Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Five candidates are running for mayor, three candidates are running for clerk, and 21 candidates will seek a seat on the city council.
Seven incumbents were among the 29 Dearborn residents who turned in petitions to run for election by the 4:30 p.m. deadline on Tuesday. According to Dearborn City Clerk Kathleen Buda, the following candidates will seek election in the Aug. 6 primary: Buda's office said she’ll have to certify each candidate’s petition signatures to make sure they’re eligible to be placed on the ballot. State election laws mandate that Buda have the verified petitions to Wayne County election officials by May 20. Potential candidates have to live in the city and get 100 signatures of support from registered voters. The leading vote-getter in the general election will be the council president for the following four years; the runner-up will be president pro …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Hubbard has served for 16 years on the Dearborn City Council.
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Monday, May 13
Submitted by: Gretchen Ackermann Moss Dearborn resident Nancy Hubbard announced her resignation from the city council after 24 years of service to the community. Sixteen of her years as councilwoman were served as councilwoman pro tempore. “I have enjoyed serving the Dearborn community and will miss my job on the council, but I feel it is time to retire,” Hubbard said in a press release. She said she plans to spend her time traveling and volunteering in Dearborn. Hubbard is the only daughter of former Mayor Orville L. Hubbard, who served the city for 36 years. He instilled in his five children the importance of serving the public, she said. “I sincerely enjoyed serving Dearborn residents and helping them solve problems, I will miss that …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Resident Tom Tafelski is seeking another term on the city council; vows to work with mayor's office to boost city's economic growth if re-elected.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, May 7
Dear Fellow Residents: I want to thank those who have spoken to me, called, and written letters to urge me to run for the office of mayor. There has been a lot of speculation. I appreciate the kind words and am grateful for your support. At this time, however, I will not run for mayor of the city of Dearborn. This decision has nothing to do with me not being up to the challenge, but one based purely on family priorities. Being a single father of three young boys, it is my desire to raise them to the best of my ability and to be there for those events that every proud parent is there for. My boys might not remember how good of an elected official I was, but my hope is that they will remember how great of a father they had during their …
Thursday, May 2, 2013
The city will allow patio wood-burning units located 15 feet from the homeowner's property and adjoining properties.
Just in time for the summer barbecue season, the Dearborn City Council amended the city's outdoor burning ordinance at its regular meeting on Tuesday. The ordinance prohibits open burning (brush, leaves, grass clippings, etc.) and regulates the use of patio wood-burning units such as fire pits and chimneas. According to the ordinance, residents can operate patio wood-burning units as long as they use clean burning wood (natural, unpainted or pressure treated wood), and locate the unit at least 15 feet from their house and 15 feet from adjoining structures. The fire pit must be enclosed with screening on all sides, including the top, and must be constructed with non-combustible material (steel, concrete, or clay). The fire pit must be kept …
Monday, April 22, 2013
Dearborn officials establish a schedule of meetings on the proposed fiscal year 2014 budget.
In preparation for its 2014 fiscal year, the Dearborn City Council will hold several public work sessions prior to the adoption of the city budget on May 28. Six workshops have been scheduled, all at 5:30 p.m. with Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr., his administration and the city council, leading up to the budget hearing on May 23. All budget workshops are at 5:30 p.m. in the Mayor’s Conference Room on the second floor of the east wing of city hall, except where noted. The first workshop is set for April 24 and will include an overview of the budget that will be presented to the city council. Proposed meeting dates: The public hearing on the budget is set for 6:30 p.m. May 23 in the council chambers, one hour before the start of the council’s …
The city council may vote on the contract with Ghafari Associates, LLC. at its April 30 meeting.
A decision on whether or not the city should award a architecture contract to Ghafari Associates, LLC. for design and engineering services at the new city hall may come back before the Dearborn City Council on April 30. The council voted 3-2 in favor of awarding up to $208,400 to Ghafari Associates at its meeting on April 16, however council bylaws require four votes to approve any item before the council, so it failed. Council President Tom Tafelski and Councilman David Bazzy voted against the contract. On Friday, Debra Walling, attorney for the city of Dearborn, confirmed that Bazzy filed a motion to reconsider the vote at the council's next meeting. According to Wahling, any member of the city council who is on the prevailing side of a …
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Council members Thomas Tafelski and David Bazzy said there are still unanswered questions revolving around the new city hall.
The design of the new Dearborn City Hall was put on hold Tuesday after the Dearborn City Council failed to authorize a contract with Ghafari Associates, LLC. With a 3-2 decision, the council voted down the approval of a contract in the amount of $208,400 to allow Ghafari Associates to provide design, engineering, and construction administration services for the building's final site plan. Council President Thomas Tafelski and Councilman David Bazzy voted against the contract, stating that they do not want to authorize any money toward the project until Mayor John B. O'Reilly, Jr. is able to clarify their questions on renovation plans for the building, located at 16901 Michigan Ave. Following the vote, Councilwoman Suzanne Sareini requested…
Thursday, March 21, 2013
The council awarded a contract to DiPonio Contracting, Inc. for roadwork beginning in the spring.
While it might not feel like it outside, this week marks the beginning of spring, and with it comes the start of construction season in Michigan. The Dearborn City Council unanimously approved a contract with Shelby Twp.-based DiPonio Contracting, Inc. for water main replacement and asphalt street repaving in several neighborhoods at its meeting on Tuesday. According to information provided by the council, the contract calls for water main replacement at Kentucky Street from Warren Avenue to Tireman Avenue; Indiana Street from Warren Avenue to Tireman Avenue; Queen Street from Madison Street to north of Oxford Street; Hubbard Street from Madison Street to Oxford; and Vassar Street from Princeton to Oxford. The streets will also be …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
The president pro-tem will not seek re-election in November.
Following a six-term run, Dearborn City Council President Pro-Tem Suzanne Sareini on Tuesday announced that she will not seek re-election in 2013. Her son Mike Sareini, however, will pursue a seat on the council when all seven seats come up for election in November. Sareini cited "dramatic" changes in her life as contributing to her decision not to run for re-election. Her daughter, Nowal Sareini-Shatila, passed away Jan. 17 due to complications from heart disease. Suzanne Sareini was first elected to council in 1989. Her current term ends on Dec. 31. According to a release sent out Tuesday, Sareini intends to devote more energy to familial obligations: "Suzanne was seriously considering running for another term as recently as January but …
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The Local Officials Compensation Commission's recommendations were approved by City Council Tuesday.
Deliberations by Dearborn’s Local Officials Compensation Commission found that the salaries of all top elected officials should be maintained for 2013-14, according to the City of Dearborn. Council on Tuesday approved the recommendations of the commission, which met in January to deliberate compensation packages for the mayor, city clerk, council and council president positions. The packages, in addition to salary, also include an 80 percent/20 percent cost-sharing medical benefit plan for all officials. This is commensurate to plans available to all city employees per new state regulations that require municipalities to implement cost-sharing plans. Here’s a look at the salaries through 2014: According to a report from the commission, …
edward binkley
2:10 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
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