idea.” He said the commission “seems to be in general agreement” with it.

“Our charter currently provides that there are supposed to be annual reports from all of our boards and commissions, but it’s not being done. It’s a transparency issue, and there’s no consequence for failing to do this,” he said.

Jeffires said he expects the commission to get to Wanger’s proposals this month.

Wanger’s second proposal would require the city to maintain a publicly accessible file compiling voluntary audit reports from Greater Lansing charity organizations.

“It’s just human nature that any leader is going to want to conceal all their mistakes and create the best possible picture they can for the public,” Wanger said. “It’s easy to carry that too far, and very few charities today tell people how they’re actually running things. With this change, citizens can make sure these charities are spending their money in an equitable way.”

While participation would be voluntary, Wanger anticipates the file would “create an incentive for charities to participate.”

“They don’t have to do it, but I figure they’d want to,” he said.

Wanger also asked the commission to reinstate a former city policy requiring a registered engineer to oversee the BWL. If they do, Wanger said he assumes they would allow BWL general manager Dick Peffley to retain his role until he’s replaced.

“It’s not personal. The point is that, after him, they’ll have to go back to hiring a registered engineer,” Wanger said. “As a general rule, there’s no question in my mind that you want someone in that role who understands the scientific principles involved.”

Jeffries didn’t indicate a firm position on the matter but said it’s an issue that’s “come up” during discussions on what qualifications they might require for other city positions, including the deputy mayor. At any rate, he added, it’s something commissioners will consider.

Finally, Wanger suggested a proactive policy that would permit the BWL to prioritize service to customers living within city limits in the event of a future water or energy shortage.

“Down the road, we don’t know what global warming is going to bring. Right now, the BWL operates out of wells, and a lot of them are outside of the city of Lansing. Suppose we get a real problem with the water supply and they have to ration it. In my opinion, if we have limited water, we should prioritize the citizens of Lansing rather than the entire area,” he said.

“After all, we own, operate and maintain it. When push comes to shove, the BWL should be able to make a favorable determination for the city,” he added.