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The murder trial of the Dearborn
Heights man accused of beating a 72-year-
old Inkster resident to death in July of
2013 is now in thehands of a jury.
Ali Mohamed Elatrache, 25, is charged
with first-degree murder, felony murder,
home invasion and aggravated stalking in
the death of Mohammed Aljbailey on July
18, 2013 when he is accused of breaking
into Aljbailey's Cherry Hill Manor
Apartment, beating and strangling the sen-
ior citizen and taking items from the home
before fleeing toCanada.
Aljbailey is the father of Elatrache's for-
mer 30-year-old girlfriend, who lived in
the apartment withher aging father.
“The daughter of the deceased male
has been being stalked andharassed by an
ex-boyfriend,” said former Inkster Det.
Anthony Delgreco, at the time of the
crime. “He's been following her to her
work, sending her thousands of text mes-
sages a day, there was even a fight in
Dearborn Heights. It's been going on for 5
or 6months.”
Prosecutors allege that the suspect
came in through the complex visitor gate,
driving a black BMW and forced his way
into the apartment where he brutally beat
the 72-year-old, leaving the body for his ex-
girlfriend to find.
“She could hardly speak when we
arrived,” said Delgreco, who was the
investigator at the scene. “But she was
able to giveus helpful information.”
Elatrache was extradited from Canada
to face charges in Wayne County Circuit
Court. His bond was set at $10 million, or
10 percent cash or surety by Judge
Gregory D. Bill in June of this year. Bail
conditions included the wearing of a teth-
er andno contact with the victim's family.
The case is under the jurisdiction of
Judge Timothy M. Kenny who denied a
motion by defense attorney James C.
Howarth for amistrial onSept. 22.
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
4
October 2, 2014
MINUTES OF REGULAR ROMULUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING
September 8, 2014
Romulus City Hall Council Chambers, 11111 Wayne Rd. Romulus, MI 48174
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Pro Tem, John Barden.
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
Present:
Kathleen Abdo, John Barden, Linda Choate, Harry Crout, Sylvia Makowski, Celeste
Roscoe, William Wadsworth.
Administrative Officials in Attendance:
LeRoy D. Burcroff, Mayor
Stacy Paige, Treasurer
1.
Moved by Makowski, seconded by Abdo to accept the agenda as presented.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion
Carried Unanimously
.
14-370 2A.
Moved by Wadsworth, seconded by Abdo to approve the minutes of the regular
meeting of the Romulus City Council held on September 2, 2014.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes -
Abdo, Barden, Choate, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried
Unanimously
.
14-371 2B.
Moved by Makowski, seconded by Roscoe to approve the minutes of the special
meeting of the Romulus City Council held on September 2, 2014, 7:00 p.m. study session,
amendment to City of Romulus Pension Ordinance.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden,
Choate, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
3. Petitioner:
None.
Chairperson's Report:
Mayor Pro-Tem Barden asked Mark Lewkowicz to share informa-
tion regarding the 1974 Romulus High School Class Reunion to be held at the Progressive Hall
on Saturday, September 27, 2014. Boy Scout leader, Wayne Laginess, announced the Boy
Scouts pancake breakfast will be held during the Pumpkin Festival on Saturday and Sunday
from 8:00 a.m. until noon.
4.
Moved by Choate, seconded by Makowski to accept the chairperson's report.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion
Carried Unanimously
.
5. Mayor's Report:
Mayor Burcroff commended the DPW department, fire and police depart-
ments for a fine job during the recent storm; also, Rose Swidan, Senior Services Director, for
cooking food to have available at the senior center after the storm. City Hall and DPW employ-
ees had a chili cook off and employees paid money to wear their favorite sports shirts with the
money being donated to families in need. Suzanne Moreno, from city hall, and Lori Covert
from DPW won the "golden ladle" award for the best chili.
14-372 5A1.
Moved by Wadsworth, seconded by Crout to adopt a memorial resolution for the
family of Jeff Wensko.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Crout, Makowski,
Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-373 5A.
Moved by Wadsworth, seconded by Makowski to concur with the administration
and authorize the mayor and clerk to enter into agreements for the community credit program
and the local transit program between SMART and the City of Romulus for the 2015 fiscal year.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14- 374 5B.
Moved by Makowski, seconded by Roscoe to adopt the Wayne County five year
Hazardous Mitigation Plan dated August 5, 2013.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate,
Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-375 5C.
Moved by Wadsworth, seconded by Makowski to adopt a resolution for a morato-
rium on issuance of permits for oil and gas-related activities in the City of Romulus.
Roll Call
Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
6A. Clerk's Report
14-376 6A1.
Moved by Abdo, seconded by Crout to approve second reading, final adoption of
Amended Ordinance Chapter 38, Appendix B, City of Romulus Pension Plan.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion
Carried Unanimously
.
14-377 6A2.
Moved by Makowski, seconded by Roscoe to schedule a study session on
September 22, 2014 at 5:45 p.m. to discuss 4th quarter investments. The meeting will be held
in the Romulus City Hall Council Chambers.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate,
Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-378 6A3.
Moved by Roscoe, seconded by Crout to schedule a study session on September
22, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss Communication Site (cell tower) Lease Agreement
Amendment. The meeting will be held in the Romulus City Hall Council Chambers.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-379 6A4.
Moved by Makowski, seconded by Wadsworth to approve revisions to the Fire
Department Fee Schedule due to the new fees necessary for the implementation of the City
billing agreement with AccuMed.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Crout,
Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
6B. Treasurer's Report:
Treasurer Stacy Paige announced that city taxes are due by
September 30, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.
7. Public Comment:
Resident commented that she is pleased with the current road improve-
ments being done in Romulus.
8. Unfinished Business
9. New Business:
14-380 9A1.
Moved by Makowski, seconded by Wadsworth to adopt a resolution to recognize
Vira Makowski on her 93rd birthday.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Crout,
Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-381 9A2.
Moved by Roscoe, seconded by Makowski to adopt a resolution to recognize
Pastor Edward Thomas, Jr. on his 70th birthday.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate,
Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
10. Communication:
Council Wadsworth announced Bingo will be held at the Pumpkin
Festival on Friday at 6:00 p.m. Saturday- 2:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. with proceeds going
to the Romulus Animal Shelter. (Pumpkin Festival will be Sept. 19 thru Sept 21.) City Clerk,
Ellen Craig-Bragg, gave a reminder that the Parade of Lights route has changed - the
parade starts at the high school then goes down Tobine to Shook Road to Goddard Road to the
Progressive Hall.
.14-382 11.
Moved by Choate , seconded by Makowski to approve Warrant 14-17 in the amount
of $1,262,909.99.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe,
Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
12.
Moved by Wadsworth, seconded by Roscoe to adjourn the regular meeting of the Romulus
City Council.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe,
Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
I, Ellen L. Craig-Bragg, Clerk for the City of Romulus, Michigan do hereby certify the forego-
ing to be a true copy of the minutes of the regular meeting of the Romulus City Council held
on September 8, 2014.
Publish
: October 2, 2014
CITY OF ROMULUS
APPENDIX B
CHAPTER 38
ROMULUS EMPLOYEES PENSION PLAN
An Ordinance to amend the City of Romulus Code of Ordinances Chapter 38 Romulus
Employee Pension Plan.
THE CITY OF ROMULUS ORDAINS:
Section 1: Short Title
This ordinance shall be known and cited as the Ordinance Amendment Revising
the Time for Election of Pension Committee Members and Conforming the
Amount of City Contributions to Reflect Previously Approved Increases under the
Amended Romulus Employee Pension Plan.
Section 2:
Sec.38.3.1 of the City of Romulus Employees’ Pension Plan Ordinance as restat-
ed effective July 1, 2009 is amended effective July 1, 2014 to read as follows:
The City shall contribute to the Trust for each Plan Year the following amounts:
(a) ten percent (10%) of Compensation for Court Participants;
(b) eleven and one-half percent (11.5%) of Compensation for AFSCME
Participants;
(c) eleven and one-half percent (11.5%) of Compensation for Teamsters
Participants;
(d) eleven and one-half percent (11.5%) of Compensation for Participants who are
non-union City Employees and elected City officials not otherwise included in the
one of the foregoing groups.
The amount of City Contributions provided hereunder shall be amended from
time to time in accordance with section 38.9.2 for Participants covered by a col-
lective bargaining agreement and by resolution of the City Council in accordance
with section 38.9.1 for all other Participants.
Section 3:
Sec. 38.6.3(c) of the City of Romulus Employees’ Pension Plan Ordinance as
restated effective July 1, 2009 is amended effective July 1, 2014 to read as fol-
lows:
Each Committee member representing Employees, former Employees, retirees or
Beneficiaries (collectively called the “Participants”) shall be elected by a majori-
ty vote of the group of Participants which they represent. Each Committee mem-
ber representing Participants shall serve for four (4) years. An election shall be
held on the second Wednesday in January every four (4) years for terms to begin
the following February 1. Such elections may be held by mail ballot or through
the most administratively expedient method as determined under the rules and
regulations of the Committee so as to include all Participants. The election proce-
dure shall be set forth in writing within thirty (30) days of being enacted by the
Committee and shall be made available to any Participant who requests a copy of
the procedures.
Section 4: Repealer
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are repealed only to the
extent necessary to give this ordinance full force and effect.
Section 5: Savings
All proceedings pending and all rights and liabilities existing, acquired or incurred at the time
this ordinance takes effect are saved and may be consummated according to the
law in force when they were commenced.
Section 6: Severability
Should any clause, sentence, paragraph, subsection or section of this Article be declared void
or otherwise invalid, for any reason, by any court, such declaration shall not affect
any portion of this Article other than the part specifically declared to be void.
Section 7: Effective Date
This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon publication in the official newspaper.
ADOPTED, APPROVED AND PASSED by the City Council of the City of Romulus this 8 th
day of September, 2014.
LeRoy D. Burcroff, Mayor, Ellen L. Craig-Bragg, CMMC, City Clerk
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Ordinance as passed by the City Council
of the City of Romulus at a regular Council Meeting held on the 8 th day of September, 2014.
I further certify that the foregoing was published in the Romulus Roman, a newspaper of gen-
eral circulation in the City of Romulus on the 22 nd day of September, 2014. Ellen L.
Craig-Bragg, CMMC, City Clerk
Within forty-five (45) days after publication of any ordinance duly passed by the Council, a
petition may be presented to the Council protesting against such ordinance continuing in effect.
Said petition shall contain the text of such ordinance and shall be signed by not less than six
percent (6%) of the registered electors registered at the last preceding election at which a mayor
of the City was elected. Said ordinance shall thereupon and thereby be suspended from opera-
tion and the Council shall immediately reconsider such ordinance.
Introduced:
09-02-14
Second Reading:
09-08-14
Published:
10-02-14
I
NKSTER
- W
AYNE
- W
ESTLAND
Westland city offices
now in new building
Trial proceeds in beating death of Inkster senior
Last Friday was moving day for the City
ofWestlandmunicipal offices.
City files, records and employees' per-
sonal items were moved from the former
Ford Road offices to the new offices at
36300WarrenRoad.
The first official day of business at the
newaddress wasMonday. The new facility
is the former Circuit City building, which
underwent a massive retrofitting and
remodeling to accommodate the needs of
the city.
The former city hall on Ford Road had
been plagued with a water-logged base-
ment, mold and other construction prob-
lems for decades, necessitating themove.
“The move to our new city hall was a
historic event for our All American City;”
commented Mayor William R. Wild. “For
the first time in almost 50 years, municipal
services will be conducted in a new, state
of the art, welcoming and ADA-compliant
facility.”
The retrofitted 64,000 square foot facili-
ty, located in the heart o the Westland
“Shop and Dine” district, is a $10 million
retrofit of a long-vacant commercial build-
ing, being fundedwith tax revenues gener-
ated by the city Tax Increment Finance
Authority. This move will result in a more
functional city hall, with five times the
space, allowing the Department of Public
Service administration, the Building and
Planning departments, the Youth
Assistance Program and the city cable
department, WLND, to join the current
city hall departments under one roof.
“We ask for your patience as we con-
duct the move to our new offices and I
would remind everyone that during the
move, the drop box located behind the
current Ford Road city hall will remain
open and be accessible around the clock
for making utility payments or dropping
off other documents for city officials,”Wild
continued.
As of Monday, residents can conduct
city business at the new city hall location.
Regular business hours are 9 a.m. until 5
p.m. Monday throughFriday.
Shining
example
Darlene Hawley, her
fami ly
and
Commission on
Aging members
Barbara Heidmann,
Cynthia Gordon,
Helen Braun, Co-
Chair
John
VanStipdonk, Chair
Ron Hays and Secretary/Senior Services Director Nancy Wojewski-Noel celebrate
her selection as the Diamond of the Community last month.