Photo by Daniel Heraty

The Dearborn Chamber of Commerce and Harper University Hospital hosted an event Feb. 2 at the Dearborn Inn supporting the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign. Called “Love Yourself, Love Your Style,” the event included a discussion about heart health from Detroit Medical Center Cardiologist Joel Kahn and a fashion show featuring area residents, including Dearborn Chamber of Commerce Director of Membership Services Renee Aloe and LaFontaine Automotive Group Specialty Operations Manager Kelley LaFontaine. Above, WDIV Channel 4 Traffic Reporter Ashlee Baracy (left) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Vice President of Auto Accounts Rick Morrone model fashions from New York-based Carlisle Collection and Dearborn-based Manno Clothing & Tailoring.

Mayor Jeffrey Lamarand confirmed last week that two positions in the Department of Public Works were eliminated, and others may follow.

“Everything is absolutely on the table,” Lamarand said of staff reductions that may be necessary for the city to avoid Emergency Financial Management takeover by the state.

Taylor officials have until Feb. 17 to present a plan outlining two specific goals: Eliminate a projected $5 million budget shortfall for the current fiscal year; propose a five-year strategy for debt elimination.

On Jan. 27, DPW Executive Director David Mackie was given a 30-day termination notice, and the department’s administrative assistant was likewise informed that her position would be eliminated. Lamarand said that Director of Building and Safety Rocky Alazazi will be responsible for supervising DPW operations.

As of press time, Lamarand said no other positions had been eliminated, although that may change.

“We’ve looked at every position to figure out which way to go,” Lamarand said. “If worse comes to worse, we’ll have to make some real tough decisions.”

Lamarand and city officials have met frequently with employee union representatives and attorneys; Tuesday’s regular meeting of the city council may include a preview of further cuts or decisions, to include a state mediator’s ruling that 15 firefighters laid off in June 2011 must return to duty.

The city’s options, Lamarand said, are limited.

“We’ve been cutting millions of dollars out of the budget, and still have a projected $5 million shortfall,” Lamarand said.

(James Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@bewickpublications.com.)

Photo by James Mitchell

Alyssa Stafford takes care of “PB” (“Patch and Boot”) at the PAWS Clinic in Taylor last week in preparation for being spayed during the nonprofit group’s “Beat the Heat” promotion. The program, sponsored by PetSmart Charities, offers spay treatments for $20, and runs through February. Executive Director Kris Jordan said the PAWS Clinic was among a limited number of non-profit organizations nationwide to qualify for the PetSmart Charities’ sponsorship, designed to help reduce the number of homeless cats. The Clinic opened in September 2011, and hopes to provide 7,500 low-cost dog and cat sterilizations in 2012. Appointments for the “Beat the Heat” promotion are necessary, and cats must have a rabies vaccination before spaying. Contact the PAWS Clinic at 313-451-8200; the clinic is at 21210 Goddard.

The motion, heard by U.S. District Court, Eastern District Judges Martha Daughtrey, Karen Moore and Ransey Cole, upheld a December decision by U.S. District Court, Eastern District Judge David Lawson ordering Somers to pay the settlement against former 19th District Court Adminstrator Julie Pucci while he appealed the ruling.

Prior to the judges’ ruling, Somers filed a motion Jan. 23 requesting a stay pending appeal for a June 2011 decision that he pay Pucci damages and lawyer fees after he allegedly fired her due to her live-in relationship with 19th District Court Judge William Hultgren.

In an email, Pucci said she was happy with the judges’ ruling and said it would be nice for Somers to “feel some financial pain.”

“All of his actions to date, delays and appeals are because it’s someone else’s money,” she said. “Not anymore.”

Pucci’s Detroit-based attorney, Joel Sklar, said because the bond was not paid and the appeal denied, the settlement can be collected. According to published reports, a hold was placed on one of Somers’ paychecks Jan. 19 in the amount of $3,300 to secure the payments.

“Because (Somers) has chosen not to post a bond,” Sklar said, “the court said you can go and execute the judgement.”

Sklar and Somers’ attorney, state Assistant Attorney General Michael King, agreed in an email Jan. 11 that Somers’ funds would not be withheld until the settlement was paid by the city, which funds the court. The city announced Jan. 18 it would not pay the settlement, claiming Somers was sued as an individual, not a city employee.

Sklar added the court’s responsibility must be determined by an agreement between the city and the court or through litigation, which the ruling claims is the likely outcome.

“… Judge Somers suggests that a bond is unnecessary because the judgement must be satisfied by the Court and the City of Dearborn,” the denial states. “That determination has not been made … and the district court has indicated that it is likely to be litigated.”

Sklar said he hopes the city pays the settlement and ends the matter.

“That’s what the city’s leadership should be contemplating,” he said. “I hope they are.”

(Daniel Heraty can be reached at dheraty@bewickpublications.com)

Third to quit post in a year

By ANDREA POTEET
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – Another city administrator has stepped down.

City Administrator John Zech tendered his resignation Jan. 27 and said he planned to work at the city hall until Feb. 1.

“I’ve been here five months, I’ve tried to help the city and I don’t think I’m being as effective as I could be,” Zech said. “In the best interest of the city and myself, it’s best if I step down and they bring someone else in that perhaps will be more compatible with City Council.”

The departure of Zech is the third such vacancy for the position in a year. Eric Waidelich left the position in February 2011 after four years, followed by David Tamsen, who resigned in August after seven months.

Human Resources Director Don Wood is to fill the post on an interim basis.

Zech, 62, who began the position in August, originally came out of retirement to help the financially struggling city until the November general election. His contract was extended until December, after which motions to discuss it were taken off the agenda at subsequent City Council meetings.

George Saieg, founder of the Ministry to Muslims network, was prohibited from distributing material urging Muslims to convert to Christianity during the city’s 2009 Arab International Festival. During the festival, Saieg, along with about 120 members of his group, were allegedly told by Dearborn police officers they faced arrest if they passed out the material.

Saieg sued the city in 2009, claiming he was allowed to distribute leaflets during previous visits from 2004 until 2008. According to published reports, Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad enacted a leaflet ban in 2008, allegedly citing crowd control concerns.

U.S. District Court, Eastern District Magistrate Judge Steven Whalen ruled Jan. 27 the city allegedly violated Saieg’s free speech rights and must pay about $100,000 to Ann Arbor-based Thomas More Law Center, which represented Saieg at the time.

“I thought the judge made a decent ruling,” said Saieg’s attorney, Arizona-based Robert Muise, who represented Saieg prior to founding the American Freedom Law Center. “It was a good victory in a long, hard-fought battle.”

A panel of three U.S. District Court, Eastern District judges; Martha Daughtrey, Karen Moore and Eric Clay, ruled in May 2011 festival rules violated Saieg’s right to free speech and should not have prevented him from passing out material on public sidewalks kept open for non-festival-related activities, including pedestrian traffic.

The city has until Feb. 14 to appeal the ruling, which Muise said would be a waste of time.

“They would just be running up more attorney fees and costs,” he said. “Anything short of (the city) appealing, it’s over.”

Dearborn Mayor John O’Reilly Jr. said because the festival, held annually on Warren Avenue, is open to the public and the street can’t be closed, the city may choose not to hold it at its current site.

“It’s a matter of location,” he said, “because that’s a commercial district and we have to keep it open for people not attending the festival.”

Haddad and Saieg did not return phone calls seeking comment on this story by press time.

Photo by Daniel Heraty

Crews put finishing touches on the Helping Youth Progress and Excel Athletics Center, scheduled for an April preview and a May grand opening. Construction on the 110,000-square-foot building, on the northwest corner of Warren Avenue and Ann Arbor Trail, began in November and was funded by a $7 million grant from the the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program and a $1 million grant from the Wayne County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. The facility is to feature a 10,000-square-foot swimming pool, a weight room and an indoor track, in addition to providing tutoring and literacy development. HYPE Athletics will share the building with non-profit organization Zaman International, which will contain a food bank and provide vocational training for abused women.

Nineteenth District Court Judge Richard Wygonik announced Jan. 20 that Langen would return as deputy court administrator Feb. 1, a position she held from 1996 until 2006, when she was removed by 19th District Court Judge Mark Somers and replaced with former administrator Gary Dodge. Dodge’s last day was Jan. 31

According to published reports, Dodge was removed by Wygonik after Wygonik was named the court’s chief judge in November. Wygonik was not available for comment.

Langen said court employees are wishing her well.

“I’ve had a lot of reaction from quite a few (court) employees,” she said. “Everyone’s been giving me their support.”

Langen, who is involved in a lawsuit against Somers, said she looks forward to working with all three 19th District Court Judges: Somers, Wygonik and William Hultgren.

Calling the duties between clerk and court administrator interchangeable, Langen said she hasn’t noticed a difference in the jobs and described a typical day as dealing with personnel and budget issues, in addition to dealing with unhappy people.

“I’m not experiencing anything I haven’t experienced before,” she said.

In an email, former court administrator Julie Pucci — who is suing Somers alleging wrongful termination after Somers fired her, Langen and former probation officer Simone Calvas in 2006 — said Langen has the support of Wygonik and former 20th District Court Judge Leo Foran, who, as chief judge, promoted Langen in 2005.

Pucci added she expects a change in atmosphere with Langen’s appointment.

“The shortcomings of the former administration at the 19th District Court over the last five years are well-documented and have negatively affected morale,” she said.

(Daniel Heraty can be reached at dheraty@bewickpublications.com)

According to published reports, the teen was kicked off the team and suspended for up to 10 days Jan. 24 after players from the visiting Melvindale High School girls’ junior varsity team discovered the slur on a dry erase board in the locker room at APHS and a drawing of a lynching victim. Nearly half the team is black.

Melvindale coaches then alerted APHS staff.

The boy reportedly came forward after administrators threatened to cancel the football season.

Four percent of students at the school are black.

“We are taken aback and appalled by the actions of a student and we believe we addressed it and are moving forward,” Supt. John Sturock said, adding he doesn’t think the incident signals a negative racial climate in the district, which hosts multiple diversity programs, including a recent one for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“I think this was an individual situation you have anywhere. It could happen anyplace; it happened in our school district.”

The longrunning story of Detroit Street — in which a little girl and her mother faced a losing battle with Huntington’s disease and were taunted by a neighbor — may have finally ended Monday when Edward, his family and Jennifer Petkov and her husband appeared on the “Dr. Phil” show.

Phil McGraw served as mediator for an episode entitled, “Unforgivable Acts?” The segment reviewed the history of tensions that began in October 2010, when Petkov admitted posting disturbing pictures on Facebook, altered images of Rob’s daughter, Kathleen Edward, and her mother, Laura, who died from Huntington’s in 2009. The family said they hope for closure following Kathleen’s death last month at age 9.

Edward and his wife were in the California studio with McGraw; Petkov and her husband, Scott, appeared via satellite link.

“They’ve been called the cruelest couple in America,” McGraw said while explaining the background. Videos were shown featuring Jennifer Petkov defiantly admitting to local media that she posted the pictures, “for personal satisfaction” and because it “rubs” the family the wrong way.

“Did you say, ‘I wish Kathleen would hurry up and die?’” McGraw asked Petkov.

“I’m sorry for everything,” Petkov said. Although telling McGraw she hadn’t done, “any of the things they’re accusing me of,” Petkov offered an apology for what had taken place.

“I don’t expect your forgiveness,” Petkov said. “But I’m sorry if I said anything ever or did anything ever that hurt you.”

Forgiveness may not have been possible for some. Kathleen’s grandmother, Rebecca Rose, also appeared via satellite and said that Petkov’s harassment continued long after an apology given by Petkov when the story went viral.

“After my daughter died [in 2009],” Rose said, “I never had a chance to grieve because I was defending myself and reading nasty posts and seeing pictures of my dying granddaughter. I want to grieve for my daughter and granddaughter without being tormented by Jennifer Petkov.”

Rose maintained that Petkov has not been truthful throughout the ordeal, and continued her harassment long after claiming innocence.

“I wish there was something I could do to make it all better,” Petkov said.

“There is, Jennifer,” Rose responded: “Tell the truth.”

Petkov did admit to McGraw that she had “a rage problem” in the past, and said she sought counseling for that.

“Did you bring this on yourself?” McGraw asked Petkov, wondering if she was trying to portray herself as the victim.

“Yes I did, with the pictures,” Petkov said, admitting to the original doctored images of the little girl and her mother with superimposed Grim Reaper photos, yet denying that she made subsequent posts.

At the show’s end, Edward accepted the apology — albeit one he said was forced because Petkov “got caught” — and did so in his daughter’s name.

“Kathleen would have forgiven you,” Edward said. “So I forgive you. It doesn’t mean I like you … but I’m not mad at you.”

(James Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@bewickpublications.com.)