Times-Herald Newspapers

DEARBORN— The city is a step closer in their move to find a new home.

The City Council, at a special meeting yesterday, approved the purchase of the former ADP building as the new City Hall location.

In a 5-2 vote, Councilors Mark Shooshanian, Nancy Hubbard, David Bazzy, Robert Abraham and Suzanne Sareini voted for the move into the $3.2 million-building, located at 16901 Michigan Ave., along with the nearly $600,000 in closing and holding costs, prorated property tax, hearing cost and maintainence.

Council President Thomas Tafelski and Councilman Brian O’Donnell voted against the purchase.

Tafelski said the move is wrong and almost a contradiction.

“When we just asked the public for three and a half mills, we’re saying, ‘We’re broke,’” Tafelski said.

He added that the city is unable to open pools, grass in some areas is not maintained and the money used to purchase the building should be spent elsewhere.

“Our legacy shouldn’t be in bricks and mortar,” Tafelski said, “but should be in protecting and preserving neighborhoods … I think we should better spend the money in the neighborhoods with the people, the business district with the business community.”

O’Reilly said in April that moving City Hall will better the city.

“I have been around City Hall most of my life,” O’Reilly said. “It is something that is very important in the community and I am not losing sight of that. We are actually looking at making it better for a long time to come.”

The ADP building purchase is one of the many steps O’Reilly has supported when it comes to moving City Hall and letting another entity fix structural problems with the historic building complex.

Currently, City Hall needs $5.7 million to repair the parking structure which is dangerous to drive in and park, O’Reilly said at previous council meetings; the liner over the building needs to be replaced and the city uses a portion of the building because the rest is unusable.

“(These are) expenses that the city cannot walk away from,” O’Reilly said, addressing some of Tafelski’s objections to the purchase.

O’Reilly said it costs $7.50 a square foot to operate the ADP building, while it costs $23 a square foot at City Hall and he said the city will save $5.7 million by not having to fix up City Hall.

“You don’t have the high overhead and operating costs,” O’Reilly said. “The more we cut overhead the better off we are.”

Artspace, a Minneapolis-based non-profit organization created to help artists find affordable locations to live and work, wants to move in to City Hall. The organization has established artist communities in more than 30 areas including Chicago, Seattle, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

He added that if Artspace holds up its end of the deal, the city won’t have to spend $5.7 million.

Tafelski said Artspace should complement City Hall and not take over the building.

“There are probably more efficient and effective ways of running different buildings,” Tafelski said. “However I don’t think this is the time or place to do it.”

During a City Council meeting, April 4, the council approved a motion to allow Dearborn to create a letter of intent to sell the City Hall campus to Artspace. Tafelski opposed the letter.

During the special meeting yesterday, O’Reilly said the process of due diligence has not expired on Artspace’s purchase.

Artspace has a six-month due diligence period to close on City Hall, which started April 25.

City Attorney Debra Walling added that the city is “close to finalizing that letter of intent right now.”

Walling also said it has not been determined when City Hall will move into the ADP building because a purchase agreement has not been executed and a closing date has not been established, among other logistics.

“Once the city signs the purchase agreement there will be a 45-day due diligence period for the city to inspect and examine the building equipment and condition,” Walling said.

(Sherri Kolade can be reached at skolade@bewickpublications.com.)

After $4 million in tax anticipation notes, borrowing against future tax income, were closed on last week, the city planned to apply for a $2 million 20-year emergency loan to pay them back. The state required the TANs before the loan. TANs do not show up as revenue in the city’s budget.

But after the measure failed 4-3, the city’s options seem limited to an emergency financial manager or the sale of fiscal stabilization bonds, which require an additional $100,000 a year in debt service payments.

Carl Johnson of the city’s financial management firm Plante & Moran said the loan was the most attractive option, as the interest now is under 1 percent.

Councilman Dennis Hayes, who dissented on the motion along with Councilors Tina Gaworecki, Angelo DeGiulio and Harry Sisko, said he voted not to apply for the loan to reflect the wishes of his constituents, many of whom have expressed a desire not to issue further debt or millages.

He said if employee unions and retirees agreed on wage and health care concessions, the public might reconsider borrowing or a millage.

Further, he said an emergency manager might not be the worst choice for the city.

“In the absence of deep concessions or sub-contracting, we face the possibility that an emergency manager will enter to reform or void contracts to allow us to continue to offer services, directly, at a cost we can afford,” he said.

Cipriano was the victim of a violent break-in at his Farmington Hills home that left him dead and his wife and son seriously injured. His other son and daughter were able to escape the home without physical injury.

Cipriano had been with the district since July 2000 and was responsible for managing the district’s $200 million budget and oversaw district athletics.

“We wanted to create an event that will honor the work that Bob did in Dearborn, help his family, and benefit a large number of Dearborn students,” DPS Supt. Brian Whiston said.

Cipriano was not a “behind the desk” administrator, Whiston said. He would routinely be seen at buildings, working directly with principals, attending sporting events in the district, and reading to students during March is Reading Month.

“He was an excellent steward of taxpayer dollars,” Whiston said.

“This is the lowest number (of layoffs) that most people on the board can remember,” Hawkins said.

The board approved last week a motion to lay off eight teachers, only three of whom are general education instructors. Hawkins voted to approve the motion with the understanding that those same teachers will likely regain their jobs by September.

“A majority of the time we’re calling people back,” Hawkins said. Last year’s budget cuts included nearly 60 teaching positions along with general education bus service; many of those teachers returned to work for the 2011-12 school year.

Preparing the budget for the 2012-13 academic year, the board of education faced a projected deficit of $700,000. In April the board approved limited school of choice to allow a maximum of 60 new students to offset declining enrollment.

The school of choice decision was unpopular with a number of parents, although Hawkins said it will likely result in the rehiring of laid-off teachers.

“When the budget was looked at it didn’t have the school of choice students,” Hawkins said.

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

DEARBORN – The grand marshal for Dearborn’s 2012 Memorial Day Parade on Monday is Donald C. Winter, Secretary of the Navy from 2006 to 2009.

The parade, which will especially honor Cold War veterans, begins at 10 a.m. and will travel along Michigan Avenue from Greenfield to Schaefer, ending at Dearborn City Hall.

Winter’s years of distinguished service to his profession and to the safety and security of Americans, and his commitment to recognize the contributions of Cold War veterans, make him an excellent choice to be the Grand Marshal and keynote speaker, said Tom Wilson, Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council Commander.

The parade also will include 13 special marshals, who are all Cold War veterans and former commanders of the DAWVC, which produces the parade with the city’s support.

The special marshals are Leo Barrett, David Dumas, Richard Fleek, Ted Gagacki, George Harvey, Thomas Houle, Audrey Myers, Frank Pelaccio, Richard Przebienda, John Ruselowski, Patrick Tajack, Gary Tanner and Craig Tillman.

A noon remembrance ceremony will take place at Dearborn’s War Memorial on the grounds of City Hall. This year, it will also include a funeral service for four veterans who died without resources and whose cremains have been stored in a funeral home since the 1980s.

Wilson said he is “honored to have Doctor Winter come to Dearborn as our special guest. His Cold War experiences and his contributions to bringing the Cold War to a conclusion are admired and solidify the message I wanted to deliver.

“As a recent Secretary of the Navy, Winter brings tremendous credibility and pride to the veterans that continue to serve the community of Dearborn,” the DAWVC commander said.

“During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact threatened the very existence of the free world,” Winter said.

“The responsibility for countering that threat fell on the shoulders of those who served during that time period; from those that developed and maintained our strategic deterrent, to those ‘silent warriors’ who risked and often lost their lives, collecting intelligence,” Winter said.

Throughout his long career, Winter has been involved in projects of significance that better positioned the American military for the challenges of the United States two longest conflicts, the Cold War and the Afghanistan/Iraq battles. His background includes satellite research, laser physics and space acquisition programs.

In 2006, Winter was appointed by President George W. Bush and then retained by President Barack Obama to be the Secretary of the Navy.

In that position he was responsible for the U.S. Navy and the U. S. Marine Corps.

During his tenure he focused on prosecuting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; taking care of wounded sailors, Marines and their families; while planning and building the U.S. Navy’s future fleet.

In mid-career, Winter was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Project Agency to serve as program manager for space acquisition, tracking and pointing programs, including the design of the “Star Wars” technology to protect America from aerial attack (1980 to 1982).

Winter was also vice president and president, Northup Grumman’s Mission Systems (2002 to 2005); and president and CEO of TRW Systems Inc. (1982 to 2002).

He now teaches at the University of Michigan, where he serves as the first Professor of Engineering Practice in the Departments of Aerospace Engineering and Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.

He is leading those departments as they develop a national discussion on the modernization of ship manufacturing operations within the United States, applying best practices of the aerospace industry.

Winter received his bachelor’s degree with highest distinction in physics from the University of Rochester, and both a master’s degree and doctorate in physics from the University of Michigan.

He is also a graduate of the USC Management Policy Institute, UCLA Executive Program and Harvard University Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security.

Winter was honored with the Secretary of Defense’s Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service, is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering and chairs the National Research Council Committee on the Analysis of the Causes of the Deepwater Horizon Explosion.

Winter resides in Virginia with his wife, Linda, who will also attend the Memorial Day activities.

For more information on the parade, go to www.cityofdearborn.org.

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By SHERRI KOLADE
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — Dogs strutted their stuff with their owners during the annual Mutt Strut & Pet Expo.

The pledge-driven 1.9-mile dog walk and community-based animal celebration took place on May 12 and 13 in Ford Field. Dozens of booths and vendors tailored to treating, training and pampering dogs were available to not only help the dogs, but assist the humans who love them.

In Ford Field hundreds upon hundreds of big and little dogs dressed in pink tutus, aviator glasses and dresses were treated like miniature queens and kings and participated in various activities with their owners trailing not too far behind.

Sandy Bolton, public relations director for Friends for the Dearborn Animal Shelter, said the Mutt Strutt is an important event to the shelter.

“It has such a general public appeal,” Bolton said. “It is open to so many people … it was a wonderful wonderful day. People had a wonderful time celebrating animals and we were happy to see so many people come out and share in education and andimal celebrationm for the whole day.”

The Mutt Strut was $300 short of its $60,000 goal in helping homeless animals. Bolton said the pledge will be open until the end of May.

Attending the Mutt Strut is nothing new for mother and daughter Patty Golem and Amy Golem, of Dearborn.

Amy Golem, 24, said they both raised money for the event and they attended to see what it has to offer.

“All the fun little booths and game sessions are really exciting,” Amy Golem said.

Amy Golem’s dog is a rescue dog and maltese mix named Cullen. Cullen is referred to as the “granddog” of Patty Golem, who has her own rescue dog named Roxy.

“We’ve always had animals in our family,” Patty Golem said. “Amy grew up with animals, I think they are just as good to us as we are to them.”

Mayor John O’Reilly Jr. said the weekend belongs to everyone involved in the Mutt Strut.

“The Dearborn Animal Shelter is providing essential serivces,” O’Reilly said in a speech before the Strut. “We cannot exist as a city if we don’t have a way to pick up strays and deal with animals that have been abandoned.”

(Sherri Kolade can be reached at skolade@bewickpublications.com.)

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A 16-year-old Wyandotte boy was hit by a Western Canadian National train about 11:45 p.m. May 11 on the railroad tracks about 450 feet north of Oak Street, Police Chief Daniel Grant said.

Grant said a cow catcher on the train pushed the boy off the tracks; he was thrown from the tracks and suffered a laceration to the back of his head. Police are not releasing his name.

“He went flying quite a ways,” Grant said. “The fact that he even survived was quite remarkable.”

Grant said the boy, who is listed in good condition at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, had been laying down on the tracks, but police are not sure why, as they have not yet interviewed him.

Grant said the boy was alert and talking when police and paramedics responded.

This is the second incident of a boy being struck by a train this year. Fourteen-year-old Jacob Marion was struck Feb. 28 while walking down railroad tracks near Oak and Ninth and wearing headphones.

Grant said he doesn’t believe the incidents are attributed to a lack of security on the tracks, as people are often removed and ticketed for trespassing on them.

“It’s unfortunate,” Grant said. “We try to remind people. We have school programs about the danger of being around railroad tracks and we tell them its a violation of the law.”

The officers took the cats — some of which had respiratory infections — to the Dearborn Animal Shelter.

Sandy Bolton, public relations director for the Friends for the Dearborn Animal Shelter, said the shelter received 14 kittens that were in decent condition and appropriate weight, although some had upper respiratory infections and discharge emanating from their eyes which is very contagious, Bolton said.

The kittens are separated from the rest of the animals in the shelter and are being treated for their conditions.

After the kittens are treated, they will be put up for adoption, Bolton said.

“As far as we know after treatment these kittens will be adoptable,” Bolton said. “We are happy that the kittens can be adopted soon.”

She added that the kittens will be vacinnated and sterilized before being put up for adoption. It will be at least a week before the first kitten can be adopted.

Animal Control officers plan to return to the woman’s house to help her manage the rest of her cats, Bolton said.

The Dearborn Animal Shelter did not know how many more cats were in the woman’s house.

“They are bringing more to the shelter,” Bolton said. “But we don’t know what that number will look like and how many are working with her to get that population to a manageable level.”

She added that the officers intend to have the animals at the woman’s house vaccinated and sterilized and the resident will be responsible for the fees.

Animal Control and police did not respond by press time. It is not known if the woman was ticketed.

(Sherri Kolade can be reached at skolade@bewickpublications.com.)

At the beginning of a recorded conversation in February 2011, Paravas told Michigan State Police investigators he absolutely, “did not have sex” with the plaintiff, a woman he encountered at the La Quinta Inn, 12888 Reeck Road, while answering a domestic disturbance call in February 2011.

“Nothing sexual happened between her and I,” Paravas insisted.

The conversation continued, however, and by the end of the interview Paravas admitted that a sexual encounter took place.

“She was grateful and wanted to show me,” Paravas said. “She wasn’t forced to do anything.”

A jury in the courtroom of Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Annette Berry listened to most of the estimated 90-minute interview, along with other witnesses.

Various accounts were told of what began late in the evening on Feb. 8, 2011, when the woman and her husband arrived in Southgate. She was scheduled to appear at a club as a touring adult entertainer the following night.

That afternoon, the woman left the hotel twice to purchase alcohol, and by late evening was engaged in a heated hotel lobby argument with her husband.

Hotel staff contacted the police, and Paravas was the lead investigator to respond. After interceding between the married couple, it was decided to take the woman to another hotel, a nearby Holiday Inn, and Paravas escorted her and made sure she was checked into a room.

Paravas returned to the room twice, he said, once to confirm information for his report, and again after speaking with the woman’s husband.

The woman testified that she recalled little of the night after a certain point, having consumed several small bottles of wine and an apple martini at a bar prior to the argument in the lobby. What she remembered next was when Paravas entered the room a third time, removed something from his belt, handcuffed the woman and raped her.

“Wise up or you’re going to jail,” the woman claimed Paravas told her.

The details of the evening before and morning after were many, and evidence confirmed a long night in a troubled marriage. The woman and her husband admitted that she drank heavily, often to alcoholic blackout, and that they argued throughout the afternoon and evening. Paravas, Southgate Police officers and hotel staff described a heated confrontation in a hotel lobby and the decision to take the woman to another location for the night.

At issue, however, is whether or not a crime was committed. The woman and her husband contacted Michigan State Police investigators five days after the night in question, and detectives soon interviewed Paravas at Southgate. Shortly after the taped interview that was played in court last week, Paravas resigned in March 2011 from the Southgate Police Department after a Garrity hearing was held.

In May Paravas was arraigned in 27th District Court, and in time was bound over for a jury trial in circuit court. Paravas is accused of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, misconduct in office and neglect of duty.

Paravas was reportedly expected to take the stand Friday before the jury would begin deliberations. Paravas faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of sexual assault.

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