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A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
6
December 8, 2011
I
NKSTER
- R
OMULUS
- W
AYNE
- W
ESTLAND
Judge loses court filing
Wayne Goodfellows seeking help
Chief Judge Sylvia James of the 22nd
District Court in Inkster will face a discipli-
nary hearing before the Michigan Supreme
Court justices, despite her attempt to have
all seven of the jurists disqualified.
All seven justices denied having any bias
for or against James in an order last week.
James was placed on paid administrative
leave by the Supreme Court in April while
an investigation of court finances was com-
pleted. The investigation followed an initial
audit of the court books which indicated
that there were irregularities in the finan-
cial records.
The state judicial tenure commission did
not file a formal complaint against James
until Oct. 26, which was the basis for her
suit asking disqualify the justices, whom
she claimed in her lawsuit acted improper-
ly by suspending her prior to any formal
charges being filed against her.
The judicial tenure commission com-
plaint alleged that James used the court
Community Service Program checking
account as a “personal slush fund”. The
complaint alleges there were “financial
improprieties, administrative impropri-
eties, employment improprieties and mis-
representation.”
The Supreme Court is expected to
appoint a master to conduct a hearing on
the charges but no appointment has been
announced andno datehas been set.
James remains on paid administrative
leave.
James' attorney, Philip Thomas, said that
he was disappointed with the ruling. He
said that James has done nothing wrong
and that she will fight the charges “on all
fronts.”
Westland will use approximately $20,000
inEnergy Efficiency andConservationBlock
Grant funds to pay for a LED lighting project
in thehistoricAnnapolis Park neighborhood.
This project will replace 31 streetlight
bulbs with LED bulbs, at an estimated annu-
al cost savings for the city in the amount of
$2,100, explainedMayorWilliamR.Wild.
The City of Westland received $731,000 in
energy efficiency and conservation block
grant funds in 2009. The city utilized these
funds previously to fund energy retrofits at
the Modano Ice Arena, Bailey Recreation
Center and thePoliceDepartment.
Annapolis Park is the first designated his-
toric neighborhood in the city, Wild said.
Built in 1952, it was the only suburban devel-
opment in the country built exclusively for
African Americans. In addition, no banks
werewilling to providemortgages for the 366
houses, so the developers created a mort-
gage fund for the newhomeowners.
The Annapolis Park subdivision was
added to the National Register of Historic
Places as an historical district, for the contri-
bution it made to the broad pattern of the
nation's history, he added.
“This will be the city's first use of LED
energy efficient technology for street light-
ing,” said Wild. “This pilot project will allow
the city to determine the extent of cost sav-
ings before moving on to larger street light-
ing projects.”
The DTE Home Energy Consultation
Program is available for all Westland resi-
dents, Wild said. To participate, contact DTE
directly at (877) 497-2191.
Two down, two to go.
The Wayne Goodfellows are halfway
through their annual fundraising events to
support the annual goal of No ChildWithout
A Christmas, and they're hoping for more
Wayne residents to help out.
“All your funds stay within the City of
Wayne,” saidWayneFireChiefMelMoore.
Two local bars have hosted Goodfellows
events already, he said. The first being the
most recent addition to the night life in the
city-the Avenue Bar. Jake's Again hosted an
event for city employees and friends onDec.
1, as well-as owner Jake Davison has for a
quarter of a century.
“It's kind of where it all got kicked off,”
said Moore. “We're proud to say he's helped
us out for 25 years.”
Next up is an event from 5-10 tonight,
Dec. 8 at The Village Bar and Grill on
Michigan Avenue. This event will feature
the same activities as the other two-auc-
tions, raffles, food and drink-aswell as a spe-
cial guest. Detroit Red Wing Darren
McCarty will be on hand after 6 p.m. signing
autographs for $20, with all proceeds going
toward theGoodfellows organization.
The final event will take place on Dec. 15
at theU.S. 12Bar andGrill.
“If you can't make any of the other three,
we're the last call,” said John Goci, owner of
U.S. 12 and vice-president of the Wayne-
Westland Community School Board.
“Christmas is a special time and it'd be nice
to give presents to our families who are hav-
ing a tough time.”
“We are in need of donations and goods,”
saidMoore.
The Wayne Goodfellows usually have
their hands full in fulfilling their annual
donation drive, and this year is no different.
Moore said that nearly 200 families have
requested help, with more than 350 chil-
dren.
The Wayne Goodfellows give out gift
cards to the families and supply food, too.
“We find it's better that the families get to
go shopping for their own kids, instead of us
buying gifts for them,” saidMoore.
Goodfellows organizations throughout
Wayne County are wrapping up their
fundraising drives; most go out on the first
Saturday of the month for a traditional
newspaper sale to gather donations.
Romulus Mayor Alan Lambert said it was
always inspiring to see the donations that
come in, even when the economy is down
and times are difficult.
“Even when people are in hard times,
they give,” he said.
This pilot project
will allow the city to
determine the extent
of cost savings before
moving on to larger
street lighting projects.
”
Historic district to receive lights
Marijuana moratorium extended
Those who want to open a medical
marijuana clinic in the City of Romulus
will have towait another season.
City council members voted unani-
mously last week to extend a moratorium
on the new clinics, to allow time for the
city to develop proper regulations for
them. The moratorium, set to expire this
week, was extended for another six
months.
"There have been a lot of develop-
ments with this issue," said Council
President LeRoy Burcroff. "We just want
tomake surewe get it right."
The City of Romulus has hosted study
sessions and public hearings on the issue
and municipal attorneys across the state
are looking into issues the law doesn't
specifically address, such as if it is still
technically legal to distribute medical
marijuana, since possession or trafficking
in the narcotic is a federal law, or if the
law would be recognized across state
lines.
Themoratoriumwill expire onMay 5.
“We just want to be careful with this
and ensure we're complying with all the
related laws,” saidBurcroff.