MADISON HEIGHTS – The Madison Heights Metropolis Council has undergone dramatic adjustments with the adjournment of the thirty fifth council and the start of the thirty sixth.
The swap came about throughout the Nov. 19 council assembly, when Decide Keith Hunt of the forty third District Court docket in Madison Heights swore in new mayor Corey Haines — additionally town’s former police chief and present Eastpointe police chief — together with returning council member Toya Aaron and new council member Laurie Geralds. Haines’ mayoral time period lasts two years, whereas metropolis council phrases final 4 years.
Tributes had been additionally paid to outgoing council members, together with former mayor Roslyn Grafstein, former mayor Mark Bliss, in addition to David Soltis. All three selected to not stand for re-election this yr.
William Mier additionally began a brand new time period on the council, now as mayor professional tem. He was the highest vote-getter within the Nov. 4 council race, adopted by Aaron after which Geralds, who ran as a write-in candidate. Quinn Wright, a council member who ran for mayor towards Haines, will hold his seat on the council.
Phrases of appreciation
Every of the outgoing members acquired a decision detailing their contributions.
Grafstein joined the council in 2017 and have become mayor in 2020. She has lived within the metropolis since 2004 and is an authorized monetary analyst with a level in economics. Grafstein revived the Environmental Residents Committee and helped increase sustainability tasks reminiscent of rain gardens and pollinator-friendly gardens whereas restoring town’s tree cover. She additionally led efforts to modernize town’s zoning insurance policies, strengthen infrastructure and assist native companies.
The decision additionally famous her assist for a lodge ordinance to fight human trafficking, and the way she led early response efforts to the pandemic by securing automobile decontamination companies and organizing vaccination clinics for free of charge to town or its residents.
“I’ll miss you,” Grafstein instructed her colleagues.
Bliss first joined the council in 2013 and served as mayor professional tem for eight years underneath three totally different mayors. Throughout his tenure, he helped information town via crises such because the “nice flood” of 2014, the “inexperienced ooze” incident on Interstate 696 shortly earlier than the pandemic, after which the pandemic itself. He’s a lifelong resident of Madison Heights and is a third-generation home-owner who graduated from Lamphere Excessive College.
Bliss based each the Data Know-how Advisory Committee and the Madison Heights Arts Board. The ITAC modernized town with livestreams of conferences, social media, improved cybersecurity and police physique cameras. The Arts Board painted murals across the metropolis, began the Path Tunes music competition and offered grant funding for tasks just like the bandshell in Civic Middle Park. Bliss additionally chaired a Historic Fee subcommittee that renamed websites to honor former neighborhood members, and he began a particular tasks fund that units apart cash annually to match grant alternatives.
“This has been the nice honor of my life to serve on the Metropolis Council,” Bliss started, choking up at factors as he thanked his father – the late Tony Bliss – in addition to mentors reminiscent of former council members Margene Scott and the late Robert Corbett.
He additionally praised metropolis employees, together with Melissa Marsh — “one of the best metropolis supervisor we have ever had,” he mentioned to applause — and different colleagues previous and current, together with Brian Hartwell — the present decide of the forty third District Court docket in Hazel Park — who would lend a sympathetic ear to Bliss’s “wild and loopy concepts,” as Bliss put it, when Hartwell was nonetheless mayor of Madison Heights.
Bliss additionally reminded the incoming council that incremental progress via compromise is best than no progress in any respect.
“In my expertise, the work of the Metropolis Council shouldn’t be concerning the large swing — we’re not attempting to get a grand slam each time we come right here — however moderately it is about discovering each doable method to get on base after which permitting our unbelievable employees — and our unbelievable community of volunteers that this metropolis was constructed on — to take that one concept and get all of it the best way throughout residence plate,” Bliss mentioned. “Each small strategic alternative can result in huge constructive adjustments.”
Soltis joined the board the identical yr as Bliss and served for a similar size of time. His tenure was marked by serving to these in want, reminiscent of seniors, households with kids and people struggling to make ends meet.
Soltis organized bus journeys to Lansing annually so seniors might meet with state legislators, and he supported Meals on Wheels, in-home help applications and the event of the Energetic Grownup Middle. He advocated the creation of ‘no hit’ zones that defend kids in public areas, and gave detailed shows to boost consciousness of the results of kid abuse.
Soltis additionally pushed for public security, spearheaded the ordinance that restricted drug and human trafficking in native inns, reinstated town’s undercover Particular Investigations Unit, and helped safe the Madison Heights Police Division with a fringe fence.
He declined to remark that night, however others had been fast to reward him.
“Councilmember Soltis, I wish to thanks on your continued assist of our most weak residents, and your care and compassion for our aged and our youngest residents,” Grafstein mentioned. “Thanks for that.”
The brand new council
In the course of the closing remarks, the brand new and returning council members shared their ideas.
Haines requested Aaron to talk first.
“I wish to say that as we conclude our first assembly because the thirty sixth Council for Madison Heights…I very a lot look ahead to the subsequent 4 years of working with all of you,” Aaron mentioned. “It’s a privilege to return to this seat.”
Aaron emphasised the significance of neighborhood suggestions.
“Public involvement is crucial to the governance of our metropolis. It’s your perspective that helps us work collectively, to information and lead town, to make suggestions about what town wants. I’ve heard the voices; I’ve learn the Fb pages – I hear you. And as we transfer ahead, I wish to emphasize that the work forward requires lots of collaboration and lots of persistence,” Aaron mentioned.
“I respectfully ask the neighborhood to offer this new council 100 days to evaluate, set up and implement the elemental steps wanted to make sure long-term progress. We should be capable to work collectively,” she mentioned. “I am so excited that the subsequent 4 years are about to be one of the best 4 years that Madison Heights has seen shortly.”
Ant was additionally optimistic.
“It’s a privilege and an honor to work with this group,” Mier mentioned. “I’ll tackle this new title of mayor professional tem and make it one of the best two years Madison Heights has ever seen, after which proceed for an additional two unbelievable years as an everyday outdated council member. I definitely look ahead to the subsequent 4 years of serving with this group.”
Geralds mentioned she appreciates how teams just like the Arts Board and initiatives just like the bandshell at Civic Middle Park have improved the standard of life within the metropolis.
“I would additionally like to actually thank our neighborhood proper now. They’re tremendous generously dedicated to the (Madison Heights Meals Pantry), in gentle of all the pieces that is happening,” Geralds mentioned. “I am really honored to be right here. Thanks a lot – I look ahead to working with all of you.”
The brand new mayor concluded the assembly with a phrase of because of the residents.
“Truthfully, none of us may very well be right here with out the assist of the neighborhood,” Haines mentioned. “It is simply overwhelming, and I can not thanks sufficient for displaying your assist for all of us right here tonight.”
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