Financial Committee Makes Final Recommendations…
City Council will vote Jan. 24 if they will be placing a Headlee Override on the ballot for May. The Committee report provides language for limiting the tax increase:
Interim City Manager Interviews Done, Council to Vote on Monday
The Ferndale City Council held a special meeting on Jan. 6, 2011 to interview two candidates for Interim City Manager, who is expected to work for approximately six months while a permanent City Manager can be found.
More than the Founder of FernCare: Ann Heler…
Despite her humble attitude and sincere appreciation of the others involved, Heler was overwhelmingly nominated by Ferndale 115 News readers for “Ferndalian of the Year,” for 2010 because her hard work. But the energetic 68-year-old Ferndale resident has a lot more to be recognized for in her lifetime of community service…
Officers Recognized for Crime Solving Skills
Several Ferndale Police Officers received commendations and citations for service at the Dec. 28, 2010 City Council meeting in relation to shooting incident in November.
Council Meeting Turns Concert of Praise
The Council Meeting of Dec. 28, 2010 turned into a concert of praise for outgoing Mayor Craig Covey, literally. The Mayor’s last Council Meeting crescendoed with presentations for the outgoing Mayor from many in the Ferndale Community, including a surprise performance… (read more)
Committee Recommends Headlee Override
The Financial Planning Committee held a public meeting on Dec. 29, 2010 to present options to residents for balancing the city’s budget, recommending that Council puts a Headlee Over-Ride on the ballot for the residents to vote on. The presentation was just a rough draft of what the Committee will be presenting to Council, who will make the ultimate decision of how to move forward.
Complete Streets Ordinance Passed
Ferndale City Council passed an ordinance on Oct. 25, 2010 that requires Complete Streets planning for the City. According to the Ordinance introduction memo, “Complete Streets is a best practice with growing national and state support that calls for cities to rethink how they design or redesign road infrastructure projects to accommodate all users, not just cars.
More Charter Change Information Now Available Thanks to CFF Forum
The forum, held Oct. 23, 2010 at the Ferndale Public Library, gave representatives from each side of the issue an opportunity to present their sides. Citizens for a More Responsive City Government is a group of residents organized to encourage voters to support the change. Approximately 90 residents have formally and publically committed to voting “yes” on the change. They were represented by Councilperson Scott Galloway at the forum. Tom Gagne, who led the petition drive to repeal the change when Council approved it earlier this year, spoke on behalf of those opposed.
Seniors to sell Cookbook, host Town Hall Mtg.
October 27, 2010 is a big one for The Ferndale Seniors. First they’ll be getting a visit from Mayor Craig Covey, at the annual Senior Town Hall Meeting at 11am at the Kulick Center (1201 Livernois). Then in the evening they will be celebrating the launch of their first ever Ferndale Seniors Cookbook with a Taste Fest from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Ferndale Public Library (222 E. 9 Mile)…(read more)
Financial Committee Continues…
The Financial Committee, made up of 11 residents and 1 businessperson, has been meeting each Wednesday since September 15 to discuss ideas for how the City can get past the $3 million dollar deficit they are facing for Fiscal Year Ending 2012. There is not yet a consensus on what those solutions might be, but they are expected to report their ideas to City Council on November 2….(read more)
Ferndale Mayor Speaks at U of M Dearborn
Members of the University of Michigan Dearborn Gay Straight Alliance wanted to know everything they could about Craig Covey’s experience as the first openly gay Mayor in Michigan. That’s why they invited him to speak at their Oct. 7, 2010 meeting…. (read more)
SOARing to the Conservative Side of Ferndale
…Lifelong Ferndale resident Sean House is the President of SOAR: The South Oakland Area Republican Club, which meets at the Berkley American Legion. …(read more)
CFFto Hold Forum on Charter Issue – Oct. 23rd
Citizens for a Fair Ferndale (CFF) is holding an Issue Forum regarding the local ballot question concerning the proposed amendment to the City Charter. The forum will be held on Saturday, October 23, 2010 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm at the Ferndale Library…(read more)
DDA Goes to Lansing to Lobby for Main Street Oakland County
…Members of the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority (DDA) went to Lansing last month to lobby for state support of projects that help improve Downtown areas….(read more)
The Beat Goes On: Noise issue not over
City Hall was packed on Monday, Sept. 27, 2010 as residents came out to speak against the sound ordinance petition being circulated by W. Troy Street resident Sherry Wells. Wells and ten of her neighbors. The neighbors had been attempting to get an ordinance on the ballot that would lower decibels throughout the City to 65 and ban outside amplified music… (read more)
Peace Action Heads to DC
…Area peace and human rights activists are joining labor union members and other activists in Michigan leaving on buses to be part of “One Nation Working Together” this weekend in Washington, DC…(read more)
City opts out of May School Board Election, County to take over at extra cost
The School Board, which is an independent governing body, has not moved the election to November, so City Council has turned over responsibility for administering the election to the County – which is expected double the cost to the District, but eliminate the cost to the City.
Financial Planning Committee tries to tackle budget problems
…We want to hear your ideas for how the City should cover the $3 million deficit left by declines in property values and state revenue sharing. We will be collecting ideas from readers and if we get enough good ones (ie, suggestions that are practically applicable to decreasing the deficit), we’ll present them to the committee – and to other readers – to consider. …(read more)
Noise Petition Falls Short of Signatures
City Council held a special meeting on Monday, Sept 20, 2010 to discuss the noise ordinance.
A petition circulated by West Troy Street resident Sherry Wells and other residents in the Downtown Area calling for a new noise ordinance was submitted to the City Clerk last week, but it had too many invalid signatures to make it to City Council. There were 267 signatures on 25 sheets handed in, and 53 were not valid, mainly because people who had signed were not registered voters.
Inside Every Home Water Meters Will Be Replaced
Over the next 18 months the Department of Public Works and their contractors SLC Meter Service will be entering every home in the city to upgrade the water meter, with a new digital meter reading system with radio transmission.