Ferndale Aims for Equity, Police Oversight w/Potential Revamp of Boards & Commissions

Ferndale Aims for Equity, Police Oversight w/Potential Revamp of Boards & Commissions
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 13, 2021)
Ferndale, MI – How can there me more citizen oversight in policing? That’s a question being fleshed out by city leaders in Ferndale as part of anti-racism efforts.
On Oct. 11, 2021 Council directed City staff to begin exploring how best to implement citizen oversight of the police department, and on Dec. 7 council heard an update of where they’re at, and what happens next.
Currently there is a Civil Service Board, tasked with various responsibilities related to human resources.  However, most of the oversight and research is actually done by city staff, with members approving reports as necessary.
Ferndale City Council will have to decide if the Civil Service Board should be changed to include citizen oversight, or if the formation of a new board or commission – such as a Public Safety Board or a Civil Rights Board – may make more sense.

At the Dec. 7 workshop, City Manager Joe Gacioch and Assistant to the City Manager Danicea Woods-McSwain laid out a timeline for discussion and decision-making.  The plan is for city staff to research each option and come to council with a proposal in January.  There would then be opportunity for public discussion, with council to vote in March.
If changes are made to the Civil Service Board, or if it is to be disbanded, those changes would require changing the City Charter and must be put to a vote of the people.
Ferndale Mayor Melanie Piana said “The Civil Service Board policy is over 100 years old… How do we unwind what is not longer needed?  How do we layer on what our community wants?… Do we remove it and start something new?”
Per the Charter, the current Civil Service board duties include inventory and appraisal for all positions, addressing grievances study duties and responsibilities of all new positions, changes makes periodic checks of duties and responsibilities, establishes new classes or divides , combines, or abolishes classes, receiving reports semi-annually from departments on the performance of all employees, making pubic announcements of open positions, and accepting requests to fill vacancies in writing from department heads.

Some major changes over the years included a 2010 Charter Amendment that changed the structure of authority so that Police and Fire Chiefs report to the City Manager and not to the Council.  The work of the Board has also been less necessary as collective bargaining agreements cover items like compensation and handling of grievances.
In October, an introduction explained the desire for a board, as well as the context.
“This resolution was formed as a result of City Council’s commitment to anti-racism passed on June 8, 2020. The commitment to anti-racism detailed actions and priorities which included: Committing the Human Resources Department to review recruiting, hiring, retention, and support policies and practices that promote equity and inclusion among city staff; committing the City manager’s Office, with participation from other departments as necessary, to study and develop a Racial Equity Policy and committing the City Manager’s Office, with participation from other departments as necessary, to research and make recommendations to Council for creating a community advisory board.”
Woods-McSwain gave examples in other cities, including Kalamazoo which has a Civil Rights Board and a Citizens Public Safety and Review Board, as well as Decatur, GA which has a Better Together Advisory Board.  City Staff is researching other examples for future discussion, as well as details about these.  Not only there be discussion on the type of board, but the size of the board and the specific duties will need to be detailed.
For Councilperson Greg Pawlica there are two basic questions for staff as they research options.  “What is the problem we’re trying to solve with this commission,” and “How will this commission solve the problem?”  Gacioch assured Pawlica those are the questions on his mind as well, and the presentation in Janurary will address them.

The City of Ferndale has been looking at other ways to further equality. Ferndale joined the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) in February 2021, and in July Mayor Piana and Councilperson Kat Bruner James hosted a townhall discussion on racial equality.  In September, the first Racial Equity Action Team meeting was held with members of the team hailing from multiple departments within the City.
In February the City flew the Pan-African flag as a symbol of anti-racisim, and in 2020 Ferndale Police earned Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police (MAP) accreditation.  This is “a time-proven and systematic process designed to strengthen an agency’s transparency, accountability, and professionalism.”
The Police Chief at the time, Vincent Palazzolo, said of the process, “The officers who patrol our city are the heart and soul of this department, and they’ve taken this process in stride and risen to the occasion.  I am honored to stand with the men and women who wear the Ferndale badge on their chests and show up every day to protect this community.”  Officers were on hand in February for the raising of the flag, and their presence is often a positive one at the numerous events, rallies, and protests that happen at 9 Mile and Woodward.
Council is expected to revisit the topic in January with more research and recommendations from staff.  There will be opportunities for public discussion once the recommendations are presented. Learn more about the City of Ferndale Boards and Commissions and more at www.ferndalemi.gov.

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