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Commission appoints members to environmental sustainability and advisory parking committees; staff promotions announced
Summary
The commission appointed two regular members to the Environmental Sustainability Committee and an alternate to the Advisory Parking Committee, and the building and engineering departments announced internal promotions ahead of a planned retirement.
The Birmingham City Commission on Jan. 13 appointed Laura Edwards and Sarah Rubino as regular members of the Environmental Sustainability Committee and swore them in along with William Cole, who was appointed as an alternate to the Advisory Parking Committee.
Laura Edwards introduced herself to the commission as a resident of 1636 Bowers Street and a former member of the ad hoc committee that produced the city’s sustainability and climate action work. “I had the pleasure of being part of the ad hoc committee to create the sustainability and climate action plan,” Edwards said. She described professional experience with Friends of the Rouge (development director) and stormwater experience and said she’s a voting resident interested in implementation.
Sarah Rubino, who lives at 2008 Pembroke and works for the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner as a government policy attorney, told commissioners she focuses on water resources — drinking water, sanitary sewer and stormwater — and was motivated to apply because of the city’s composting program and her background in regional collaboration.
Commissioners appointed Edwards to a two‑year term expiring Feb. 1, 2027 and Rubino to a one‑year term expiring Feb. 1, 2026. William Cole, a recent retiree and former data-company executive who lives at 411 South of Woodward, was appointed an alternate member of the advisory parking committee to serve a three‑year term expiring Sept. 4, 2026; Commissioner Host noted Mr. Cole’s prior experience renting parking spaces in the Chester Street structure.
In staff announcements, Bruce Johnson, building official, introduced two promotions: Jeff Silke as building official designee (to succeed Johnson upon his retirement in May) and Andrew Erickson promoted to assistant building official. Johnson said both have years of service and relevant credentials, including LEED and construction-code commission experience. Engineering announced new hires/promotions: Mark Acram as a civil engineer (hired November), and Brian Hardy promoted to senior engineering technician after several years of field inspection and permit work.
All appointments were approved by voice vote during the meeting’s appointment portion and the new committee members were sworn in at the dais.
