No. 52
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
75¢
December 24 – 30, 2015
w w w . a s s o c i a t e d n e w s p a p e r s . n e t
The 29th District Court in
Wayne has made what can
be a stressful experience far
more understandable and
comfortable for those who
visit the facility.
See page 5.
District officials reported
that students in the
Northville Schools "per-
formed comparatively well
overall" on the first-ever
MSTEP test.
See page 3.
The Belleville Area
Chamber of Commerce
recently named the winners
in the Winter Fest competi-
tions among several entries
in various categories
throughout the city.
See page 3.
Vol. 130, No. 52
Vol. 68, No. 52
Vol. 68, No. 52
Vol. 15, No. 52
Members of the Romulus
City Council have taken the
first step toward the renova-
tion and expansion of the
34thDistrict Court.
See page 4.
Vol. 130, No. 52
Vol. 68, No. 52
Vol. 68, No. 52
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
The Westland Local
Officers Compensation
Commission recommended
increases to the salaries of
the mayor, members of the
city council and the city
clerk.
See page 5.
A special “wish tree” has
been installed in the lobby of
the Summit decorated with
tags designating items need-
ed to help the therapeutic
recreation program at the
facility.
See page 2.
Vol. 15, No. 24
More than 100 Inkster
families will be helped with
the gift of groceries and toys
for the holiday season, fund-
ed by the Inkster Legends
annual Christmas raffle.
See page 4.
Members of the board of edu-
cation relieved superintendent
of Schools Michael Meissen of
his duties.
Following a closed session
meeting with the district legal
counsel, Monica Merritt was
named as interim superinten-
dent of the Plymouth-Canton
Community School District last
week, replacingMeissen.
Merritt, who was an assistant
superintendent under Meissen,
began her new duties effective
immediately following the Dec.
15 meeting. The announcement
was presented as an “adminis-
tration transition plan resolu-
tion” and was approved by a
unanimous vote of the board of
educationmembers.
Meissen, who was not pres-
ent at the meeting, was hired as
the superintendent of schools in
March of 2013. According to the
plan approved by the board
members, he will be required to
fulfill the remaining six months
of his contract although the res-
olution clearly removes him
from any day-to-day operations
of the district.
Meissen's salary was $212,000
per year, plus benefits.
No reason for the transition
was offered by members of the
board or by district Community
Relations Director Nick
Bandon, who read a statement
announcing the change during
the meeting. In the formal reso-
lution, Meissen was character-
ized as “an effective superinten-
dent” but no further comment
was made regarding his tenure
with the district. The statement
thanked Meissen for his two
years with Plymouth-Canton
andwent on to call his successor
“a great administrator who can
seamlessly take over the day-to-
day operations of the district.”
Meissen issued a prepared
statement regarding the transi-
tion.
“It has been an honor and a
privilege to serve the Plymouth-
Canton Community Schools. I
will work collaboratively with
the BOE (board of education)
and Educational Team to transi-
tion the district to new leader-
ship and buildupon the success-
ful work that has been complet-
ed during our partnership
together.
“I am grateful for the oppor-
tunity to lead this exceptional
school district and to serve
these outstanding students,
teachers, staff, principals, par-
ents and community. It is my
desire to pursue other educa-
tional leadership positions in
public education that are com-
patible with family needs and
priorities,” Meissen's statement
said.
“Thank you for this opportu-
nity. I look forward to working
with the team to ensure a
smooth transition,” Merritt, a
resident of the district, said at
the end of themeeting.”
Teachers in the Plymouth
Canton Community Schools
rejected a proposed two-
year contract with the dis-
trict during a recent vote.
See page 3.
It has been an honor and a privilege
to serve the Plymouth-Canton
Community Schools.
”
School superintendent is ‘replaced’ by board
Purchase of police
body cameras is OK’d
Teen suspects arrested
Members of the Canton
Township Board of Trustees last
week approved the expenditure
of $30,000 for 60 body cameras to
be used by the police depart-
ment.
The body cameras will
become standard equipment for
the officers next spring, accord-
ing to officials who cautioned
that the township will need to
develop policies and proce-
dures regarding the use of the
cameras to ensure that privacy
rights are not violated in certain
situations.
Public Safety Director Todd
Mutchler said the cameras are
critical for officers in an effort to
record their actions and that the
cameras will detail each public
contact or arrest incident from
the officer's viewpoint.
“It really levels the playing
field,” Mutchler told the board
of trustees.
He added that policies would
need to include activating or de-
activating the camera and the
response of the township to
requests to view the tapes under
the Freedom of Information Act.
The township opted to purchase
the cameras from BodyVISION.
These camera are compatible
with the in-car mobile camera
already being used in Canton
patrol cars.
Township Supervisor Phil
LaJoy detailed his reasons for
supporting the purchase and the
need for the cameras including
the documentation of arrests
and encounters with police
offices and the use of the video
evidence in the investigation of
crimes. He noted that the cam-
era is a means of providing
more transparency and can help
improve and increase public
trust in officers. He also cited
the use of the videos of actual
encounters as a training tool for
newofficers.
He explained that the cam-
eras can also provide the evi-
dence needed to evaluate citi-
zen complaints and protect offi-
cers from false claims of miscon-
duct.
The union representing the
Belleville firefighters has filed for
binding arbitration in an effort to
settle a contract with the city.
Under the rules of Public Act
312, the city will be required to
pay the cost of the arbitration
after the Michigan Association of
Fire Fighters filed the necessary
paperwork claiming that all
attempts to negotiate a contract
have failed.
Belleville Firefighters are
paid-on-call and are all members
of the union with the exception of
Chief Brian Loranger. Attempts to
negotiate a contract have been
ongoing since firefighters joined
the union more than 2 years ago.
That move was prompted by the
failure of the city to increase the
training hour wage for firefight-
ers to $10 an hour from the $5
previously paid. Belleville Fire
Department Lt. Brian Blackburn
said that paying the men in train-
ing less that the minimum hourly
wage of about $7.70 an hour at the
time was technically illegal. He
also noted that the firefighters
provided the city officials with a
complete wage comparison and
analysis, but no change was forth-
coming, despite promises made
to the firefighters by city officials.
Blackburn said the union
organization was deemed neces-
sary by the firefighters as the city
was not taking their requests seri-
ously.
Labor attorney John Clark and
City Manager Diane Kollmeyer
negotiated with the union regard-
ing the wages for the 18 firefight-
ers.
The union representatives
claim that Clark and Kollmeyer
repeatedly cancelled and
Four area teens face up to 10
years in prison if found guilty of
breaking and entering Wayne
Lawn & Garden Center earlier
thismonth.
Canton police reported that
the burglary took place at about
1 a.m. Dec. 6 at the Michigan
Avenue business. Officers were
alerted by an alarm company
and through live audio could
hear a loud noise in the build-
ing. Police said they believe the
suspects may have used some
type of tool to get inside the
business, located near Lotz
Road.
The suspects fled the scene
when officers arrived, accord-
ing to police reports. Officers
arrested two of the teens at the
scene and a third was arrested
the same morning. The fourth
suspect was identified and
arrested later in the morning,
police said, but is not being
identified as he is a juvenile.
Not guilty pleas were
entered for London Myles
McLeod, 17, of Belleville, Ledell
Belleville Firefighters
are paid-on-call
and are all members
of the union with the
exception of
Chief Brian Loranger.
”
Fire fighters union
files for arbitration
See
Contract,
page 3
See
Teens,
page 6
And the winners are
Named as the 2016 Distinguished Young Women of Wayne
Westland during a presentation last week was Riana
Hardyniec, above left, a senior at Wayne Memorial High
School. First runner-up at the event was Kelsie Wysong, also a
senior at Wayne Memorial High School. The 2017
Distinguished Young Woman is Kaitlyn Balko, below left, a jun-
ior at John Glenn High School and first runner up for the 2017
honor was Antrunkia Alonza, also a junior at Wayne Memorial
High School. Distinguished Young Women is a national schol-
arship program that inspires high school girls to develop their
full, individual potential through a fun, transformative experi-
ence that culminates in a showcase of their accomplishments,
according to the non-profit organization website. Each of the
winners was awarded scholarship money to help continue her
education. The students will compete in the state program
next month.
