08/05/2024
On the topic of the proposed Dearborn Charter, many are spreading misinformation and sometimes fears to our residents. Please read this so you can get the facts.
Proposed amendments for the charter. Be educated; Vote YES.
To ensure continuous updates to the Dearborn Charter, voters are given the opportunity every 12 years to vote on a charter review, last updated in 2007. The key amendments up for vote on August 6 include:
1-Eliminating minimum Police and Fire staffing requirements
One significant aspect of the Charter Commission’s review process was the thorough examination to ensure compliance with state law. In 2011, then-Governor Snyder signed legislation that prohibited minimum staffing requirements in city, village and county charters. Therefore, the removal of these provisions from our Charter was not a political decision, but a mandated requirement to align with state law, as highlighted in the attorney general’s approval letter of the proposed Charter. https://www.michigan.gov/formergovernors/recent/snyder/press-releases/2011/09/13/snyder- signs-legislation-prohibiting-minimum-staffing-requirements. The city of Dearborn is currently the last remaining city in the state of Michigan with a minimum staffing provision contained in its Charter, which now — due to the state law change in 2011– must be removed.
2-Diversity and inclusion requirements for appointments to multi-member bodies
Recognizing the growing and evolving demographics and population within the city of Dearborn, the Commission similarly recognized the growing pool of talent across the entire city that are eligible for appointments by the mayor or City Council to multi-member bodies. The Charter revisions related to diversity and inclusion specifically concerns appointments to city boards and commissions (multi-member bodies). These provisions aim to ensure the appointment of Dearborn residents to these broads are a representation of our entire community. They do not mandate, impact or have the ability to impact the staffing and hiring practices of our police, fire or any other city department. These provisions focus on ensuring that appointments to these bodies, which serve a significant role in the oversight, facilitation and growth of vital city services, permitting and approvals reflect the demographics, diverse skill set and talent available across all corners of our city.
3-Safeguard provisions and transparency enhancements to protect retiree health and care benefits
The Commission worked to ensure that the charter created a framework that allowed for a more transparent process related to potential future changes of retiree healthcare benefits. Which required that before final action on any proposed change in retirement benefits is taken, the City Council shall obtain a report as to the immediate and long-term costs of the change from a qualified actuary of its choosing. the Council shall provide an analysis and report to the Pension Board within 30 days of receipt and the Council may not take final action until at least three months after the report of the actuary is made public at a meeting of the Council. This offers the Pension Board additional time that is necessary for proper review of proposed changes, and increase a more effective method to opine and give feedback on these proposals. The Commission also created the option for City Council, by resolution, the ability to establish a board of trustees for the retiree healthcare plan trust consisting of five (5) trustees.
4-New framework, purpose and responsibilities of the Board of Ethics
The newly constructed Board of Ethics is aimed at ensuring public trust, government accountability and transparency in reporting through its governance and enforcement of the city’s Ethics and Financial Disclosure ordinances. It includes two appointments by the mayor, two appointments by the City Council and a fifth member appointed by the four-appointed members. It removes previous conflicts of interest by removing the involvement of the city attorney and human resources director. Duties of the Board of Ethics include rendering formal and informal opinions to inquiries made to the Board, reviewing applicable city policies and ordinances relevant to ethics and financial disclosures at least annually, and recommend to the City Council standards of conduct for officers and employees of the city and changes in the procedures related to the administration and enforcement of those standards.
5-Reinforcement of the Civil Service Commission to ensure fair employment practices aimed at benefiting all employees
The revisions to this section include:
The right for the mayor to appoint one person to the hiring committee when the human resource director position is to be filled.
The requirement to update human resource and civil service policies and procedures, and the option to provide consultative services to other city departments aimed at promoting a healthy work environment.
The requirement that human resource and civil service policies and procedures are reviewed annually.
