[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6251176,"mediaKeyId","3196465-82703bd7ed220c7528db3605b82e81c9","parentId",3196465,"title","Dearborn Heights council holds closed session on Mazloom v. Dearborn Heights and votes to follow special counsel recommendation","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",586000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3196465-82703bd7ed220c7528db3605b82e81c9&start=586&end=586","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3196465-82703bd7ed220c7528db3605b82e81c9/thumbnail_586000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6251176/Dearborn-Heights/Wayne-County/Michigan/Dearborn-Heights-council-holds-closed-session-on-Mazloom-v-Dearborn-Heights-and-votes-to-follow-special-counsel-recommendation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251176-d988d0c8feb47ca85ee77c7f5dc4a908/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146071&Signature=PWKxO6CySayd8H40L71iq0MN2RHuRswSASxmoc2VirbCHfxMDlnMDZBUVHsIkenE4H78YQy95EhhB5zjMOskTRkPpQVNPG1b6vQyGtXkJz1QOhqBngIqqWxWn23MZVPDvaLXJKTm197BqKY1oqf~iv9NC5BPDdcdz2sakGNIcfp2xao~Niw~uIUm6uj6-iKxbcu9Nl8JMJ9K9JSM77GoSsUBFlXYgR5qZTUGYn5EGGGUX~RaCuAG4EWgD-~2ErgcOkVgycEVWFQUF3BRtrm06938gO8dOLpAylc9~qd9rVWzU7dA60rb-xbaGN8zLGpaAC6DVpFLYI6Z3Vfz1n0LRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Dearborn Heights, MI","date","2025-04-29T00:00:00Z","article","The Dearborn Heights City Council moved into a closed session at 5:44 p.m. April 29 to discuss the legal case Mazloom v. Dearborn Heights and later voted to follow the recommendation of its special counsel.

The council voted on the motion to enter closed session by roll call; the clerk recorded that the motion carried 6-1. The closed session listing in the published meeting minutes and remarks identified participants who may have attended the closed session discussion, including Mayor Vezi, the chief of staff Hernandez, corporation counsel, and outside counsel Carlito Young of Roseri, Schultz, Jopek (firm name as stated in the meeting record). The council returned to open session at 6:22 p.m.

After returning to open session, Councilman Hassan Ahmad moved that the council \"go with the recommendation of the legal counsel in the case of Masloom versus Devon Heights\"; the motion was seconded and the council voted in favor. Meeting minutes and the clerk's statements record the motion as carrying by voice vote: \"Aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it. Motion carries.\" The meeting record does not show a roll-call tally for that final vote.

Actions taken at the meeting were procedural and court-related; the council did not disclose details of the special counsel recommendation in open session. Council statements and the clerk's minutes indicate the council followed its legal counsel's guidance and took no additional public action beyond approving that recommendation and adjourning the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda approval (special meeting, April 29, 2025): Motion by Councilman Hassan Ahmad; second by Councilman Hassan Saab; voice vote recorded as approved.

- Motion to enter closed session to discuss Mazloom v. Dearborn Heights (5:44 p.m.): Motion made by Councilman Hassan Ahmad; roll-call vote recorded as 6 yes, 1 no; names for the roll-call votes were recorded by the clerk in the meeting transcript but the public record does not indicate which member voted no.

- Motion to return to open session (6:22 p.m.): Motion by Councilman Hassan Ahmad; second by Councilman Hassan Saab; voice vote recorded as approved.

- Motion to follow special counsel recommendation in Mazloom v. Dearborn Heights: Motion by Councilman Hassan Ahmad; second by Councilman Constant; voice vote recorded as approved.

- Motion to adjourn: Motion by Councilman Hassan Saab; second by Councilman Hassan Ahmad; voice vote recorded as approved.

The council did not state the content of the special counsel recommendation in open session. The meeting record identifies the case by name and that the council followed counsel's recommendation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/29/25 - Dearborn Heights Special City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At a special April 29 meeting the Dearborn Heights City Council entered closed session to discuss the legal case Mazloom v. Dearborn Heights and later voted to adopt the recommendation of its special counsel, following roll-call approval to go into closed session.","taxTitle","Dearborn Heights, Wayne County, Michigan","taxId",4162,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6251181,"Dearborn Heights resident urges council to revisit tree ordinance, disputes $600 charge for replacement",452,143000,595000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3196465-82703bd7ed220c7528db3605b82e81c9&start=143&end=595","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3196465-82703bd7ed220c7528db3605b82e81c9/thumbnail_143000.jpg","/articles/6251181/Dearborn-Heights/Wayne-County/Michigan/Dearborn-Heights-resident-urges-council-to-revisit-tree-ordinance-disputes-600-charge-for-replacement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251181-2ad94904d4ecdb377be10342fce05c9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146071&Signature=awmOKbDD3bsJG-AF33Rfztqcimafto79vMuZZls5AhxZm3qs52tliVBo0tKB3ipOCIvZjpG9c6hoRz4HCnJZcx~AQ5L1RvAgFORarwSNEx~IUFcnPKePX8~jaaGTfA5fMOXF5PZxUtdyGS8jetiZDd8pJmk~AfyE40GeoRnwI7KM-vfik5xhMwCEN9QlvlcSgBlTwuzfhdi4mfZG29eENzgd9TYEyQvKQthsl5solXcDTb4JauCYbY51mrO8fohcaPlpbv-jlBOracTQTFodLxlWL-8m93bEr0s~zSKtdJ4gl5epOgdnolsSDULn4cWijQTVXrBUaqtD7AZy02hpDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lori Moline, a Dearborn Heights resident who lives on Berwyn Street, told the Dearborn Heights City Council at its April 29 special meeting that homeowners should not be charged $600 when the city removes or replaces trees on city property after storm damage.

The comment came during the meeting's public-comment period and prompted several council members to describe concern about aging sycamore trees and to say the council should re-examine the city's tree ordinance. Moline said the city had removed trees at the Berwyn Center following a recent storm, that new trees had not been planted there, and that the city previously maintained a tree fund for replacements.

Moline said the fee discussed at a prior meeting amounted to $600 and described the way the charge was being split: \"The $600, if the city planted the tree, the city should pay for replacement,\" she said. In council conversation, members and staff described separate $300 charges for removal and $300 to plant a replacement when a resident requests removal and replacement, and said the city was still determining what tree species would be purchased before budgeting for replacements.

Council members noted public-safety and lifecycle issues with sycamores, which several speakers described as large, dropping bark and branches, and as a common source of complaints. A council member said administration staff had given an estimate to remove all sycamores citywide of roughly $5 million to $6 million, which council members said the city did not have available.

Council discussion included two recurring points: that residents may remove a city easement tree at their own expense after pulling a permit, and that the ordinance requires funds be deposited into a tree fund to plant a replacement elsewhere in the city when a tree on city property is removed. Multiple speakers said the city has not consistently followed that practice in recent years, leaving stumps at the Berwyn Center and other sites.

The item remained a discussion point only: no ordinance change or formal vote on tree policy occurred at the meeting. Several council members said they want staff to review the ordinance language and report back with options for clarifying when the city pays for replacements, how a resident request is handled, and how to prioritize public-safety removals.

Moline and other residents raised the issue during the public-comment period; council-member remarks on the ordinance occurred during the subsequent council discussion.

The council took no additional action on planting or funding at this meeting.","At the April 29 special meeting the city council heard public comment from resident Lori Moline about storm-damaged trees, a $600 charge tied to tree removal/planting, and calls from council members to review the city's tree ordinance and replacement practices.","actionData","errors"]

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Dearborn Heights council holds closed session on Mazloom v. Dearborn Heights and votes to follow special counsel recommendation

Dearborn Heights resident urges council to revisit tree ordinance, disputes $600 charge for replacement