Dearborn City Officials Sworn In for 2010-2013 Term
John B. O’Reilly, Jr. sworn in Wednesday for his first full term as Mayor of Dearborn, pointed to family, community and citizens of Dearborn as keys to the success of our city.
“As we look at how we will go forward, we will have to work hard and to endure,” said O’Reilly, Jr. at inaugural ceremonies Wednesday evening in the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. “We are not going back to something that was but something that can be.”
O’Reilly, who had previously been City Council president for 17 years, has been mayor since February 2007. He was elected to finish out the remaining term of the late Mayor Michael Guido.
Wayne County Circuit Judge Charlene M. Elder handled the swearing in of each elected official, while Wayne County Commissioner Gary Woronchak was the master of ceremonies.
In addition to the mayor, City Clerk Kathleen Buda, who ran unopposed this election, and council incumbents, Thomas P. Tafelski, Suzanne Sareini, George T. Darany, who is serving a second but first full term, Mark Shooshanian and Robert A. Abraham were all sworn in. Brian C. O’Donnell, the newest member of the council, also took the oath of office. All were elected to serve from 2010 to 2013.
Tafelski will continue to serve as council president because he was the top vote getter in the November election. As president he will earn $17,267 a year, plus $85 per meeting or about $7,661 extra for up to 90 meetings. The other council members will earn $14,409 annually and the same per-meeting rate.
Tafelski said his primary focus in his next term will be to promote Dearborn in a positive way.
“I will pledge to do one thing: I will put Dearborn first,” Tafelski said.
Sareini will serve as council pro-tem, running council meetings when Tafelski is absent. She finished with the second highest number of votes, her best finish ever in this her sixth term in office. The pro-tem spot was previously held by Hubbard, who barely made it into the seventh seat on council finishing just 548 votes ahead of eight-place finisher, David Bazzy.
Of the seven council members, Abraham and Darany delivered the most statesmanlike speeches after being sworn in, outlining their vision for the city in their next term. Abraham spoke of his commitment to stabilize our neighborhoods, getting a handle on the city’s growing number of rental properties and working with police to prevent neighborhood crimes.
“If it takes a village . . . it will take this entire city, county and state to keep our neighborhoods safe, clean and quiet,” Abraham said.
About 300 people attended the event, including many family members of elected officials and City Hall employees, which was held in the Michael A. Guido Theater at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. After the inauguration, a reception was held in the theater lobby.
December 31st, 2009 at 1:19 am
seems like lots of movers n shakers there tonight. Hard to believe that all those ego’s could fit into such a room.
I bet Bobby’s speech was “statesmanlike” he is so dapper but I have to wonder if Micheal wrote it for him?
December 31st, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Actually, it was a very nice event. Regardless of what you might think of some of our elected officials, this is an event worth attending as it only happens every four years. I am glad I went.
December 31st, 2009 at 2:46 pm
@ Jeanette, Im sure you were of the 30% who voted as well.. 🙁
December 31st, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I enjoyed the event and was glad I went too. And yes, I was one of the 30% who voted. I have to say that there were a few speeches that were GREAT!! Even if some of them went a little long.
December 31st, 2009 at 7:52 pm
I was at the event too, the one who looked like a bum, ha. Anyway It was a great and exciting event specially with all the bagpipes and I met Mr. Deep himself. Even though I dont always agree and didnt vote for all of them, It was still a pleasure shaking hands with and meeting com. Waranchack, Mayor O’Reilly, Kathy Buda and all 7 council members and wished them the best, and as Jeanette said, I am also glad I went as something like this only happens once every four years.
December 31st, 2009 at 9:50 pm
I believe WCC last name is spelled…. Woronchak…
IER..
January 1st, 2010 at 11:31 am
Nice event, but with the following loud complaint: it was totally inappropriate to have alcohol at this event. Not only should the public NOT have to pay for it, but it sends the entirely WRONG message. (I do drink, by the way, but I don’t expect the taxpayers to pay for it.) Mayor and others: you may do whatever you like at your own fundraisers or private parties, but do not do this on mine and others’ dime!
January 1st, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Easy Dearbornette, it was only beer and wine. i understand your point but after hearing some of those council folks wax on, thanking their family, pets, friends, and on and on and on . . . i needed a drink to take the edge off. councilman Mark S doesn’t say much at council meeting and true to form didn’t say much here. three stars to him for that. but the rest. way too much. my tax dollars, too. a free beer was okay by me.
January 1st, 2010 at 7:40 pm
LOL… sweeeet… beer and wine at the event..
Stay Classy Dearborn…
January 1st, 2010 at 7:51 pm
They would have probably had a bigger crowd if they had advertised beer and wine.
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Glad for your input Donna, I hope you truly believe this to be true, because you got burned on your last fib, with the deli remarks.
January 3rd, 2010 at 7:00 am
And just what was that fib about the deli that I got burned on Allie?
January 3rd, 2010 at 4:00 pm
I guess if taxpayers can foot the bill for footbaths at U of M Dearborn and halal meat in Dearborn schools, we might as well throw in beer and wine…
January 3rd, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Donna the fib that you can’t remember is the one when you said you had just eaten at the deli, when it in fact was closed. Then again you have a tendency to talk so much you could conveniently forget some comments.
January 3rd, 2010 at 11:53 pm
I don’t understand how the council persons go on about how they are going to do something about crime and neighborhood stabilization, etc. when we have a strong mayor/weak council form of government. they pass ordinances, make resolutions and approve the budget. all the other things are the responsibility of the administration. If they haven’t realized how it works, then not one of them should be in office.
If we want those things acompliced we need to make sure the Mayor is staying on his toes. But running almost un-opposed I sure the complacency will set in. nobody to hold his feet to the fire in a sense.
Did I hear him say he is happy with his department heads and/or administrators. Almost all of whom are carry overs from Guido.
January 4th, 2010 at 7:15 am
Allie, for you information – First of all I didn’t say I had eaten at the Deli, I said I had a carryout. The fact is when I was there that day the Deli was not closed, I can see no reason why I would lie about something like that or anything else for that matter. If the owner would please post that she was open on that day for awhile I would appreciate it. Or better yet Allie – you give me a date and time and we will meet there and she can tell you in person that she was open!!! How does that sound to you. What a fuss over nothing, I would have probably let this go but don’t like being called a ‘fibber’.
January 4th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Allie,
Play nice, huh?
January 4th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
I agree Kay.. bah, who cares..considering that Ive seen ‘Donna Hay’s’ name on all the other Dearborn blogs and Facebook, I wld assume she is infact a real person, so drop it. ‘Alli’ who is using a surname not relaly full name usage. I would have to believe that Donna is telling the truth and WHY do you care so much to keep going on and on esp with name calling. GROW UP
January 5th, 2010 at 6:51 am
Yes Y.G. I am a real person and indeed did not have any reason to lie. Thanks for your comments.
January 5th, 2010 at 8:24 am
It would be nice to have more transparency in the government. Did anyone happen to notice that the council meetings have been moved all over the place? For those who actually use the City calendars, you may have been aware of this, but I bet many people thought council meetings would still be on Mondays. And, in some months, there will only be one council meeting. And, I am sure, if any meeting which is scheduled on the calendar does not work with the administration’s schedule, it will be changed and the public will be notified by a last minute note on council chamber’s door the night of the originally scheduled meeting. There’s your publication for you, folks! What about the official city website that still reports the meetings as the first and third Mondays…could this be a deliberate attempt to mislead and confuse the public and discourage participation? Nice move, administration and its council member flunkies, in ramming through the Charter change that allows you to do this kind of stuff.
Most municipalities would prefer citizen participation at council meetings and other events, as it legitmizes things..why doesn’t Dearborn? Other cities actually use their websites to keep their citizens informed and to encourage participation, for significantly less cost; Dearborn’s is a glorified phone book.
With all the scandal and corruption which were revealed last year, I hoped that there would be less of these shenanigans, but I can see it has only gotten worse. Fasten your seat belts, Dearborn, we are in for an even bumpier ride.
January 5th, 2010 at 8:29 am
Oh, I checked the website this morning and there is now even more confusion. The City Council page still lists first and third Mondays as council meetings, while the home page has a link with the “new 2010” dates…this is even more confusing! Unbelievable! Is anyone minding the store here?
January 5th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
I wrote down the new dates for the year and will keep it where I can find it.
At least, we can save some money with the new schedule. If they get additional payment for meetings attended, less meetings mean less waste of tax dollars.
The council meetings are supposed to keep the public informed and be a chance for the public to speak to the council. Obviously, the lesser schedule will help the council to not have to deal with the average citizen. Pretty sad. I guess the only way you can talk to them is to try to find them when you can. It’s kind of like playing “Where’s Waldo”. Good luck Dearborn.
January 5th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Nice of the folks in charge of the City website to finally clear up the mess about the council meeting schedules ON THE EVENING OF THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETING. They even removed Thomas as council person, changed the order, and added O’Donnell. You folks are very sloppy and you had to be called on it, too, so I guess that really doesn’t count, does it? Typical City m.o., a dollar short and a day late.
Chloe, your comments are spot on. The only one that shows me anything at this point is Councilman Darany. How much difference can only one person make?
January 8th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Hey Allie – have you picked a date for lunch at the Deli yet???