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City Council
City Staff Agenda Responses Answer Some Questions About Landfilling of Glass Recyclables
by Patricia Lesko
The Ann Arbor Independent recently reported that for a period of time thought to be several years, prior to July 2016, Ann Arbor's recycled glass hauled by Recycle Ann Arbor and handled by ReCommunity had been processed…
In Pennsylvania, Game Commission Refuses to Approve Deer Management Plan Used In Ann Arbor
by John Hayes
In Mount Lebanon, Penn., White Buffalo, the same Connecticut-based animal management organization contracted to reduce deer density in Ann Arbor, was refused permission by the state to use the same experimental,…
City Vendor Records Reveal Handful of Board/Commission Members Paid $1.33M
by Patricia Lesko
NextDoor is a city-wide listserv where neighbors can post everything from requests for babysitters to football tickets for sale. Neighbors have also taken to posting information about local city government. In Feb.…
Sierra Club Endorses Anglin, Eaton, and Kunselman for Ann Arbor City Council
The Sierra Club, Huron Valley Group, and Sierra Club, Michigan Chapter today formally announced several endorsements of incumbent City Council members, each facing challengers in the Democratic primary in August.
"We are very pleased to…
Deer Management Consultant’s Work Draws High Praise and Harsh Criticism
by P.D. Lesko with reporting by Maddie Fetchiet
BETWEEN DEC. 2014 and June 2015, Project Innovations, a Farmington Hills, Mich. consulting firm owned by Charlie Fleetham, was paid slightly less than $40,000 total by Ann Arbor. Despite…
$587,000 City Contract Goes to OHM Advisors— Company Employs Two Expert Witnesses for the Defense in FDD Lawsuit
by P.D. Lesko
A PENDING LAWSUIT against Ann Arbor for its Footing Drain Disconnect program begun in 2001 has the potential to cost taxpayers tens if not hundreds of millions in damages. Ann Arbor’s City Attorney once predicted the suit…
Council Members Kept in Dark About Specifics of Sweetheart Deal for Staffer Who Resigned
by P.D. Lesko
IN JANUARY 2015, City Administrator Steve Powers told Council members that Building Dept. staffer Ralph Welton had resigned. Council members took that to mean that Welton had left the employ of the city and its payroll.…
Sweetheart Deal: Suspended City Employee Collects Pay for Months and Vests for Retirement
by P.D. Lesko
Download a copy of Ralph Welton's Separation Agreement here.
While City Administrator Steve Powers announced Welton’s “resignation” in Jan. 2015, the Separation Agreement signed by Welton and city HR Director Robyn…
Council Member Lashes Out at Residents: You’re “Afraid of Tall Buildings….”
by P.D. Lesko
At the Jan. 5, 2015 Council meeting, speakers at two public hearings urged officials to lower the maximum height in a zoning change proposed by city staff to accommodate a property owner whose 1.6 acre parcel borders a…
A2Politico: Fear of Heights
by P.D. Lesko
FROM SETBACKS TO obscure acronyms such as D-1 and D-2, it might be tough to understand how 11 adults could possibly have anything to snipe at each other about while discussing zoning regulations. However, on Jan. 5, the…