Council member, Peter Murdock proposed an ordinance for snow removal at the Ypsilanti City Council meeting Jan. 8.
“It’s two weeks after the storm, and we still have ice on the sidewalks,” he said.
The new ordinance would require city businesses to remove snow within 24 hours. If not in compliance, a ticket would be issued and the city would then remove the snow, and bill the merchant for removal. As of now, the rule is 96 hours.
Ypsilanti mayor Paul Schreiber opened the meeting by giving proclamations honoring coach Donald Payne and Marsha Lathian for dedicated service to the community and to the Ypsilanti Panthers midget football team. Team members stood with their coach and “team mom” in support.
Payne thanked the mayor and council for the honor saying he would continue to coach the team in the future and that even though it’s a midget team, they are pretty big boys.
Mayor Pro Tem Lois Richardson followed by honoring former Ypsilanti Fire Chief, Jon Ichesco, for his 28 years of “unparalleled” service to the city.
Ichesco said, “It was fun serving people and that was my reward, so thank you very much.”
A roast and retirement celebration for Ichesco will be held at the Ypsilanti Firehouse Museum located at 110 W. Cross St., Jan. 20 from 2-5 p.m.
During audience participation, Gillian Ream, communications coordinator for municipal energy at Michigan Suburbs Alliance, thanked the council on behalf of the Better Buildings for Michigan Home Energy Efficiency Program for allowing the program to come into the city.
Ream said 200 homes have had an energy audit as a result, and 55 of those have used program incentives to have energy efficient work done—saving 250 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
After approving the minutes from the Dec. 18 meeting, the council approved five resolutions:
• Resolution No. 2013-002: approving the new Municipal Employees Retirement System division for new non-union hires—effective Jan. 1, 2013.
• Resolution No. 2013-003: defining a day of work or hours per
month for MERS retirement purposes.
• Resolution No. 2013-004: approving the new MERS division for American Federal State, County and Municipal Employees new hires—effective July 10, 2010.
• Resolution No. 2013-005: approving transfer of $133,528 in assets from the existing MERS plan to the new plan for AFSCME employees.
• Resolution No. 2013-006: approving appointments to boards and commissions.
Sallea Tisch, accountant for the city, aided in giving explanation of MERS and AFSCME employee benefits. She said the main change is the multiplier that is used to calculate retirement, which has changed from age 55 and 15 years to age 60 and 25 years of service.
Schreiber adjourned the meeting at 9:09 p.m. with approval of council.
For a full reading of all resolutions, visit www.cityofypsilanti.com.
