Page 2 - eagle122420

PAGE 2 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN December 24, 2020

ROMULUS
ROMULUS

City council thanks

judge for service

Members of the Romulus City Council
unanimously approved a resolution of
congratulations to former Judge David
Parrott of the 34th District Court. Parrott
announced his resignation following the
Nov. 3 election when he was defeated in
his bid to return to the bench.
Parrott wrote a letter to the council
members, which was read into the official
minutes, thanking the community “for the
opportunity to serve.” In his letter, Parrot
said that it was an honor to have served
the community on the bench for 18 years.
He said he had “great respect for the com-
munity and the residents” and that while
he was retiring, he was not retiring from
community life. He suggested that the city
could call on him for service should there
be “anything I can do.” Judge David Parrott
Mayor LeRoy Burcroff thanked Parrott
for his years of service and his work with and always willing to help.” She suggested
the Boys and Girls Club in raising funds that should Parrott need help he remem-
for the organization. Councilwoman Eva ber, “we are only a phone call away.
Webb said that Parrott was “honorable, The council also officially welcomed MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ROMULUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING
fair to residents and those in surrounding the newest judge at the 34th District November 23, 2020
community who came before him when Court, Lisa Martin. Martin, a Harvard Law Romulus City Hall Council Chambers, 11111 Wayne Rd, Romulus, MI 48174
MEETING HELD ELECTRONICALLY
he was on the bench.” School graduate and a graduate of the VIA ZOOM MEETING/TELECOMMUNICATION
Her sentiments were echoed by University of Michigan with 23 years of Pledge of Allegiance
Councilman William Wadsworth and legal experience, garnered 51.85 percent Led by Councilwoman Abdo
Council President John Barden. of votes in the election to secure her term Roll Call
“I've known him a long time. He was an on the bench. Present: Kathy Abdo, John Barden, Celeste Roscoe, Tina Talley, Eva Webb, Virginia Williams
Absent / Excused: William Wadsworth
inspiration to the city and surrounding Members of the council approved a for- Administrative Officials in Attendance:
cities. He was always upfront and fair,” mal resolution welcoming her, extending LeRoy Burcroff, Mayor
Barden said. “You'll be missed judge,” he congratulations and acknowledging her as Ellen L. Craig-Bragg, Clerk
Stacy Paige, Treasurer
added. “I wish you success in your future.” the first African American woman to be Administrative Staff in Attendance:
Councilwoman Virginia Williams also sworn in to serve at the 34th District D'Sjonaun Hockenhull - Deputy Clerk; Julie Wojtylko - Chief of Staff; Roberto Scappaticci - DPW
wished Parrott well during the Zoom Court. Director; Maria Farris - Finance Director; Joshua Monte - Police Captain; Kevin Krause - Fire Chief;
Merrie Druyor - DDA Director; Stephen Dudek - Technology Director; Robert McCraight - DPS Director;
meeting. “He will always be a judge in my The votes on both resolutions were Stephen Hitchcock - City Attorney; Carol Maise - City Planner
book,” she said. “He was a people person unanimous. 1. Agenda
A. Moved by Tina Talley, seconded by Eva Webb to accept the agenda as presented
Authority of building 2. Minutes
Motion Carried Unanimously
Res. #20-303 Moved by Tina Talley, seconded by Eva Webb to amend the minutes from the regular
A.
meeting held on November 9, 2020 to correct the Communication section of the minutes
Motion Carried Unanimously
officials may change B. Res. #20-304 Moved by Tina Talley, seconded by Eva Webb to approve the minutes from the regular
meeting held on November 9, 2020 as amended
Motion Carried Unanimously
Res. #20-305 Moved by Kathy Abdo, seconded by Tina Talley to approve the minutes from the special
meeting(s) closed sessions held on November 9, 2020 at 6:30p & 6:45p to discuss attorney opinion and
pending litigation
Motion Carried Unanimously
Amendments to current city ordi- meanor citations for violations,” he said. 3. Petitioner No petitions/petitioners at this time
nances in Romulus will provide building “These changes allow us now to write a 4. Chairperson’s Report, John Barden, Mayor Pro-Tem
officials with another tool to control blight civil infraction.” He said that then the vio- Res. #20-306 Moved by Tina Talley, seconded by Kathy Abdo to approve the Consent Judgement pre-
in the city, according to Director of lation would to into the court system for sented and recommended by legal counsel in the matter of M&M Express Trucking, Inc. v City of
Romulus.
Building and Safety Robert McCreight. adjudication. Motion Carried Unanimously
Following discussion of the changes in “Our guys will try to work with property Res. #20-307 Moved by Tina Talley, seconded by Virginia Williams to approve a resolution in support
language, the first reading of the changes owners before any infraction. We have of the street signing for Clara Williams. Roll Call Vote: Ayes - Abdo, Barden, Roscoe, Talley, Webb,
Williams Nays - None Motion Carried Unanimously Councilwoman Webb extended her congratulations
to the ordinances hardship cases right to Judge-Elect Lisa Martin Moved by Celeste Roscoe, seconded by Tina Talley to accept the
was approved unan- ” now, people who Chairperson's Report
imously, although have had COVID or 5. Motion Carried Unanimously
Mayor’s Report – LeRoy D. Burcroff, Mayor
Councilwoman Previously, we had lost jobs. Obviously, A. Res. #20-308 Moved by Eva Webb, seconded by Tina Talley to concur with the administration and grant
Virginia Williams to write two misdemeanor we are going to authorization for the Mayor and Clerk to enter into the attached grant agreement between the State of
initially told the work with them,” he Michigan - Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) and the Department of Licensing and
Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and the City of Romulus from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021 with
council members citations for violations. said. a local share of $55,261.63.
during the recent These changes Williams said she Motion Carried Unanimously
Zoom meeting that was shocked that B. Res. #20-309 Moved by Kathy Abdo, seconded by Tina Talley to concur with the administration and
approve the appointment of Beth Maze with a term to expire on March 11, 2023 to the Downtown
she opposed the allow us now the proposed Development Authority
changes based on a to write a changes came back Motion Carried Unanimously
“lack of informa- to council with “all Res. #20-310 Moved by Kathy Abdo, seconded by Eva Webb to concur with the administration and
approve the appointment of Jeffrey Lowrey, with a term to expire on July 31,2023, to the Downtown
tion.” civil infraction. these parts of the Development Authority.
The new lan- ordinance” Motion Carried Unanimously
guage would allow a changed. C. Res. #20-311 Moved by Celeste Roscoe, seconded by Eva Webb to concur with the administration and
adopt the Wayne County Hazard Mitigation Plan dated September 14, 2020. Roll Call Vote: Ayes - Abdo,
city building official, with permission from McCreight again explained that this Barden, Roscoe, Talley, Webb, Williams
McCreight, to issue a misdemeanor viola- was an effort to reconcile the language in Motion Carried Unanimously
tion to those in violation of city building the ordinance section so that there were D. Res. #20-312 Moved by Tina Talley, seconded by Virginia Williams to adopt the resolution to author-
ize the Mayor and Clerk to use the Capital Improvement Bond, Series 201 A Construction Fund for prop-
ordinances, rather than first issuing two no conflicting statements. erty acquisition and road improvement costs for the intersection of Ecorse and Wayne Roads in the City
citations. The misdemeanor ticket would Councilwoman Eva Webb was appre- of Romulus in an amount not to exceed the remaining balance in this account which is approximately
place the issue in the hands of the court, ciative of McCreight's efforts to answer $1,693,631.59.
Motion Carried Unanimously
skipping the first two citations. questions council members had posed E. Res. #20-313 Moved by Tina Talley, seconded by Celeste Roscoe to concur with the administration and
MCreight told the council in response during the previous study session. adopt the resolution to use public funds to replace residential lead private water service lines in the City
to questions from Williams that the modi- “You broke our concerns down section of Romulus.
Motion Carried Unanimously
fications were an effort to “make all the by section,” she said. F. Res. #20-314 Moved by Tina Talley, seconded by Kathy Abdo to concur with the administration and
language in the ordinances the same” as Councilman William Wadsworth said introduce budget amendment 20/21-10 for the Barth Road Water Main Project.
some now contain conflicting language. he felt the changes were an “excellent tool 6. Motion Carried Unanimously
Clerk’s Report – Ellen L. Craig-Bragg, Clerk
Williams insisted that she had not had to help clean up our city. It is my under- Res. #20-315 Moved by Tina Talley, seconded by Virginia Williams to concur with recommendation of
the total information presented to accept standing that if the misdemeanor ticket is the Executive Advisory Committee and approve the reappointments to the Board of Review for Deborah
the first reading of the proposed changes. written and the owner takes care of the Hoffman and Shirley Lamberson for term(s) starting 01/01/2021 and ending 12/31/2022.
Motion Carried Unanimously
“I can't get with this one,” she said. problem before they go to court, it is Res. #20-316 Moved by Celeste Roscoe, seconded by Eva Webb to adopt a memorial resolution for the
McCreight explained that the new lan- dropped?” family of Norman McClendon
guage does not change the jurisdiction of Following McCreight's assurance that 7. Motion Carried Unanimously
Treasurer’s Report – Stacy Paige, Treasurer
the building department, only allows them this was the procedure, the first reading of A. Treasure Paige briefly reviewed the Quarterly Investment Report and referred any additional inquiries to
more discretion in controlling situations the amendments was approved by a unan- her office.
that could be detrimental to the communi- imous vote. The second reading of the 8. Public Comment - A resident submitted an email to public comment@romulusgov.com to inquire about
the order and placement of her community for street repairs, specifically Sand Piper Drive and Swan
ty more expeditiously. new language is set for the Dec. 28 meet- Lake. The email was read into the record by the Clerk and forwarded to the Mayor's Office for response.
“Previously, we had to write two misde- ing of the city council. 9. Unfinished Business - No unfinished business at this time
10. New Business - No New Business at this time
Warrant
11.
Charitable giving is urged A. Res. #20-317 Moved by Kathy Abdo, seconded by Tina Talley to approve Warrant #: 20-22 Checks pre-
sented in the amount of $1,008,287.40.
Motion Carried Unanimously
Communication
12.
Councilwoman Roscoe wished everyone and wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. She announced the win-
Romulus City Councilman William recently recovered from the virus, said ners of the Cutest Baby Contest, Cutest Pets Contest, and Fall Porch and House Decorating Contest. She
Wadsworth had a brief holiday message there are so many in the community who further thanked all the participants in the contests. Councilwoman Talley thanked Brian O'Connor and
Fire Chief Krause for their efforts, in coordination with MDHHS, in the delivery of 1700 face masks to
for the community during the recent still need donations and help. multiple churches. She also thanked city officials for the invite of the swearing in of a police officer.
Zoom meeting of the city council. “I suggest you think of the animal shel- Councilwoman Williams informed the residents of an event, by one of the sons of the owner of Metro
“This is the Christmas season, usually a ter, which always needs donations,” he Meets, called Bring up Hope. Event organizers are asking for monetary donations as well as donations of
hats, gloves, scarves, and coats. The date of the event is December 5th. She also announced that Forgotten
time of giving,” Wadsworth said, “although said. Wadsworth was the driving force in Harvest will be at Romulus Community High School on November 24 and will be giving away one turkey
many of us feel that more has been taken the community for securing donated funds per car.
from us than given this year.” and in-kind contributions to fund the city 13. Adjournment
Moved by Eva Webb, seconded by Tina Talley to adjourn the meeting at 8:45pm
Wadsworth, the longest serving mem- animal shelter. Motion Carried Unanimously
ber of the council, suggested that this was “Think about Helping Hand, the I, Ellen L. Craig-Bragg, Clerk for the City of Romulus, Michigan do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true
still a time to remember local charitable Coleman Center, the library the Salvation copy of the minutes of the regular meeting of the Romulus City Council held on November 23, 2020.
organizations and groups that are more in Army,” he said. “Give to something some-
need of help this year due to the effects of where,” he suggested, “even though it
the COVID-19 pandemic. seems more has been taken than given Ellen L. Craig-Bragg, City Clerk
City of Romulus, Michigan
Wadsworth, who along with his wife this year.” RM0545 - 122420 2.5 x 19.169