Got an Answer to the Question…

I got an answer to the question that was bothering me.

Do the banks get a bill for the grass cutting done on property’s owned by them? The answer is yes they do no one is exempt, I called a city council member, and they reassured me that they do get a bill. They went on to say that there is a real need for more ordinance officers in the city.

I will keep you posted, hope to see all of you at the first city council meeting in the New Year.

Understanding the roll of Corporation Counsel.

There is a section in the city charter set aside for Corporation Counsel,
Section 5.13.  Corporation Counsel–Function and Duties.

(a)   There shall be a Corporation Counsel who shall be appointed by the Mayor subject however, to the approval and consent of the Council and he shall be and remain a member in good standing of the State Bar of Michigan and shall perform the following duties and responsibilities;

(b)   He shall act as legal advisor to the Mayor and the Council in matters relating to their official duties and shall give legal opinions concerning affairs of the City to the Council and the Mayor, which opinions shall be in writing and a copy thereof shall be filed with the City Clerk;

(c)   He shall prosecute and defend, in the name of the City, all cases in all courts and before all legally constituted tribunals whenever the City is a party thereto;

(d)   Upon request of the Mayor and/or the Council, he shall prepare or officially pass upon all contracts, bonds and other instruments in writing in which the City is concerned and shall certify, before execution, as to their legality and correctness of form;

(e)   He shall file in the office of the City Clerk the original copy of all franchises granted by the City, and of all papers constituting a part of the proceedings in all courts or legally constituted tribunals to which the City is a party together with the proper data and information concerning the same;

(f)   He shall be charged with the responsibility of calling to the attention of the Council and the Mayor all matters of law and changes of developments therein affecting the City;

(g)   He shall perform such other and further duties as may be prescribed by this Charter, the Council or the Mayor;

(h)   He shall act as legal advisor to and for each and every one of the several departments, commissions, boards, administrative offices and agencies of the City as directed by the Council or the Mayor;

(i)   He may appoint, subject to the Mayor’s approval, such assistant or assistants corporation counsel as he deems necessary to carry out the proper functions of his office;

(j)   The Mayor or the City Council may retain special legal counsel to appear Of Counsel to the Corporation Counsel for the purpose of assisting the Corporation Counsel for a special matter and for such limited time and purpose as the Mayor or Council shall specify;

(k)   The Corporation Counsel and any assistants that may be engaged pursuant to the provisions of this Charter shall receive such compensation as may be determined by the Council from time to time;

(l)   The Corporation Counsel and assistants thereafter appointed shall be a resident (and qualified elector) of the City of Dearborn Heights.

I think section (f) is very interesting he is responsibility for calling to attention to the Council, and the Mayor all matters of law affecting the City. doesn’t a violation to the city charter, and union contract, qualifies as something maybe he was suppose to point out to them.

In Section (g) we find our answer as to how he was able to bring write, and add to the agenda a motion for creating a new department.

Was just reading section (g) to my husband, and he pointed out a very good point it says council, not council member. So he needs the council as a body to ask him to do that. From what he said at city council meeting, one member of the council asked him to do that. Interesting

From the Agenda on 10-13-2009

9.   REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS

A.   From Library Director Mccaffery – Matter re:  Grant Announcement.

B.   From Comptroller Barrow – Matter re:  Budget Amendment for Incinerator Property Purchase.

C.      From Recreation Director Grybel – Matter re:  Recreation Commission Reappointments.

D.      From Deputy Recreation Director Constan – Matter re:  SMART Contract.

E.      From Police Chief Gavin – Matter re:  Request to Purchase Gun Range Equipment.

F.      From Corporation Counsel – Matter re:  Establishment of Department of Mayoral Communications.

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Behind Closed Doors…

Behind close doors, does anyone else have a problem with these close City Council Meetings? I’m looking at the charter, and can find nothing about closed session meetings being part of the charter.

Section 6.7. Meetings of the Council to be Public.

All regular and special meetings of the Council shall be open to the public and the rules of order of the Council shall provide that the citizens shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard at any such meeting on matters within the jurisdiction of the Council.

I bring this up because there was a closed session meeting, at this meeting we later find out that a new department was talked about, and at that same meeting according to Mr. Tom Berry each, and every member agreed that a new department head was going to be created, for the price tag of 49,000.00 a year plus benefits. At this  closed session meeting, a member of the city council asked our corporate council to create the motion to bring up at the next public city council meeting. His words not mine, now how is it that our council can meet behind closed-doors, and decide that they want to spend our money without even giving a chance to the citizens of this city  a chance to talk about it.

This department was going to be Mayoral Communications Director, and our corporate lawyer, put the motion on the agenda, he wrote, and basically asked to have the department created. His name is all over the motion. There is just something so wrong about this whole thing. I’m looking into what role corporate counsel play’s in the city, I did not know that he can put motions before the city council, or last time I looked we did not elect him to any office. He is appointed by the Mayor, and I would like to know what coward will not come forward, and put their name to the motion that they asked to be put before the council for a vote. If you are brave enough behind closed doors, then you should have the guts, to come out in the open, and claim the fact that you wanted to go from a closed door meeting, to a vote, and just like that we would have a new department.

What about the voters who put you in office? I for one would like to know which one of you asked corporate counsel to do this. I like to know the people I’m voting for, there is another election in two years, I would like to make sure that the people I want to vote for have my best interest
at heart.

Temporary & Part-Time

According to the AFSCME Union Contract.

Article X

I. Temporary employees are those employed for a regular work day and/or  regular work week, but not for more than a period of one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days per year, per department except Recreation Department employees. All part-time or temporary employees in any department, except Recreation Department employees, shall be subject to this section and paragraph irrespective of funding source. Waivers and exceptions to this section and paragraph shall be made in emergency situations and those situations mutually agreed to by the Union and the City.

In Section B under Article X it say’s “Except Recreation Department part-time , part-time employees are those employed for less than eight (8) hours a day or less than forty (40) hours a week.”

In Section C under Article X “Part-time employees shall not be hired for more than one hundred and eighty (180) days and shall not be rehired for six (6) months thereafter.”

Under IV. The City may maintain up to four (4) part-time (limited to twenty (20) hours per week) employees who will be utilized at the sole discretion of the City to engage in clerical and/or custodial roles. Such part-time employees shall be limited to twenty (20) house per week , shall not work or bid on Union positions until all provisions of Article XXII have been met, notwithstanding Article X, Sections, I and II(B), which still remains in effect for part-timers in DPW, except Parks & Recreations.

Keeping all that in mind lets look at what this person was hired for,

The City of Dearborn Heights is pleased to offer you a job as a clerk-typist in the Community and Economic Development Neighborhood stabilization Program. As previously explained, this position is contingent upon the grant funds.

At this time we consider this a temporary full-time appointment. Under our Civil Service Rules & Regulations, you will need to be tested and interviewed for permanent placement.

As you can see the word temporary is used here, that would put her under the rules of the Temporary & Part- Time union contract (see above).

“Paletko answered Horvath this time, and had Corporation Counsel Gary Miotke and Human Resources Director Elisabeth Sobota-Perry address any concerns. Between them they confirmed the secretary has been working in a temporary capacity since March.“  Source: Press and Guide 12-9-2009

As you can see from the statement above she has been working in a temporary capacity since March 2009. Ok then to answer as to why she has been there longer then the rules, and contracts signed by the city allow her to be,

“Miotke said the city charter allows temporary appointments for six months, and while the person in question has been employed for longer,that’s because she’s had two appointments between different departments.” Source: Press & Guide 12-9-2009

I am so sorry Mr. Miotke, but maybe you could point out to all of us where it say’s that you can just move a temporary employee around without having them follow Section (C) under Article X. Did Mr. Miotke get an emergency waiver from the union, does the union even know what is going on?

III. The City will forward to the Union on a semi-annual basis a report of employees identified in City records as non-bargaining unit Temporary or Part-time employees by name, including date of hire and date of termination.

In her offer letter she’s suppose to do testing before she can be permanently placed.  What time limit is there for an employee to have to do testing, in order to be considered permanent.

Mr. Mayor where are you paying this person from, from her offer letter, you have offered her this job, in a specific department, with the understanding that ( this position is contingent upon the grant funds.) So if she has been moved to two different positions, in two different departments, are you going to be putting back the money from what ever place you took it from? I don’t think  we (the tax payer’s) should  pay for your mess.  I hope you are not planing on taking the money from NSP considering she has not worked one day on that program. I would all so like to point out that this person if they are even considering applying for these two positions, when they do get posted, can not. They can not be rehired for (6) months.

You guys think about it talk about it, look into it, and let me know what you think.

I’m Just Saying..

From the Charter of Dearborn Heights Michigan,

Section 4.11. “No officer of the City shall be financially interestd, directly or indirectly, in any contract, sale, job, work or service (other than official service), to be performed for the City except as hereinafter provided in Paragraph (b)”

Any officer of the City offending against the provisions of this section shall be guilty of misconduct in office;

I’m just saying, lets keep it honest, and transparent.

Good Ideas let’s put them in action..

Lifetime Resident, you have very good ideas, and that would be wonderful if we could do that, as you may know my husband does speak at the city council meetings, I was asked to come here, and administer, and write, because the person who started this could not put as much time as was needed here. I put my name here hoping that more people would be willing to come forward, and give their names. I do understand that many of them feel that if they come forward that there will be reprisals for doing so. I like your idea to have the press come to the site, and one of the news papers did come, and leave a comment here asking for the help of anyone that had information.

If we are going to start something we need people willing to come forward, and stand at the city council meetings, it’s a very good idea. I hope that some of you out there will be willing to do this at our next city council meeting, it’s the responsibility of each, and every one of us, and I might add each, and every city council member.

When, and if we formulate something I will post it here, in the meantime if any of you are willing, or like the idea you can email me at heights48127@yahoo.com, let me know. There are somethings that all of you can do right now,

• call your council members
• come here to the site, let people know about this site, leave comments
• let your neighbors, and friends know what is going on (That idea was all so from lifetime resident)

Added New Page to Site

I’ve added a new page to the site, look on top you will see a page titled contact city council members, you will see their numbers, and links to contact them.

A call to Action…

A call to Action from Lifetime Resident,

I think all of us and any others who feel there are some problems going on should try to formulate some concerted plan of action in order to confront these problems in an orderly manner at a future council meeting. Just complaining about it here will do nothing to resolve the issues.

As individuals we can be easily blown off but as a group that won’t be so easy and if we protest long and loud enough at some point all parties concerned will have to take notice. As residents and taxpayers we have the right to question and the responsibility to make sure our questions and concerns are addressed.

First off, I would suggest that we let as many people as possible know about the problems and ask them to come to this site AND to either attend the council meetings or at least watch them on tv.

Second, through this site, develop a motion we can present to the council and mayor.

Third, appoint one person to be the spokesperson, that way you won’t have a big group of people taking turns at the microphone to basically say the same thing. When it comes time for our spokesperson to speak we can all rise and/or stand behind the spokesperson while they are at the microphone.

Fourth, Common courtesy and being polite are of upmost importance. Half baked allegations, personal attacks and gossip should be strictly forbidden. As Joe Friday from Dragnet would say (am I giving my age away or not!! LOL) “Just the facts, Ma’m”

Fifth, be as transparent at possible. Invite reporters from the Press and Guide to come to this site. It seems that only are elected official’s views were spoken to in the above P&G article.

The old cliche’ rings true. “The squeeky wheel gets the grease”. However, the squeeking must go beyond the range of just bitching about something on this website.

Way Off…

From the Press and Guide concerning our pain

By Ben Baird, Press & Guide Newspapers

DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The City Council publicly discussed a position in the mayor’s office Nov. 24 that’s raised some concerns, but the mayor and city attorney said there’s been no wrongdoing.

Zouher Abdel-Hak first mentioned a secretary during the Oct. 13 council meeting that he believes was pre-selected to head a proposed Department of Mayoral Communications, which failed council approval due to lack of motion at the same meeting.

Mayor Dan Paletko said the purpose of the proposal was to establish a department head position, the mayor’s executive secretary. This would fill a current vacancy for a secretary on his staff, he said, a vacancy that will soon be posted. He said nobody was pre-selected for it because the position was intended to be competitive.

Councilwoman Marge Horvath asked Paletko if the secretary was still working for the city. She had asked before and gotten little response because the mayor cited a relation to an ongoing lawsuit.

The secretary is mentioned in the lawsuit filed on the behalf of Hassane Jamal, the former Community & Economic Development Department director. The lawsuit claims Jamal was fired from his position because he is an Arab American.

Paletko answered Horvath this time, and had Corporation Counsel Gary Miotke and Human Resources Director Elisabeth Sobota-Perry address any concerns. Between them they confirmed the secretary has been working in a temporary capacity since March.

Horvath said she understood the secretary was receiving full benefits despite her temporary position.

There are different classifications of temporary appointments, Miotke said. He said civil service temps who work fulltime could receive benefits.

Miotke said the city charter allows temporary appointments for six months, and while the person in question has been employed for longer, that’s because she’s had two appointments between different departments.

Read the rest here

People you are missing the point read again what she was hired for

Offer letter from Daniel S. Paletko (Mayor), and Elisabeth Sobota-Perry (Director) on February 25, 2009, reading from the letter.

The City of Dearborn Heights is pleased to offer you a job as a clerk-typist in the Community and Economic Development Neighborhood stabilization Program. As previously explained, this position is contingent upon the grant funds.

At this time we consider this a temporary full-time appointment. Under our Civil Service Rules & Regulations, you will need to be tested and interviewed for permanent placement.

This job offer will make you eligible to receive the following:

Read it all here

She was hired as you can see to the NSP program depending on funds, She has been moved to two different part-time positions with in the city. She is not being paid from the NSP program funds. With what funds is she being paid? She is in violation of her own job offer, an offer made to her by the Mayor.

She was hired read above as a Temporary full-time appointment to be tested, and so on for permanent placement. All of her benefits, and salary to come out of NSP, not from two different department, as stated in the Press and Guide, “and while the person in question has been employed for longer, that’s because she’s had two appointments between different departments.” What two dam departments, not one of which is the one she was hired to be in. What happened to her testing temp full-time or part-time she has to do testing, and mind you this person took a job that never was posted in clear violation of our city charter.

Why can I please know is not every single city council member asking, no demanding that this person be gone?, For haven’s  sake Liz Agius was the one who put the motion to hire two people right here look,

09-058    Motion by Councilwoman Agius, seconded by Councilman Brown, that the City Council concurs with and approves the addition of two full-time employees, at entry-level pay of $25,000 plus benefits to administer the Community Development Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) Grant funds, per Mayor Paletko, communication dated February 4, 2009.  The Administrative portion of the grant funds are to be used to pay these employees and said employees will be terminated once the grant funds have been exhausted.

Motion unanimously adopted.

Did any one happen to notice that the head of the department did not ask for the two positions to be made, nor are they the one who made the job offer. In our charter it says that department heads will hire their own staff.

All of you voted on this, and not all are making sure that the same rules you laid out are being followed. This is bother some to me, and many others that are wondering why some of you, and you know who you are have said nothing? Does this mean you are ok with this? I am asking the question hope one of you will please answer it.

No Need To Know has a Point..

I am posting the comment from noneedtoknow, because I think they have a very good point. It is in the comment section, but thought I would put it up here so all could read it.

If what you are saying is true incognito,then there is no reason this person should not be let go right now, but is our council going to ask for that I think not. She got a job that was never posted (violation #1) she got hired by someone other then the head of that department (violation #2) She has worked for more then 6 mo (violation #3) She never did any testing (violation #4) She was suppose to work in NSP never did (Violation #5) Do I need to go on or is that enough to do what needs to be done.

Thank You..

Thank you, Thank you, so much for introducing yourselves, and saying with what department your speaking for. It looked, and sounded so much better, so much more professional. I hope it will look as good on TV when it’s aired. For those of you that did not go to the council meeting, every one of the people who went to the mic said their name, and with what department they where with. You guys looked great, keep it up.

A big thumbs up to the lady who took the bull by the horns, and called out the Building and Engineering department, and the ordinance officers who are not doing their job. I hope they will start to do what they are paid to do. I would like to know next summer if they are going to make sure the grass gets cut. If they do not please come back to the council, and let all of us know. Or you can come here, and drop us a line.

Congratulations..

Congratulations to all who sworn in, I hope you are up for the new year of hard work.  Some of you may have wondered why nothing was said tonight? In the spirit of the holidays, and to respect the nights event it was probably best not to.That’s not to say that the issue’s are not still there, and that they will not be brought back up at the next council meeting. Just because they are not talked about tonight, does not mean that its been settled. The contrary nothing has been done yet. Until it is this will remain an issue. Have a copy of the charter, and as you can see form my post I have been reading it. Trying to find out just what the hiring process is for the city, temp full-time, temp part-time, civil service, non civil service, and what category the mayors staff fall’s under.These are just a few of the thing’s I am looking into me, and others.

I will not do the grading I will let Dearbornheights do that they started the grading, and I think it is only fair that they continue with that. I will just say a few things, Council women Liz Agius made some very good points tonight, one when she pointed out that the drug stores may say they treat alcohol the same way they do the drugs in their store, they do not I agree one hundred percent, I will say I like the fact that Walgreen’s make each employee sign every day that they will card everyone who looks under 40, and that they agree they will not sell to under age persons.

Next point she made was the fact that DTE ( I will write about this latter in more detail) is giving away box’s of items to their customers, but, at the same time will be collecting information about each house they are allowed to enter. She pointed out that this information is given back to DTE, and as she said “you can bet they will be using it to solicit something from their customers.” I think that is a hundred percent certainty.

City Council Meeting

Don’t forget city council meeting Today At 8:00 PM, lets show up in numbers, try to make a difference.

How about conducting a little investigation?

From our city charter

Section 6.13. INVESTIGATIONS:

The Council May subpoena witnesses, administer oath, and compel the production of books, papers, and other evidences needed to conduct formal investigations into the conduct of any department, office or officer of the City and make investigations as to malfeasance, misfeasance, nonfeasance, or irregularities in municipal affairs. Failure to obey such subpoena or to produce books, papers, or other evidence as ordered under the provisions for this section shall constitute misconduct in office.

So council you have the power right here to conduct, an investigation right in our city charter, and I think it’s time you do so.

Full Charter

Department Heads will hire their own..

According to Section 4.14 of the City Charter, each department head, commission or board shall hire the necessary employees for his or her department subject how ever to any Civil Service provision that may be hereinafter enacted by the Council.

Full Charter

There is more, but what I find most interesting is that the Mayor hires people to the departments in full violation of the City Charter, and nothing has been done about it. If you look at the job offer made to a certain person you will see who it came from, not the person that was in charge of that department at the time. Take a look

Hearing Some Whispers…

I am hearing a few whispers about a couple of our School Board Members. Not sure if what I am hearing is true, so do not want to post until I know for sure, but if anyone knows  anything about it please let me know. From what I am hearing it’s not good at all.

Add us to your follow list on Twitter..

If you Twitter add us to your follow list on twitter at let’s have some fun. You will also see that I am adding Get Social to the bottom of the post have to do it post by post so not all post have it yet it will take some time. When you do see this you can pick from many different social net works to add the post to like Face Book and others.

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Have No Fear It’s Super M…

With lights flashing, and sirens blaring, he speeds through the streets of Dearborn Heights, to save its citizens. He puts his life on the line, and others on the roads to get to the scene of the crime, to do what you ask? Well of course to save the day. Who is this super hero, who is this man speeding down our city streets? Why it’s (The Mayor). Our Mayor of Dearborn Heights who gets in his super hero car, and with supper sonic hearing, and laser eye site he speeds the roads of our city. Oh citizens of Dearborn Heights have no fear the mayor is here. When you see those flashing lights, or hear that siren, make sure to move aside he has a very important job to do. Oh how the criminals quiver at the site of him they know they are no match for our hero. He steps to out of his car, with a thunderous boom, and shouts, “Super M Is Here”. At night look to the sky for the letter (M) our super hero is not far behind. Mayor by day super hero by night what more could you ask for.

Hell guys if we are going to have a mayor that does this can’t we make him a super hero, not every city can say they have one of those, can they?

What are they waiting for?

Ok enough pussy footing around guys, the mayor did not follow the rules, this person submitted a application for a job that you the city council had not even approved yet. She received a job offer 15 day’s after you approved the creation of those two position’s, at the mayor suggestion. The job as you the city council put down was to be Posted, and the required testing was to be done for those two job.

The job’s were never posted, this person did not do testing it’s a no brainier guys, step up to the plate, and do what you are suppose to do ask to have her removed.  Are any of you city council members coming here are you reading what drheights48127 has wrote if not read it here. What are you waiting for I understand you have to find out the facts, well here they are for all to read. You as a city council are elected by us the voters of this city, do what needs to be done.

Great they are going to post the jobs, but this person is still working for the city, and mind you she has been moved from place to place to keep her temp full-time job.

What Happens If??

Question for anyone out there who can answer it. What happens if our 2nd in command assistant to the mayor gets into a car accident, coming back from her second job, while driving our city car? You can not sit here, and tell me that who every she has the accident with will not file suit against the city of Dearborn Heights. How many other city car’s are being used for personal business, or to go to second job’s? Who’s suppose to keep track of this kind of thing? Why is our second in command  doing this with out not one person saying a thing about it. Does she have a contract with the city entitling her to this perk? (not the car the use of it to go to her second job.)

Wish someone out there would take a stab at answering these questions for me thanks.