Residents can fill out survey to weigh in on key Charter topics
DEARBORN — The Charter Commission completed its initial inquisitory review of the City Charter in September and identified topics to revisit in a second round of the commission’s review of the charter.
Residents are invited to weigh in on these topics by completing a community survey and attending upcoming study sessions.
The survey is available online to all Dearborn residents. The survey will help the commission take the pulse of the community, and gauge how residents are thinking about identified charter topics, including political wards (city council districts), qualifications of elected officials, term limits, disclosure of financial interests by candidates and elected officials, and limitations on taxation.
Residents may take the survey by going to www.surveymonkey.com/r/DearbornCharterSurvey.
To fully explore detailed and complex topics, the commission has scheduled two study sessions in 2022. Each study session will focus on a single topic and will be open to the public at 6 p.m. at the Dearborn Administrative Center, 16901 Michigan Ave. The dates are:
• Dec. 4 — Board of Ethics
• Dec. 13 – Civil Service Commission
The City Charter acts as the constitution for the city and outlines the powers and responsibilities of the city government and provides guidelines for democratic processes. To ensure this document remains current, every 12 years, Dearborn voters have the opportunity to initiate a charter review process.
In August 2021, voters in the city of Dearborn chose to begin this process, and in November 2021, nine Dearborn residents were elected to serve on the City Charter Commission.
The community survey and the study sessions are a part of the commission’s commitment to transparent, two-way communication with the community. The results of these outreach efforts will help guide the commission’s work in creating a City Charter.