Dearborn Heights council holds closed session on Swope litigation, then accepts administration recommendation on employment matter

The Dearborn Heights City Council moved into a closed session at 5:33 p.m. on July 7 to discuss an employee legal opinion and pending litigation identified in the meeting as Swope v. City of Dearborn Heights, then returned at about 6:42 p.m. and approved the administration’s recommended next steps.

Councilman Saab made the motion to enter closed session "so the city council may discuss the employee legal opinion" and to consider the litigation under the cited authority "15 b a and b," naming a list of staff and outside attorneys permitted to attend. Councilwoman Breyer seconded the motion; the chair called the ayes and the motion carried.

The motion to enter closed session specified attendees who would remain for the discussion, including the mayor, city clerk, chief of staff, corporation counsel Mayaki, assistant corporation counsel Saad, comptroller Beydoun, HR director Fisher and MRMA attorneys Monica Hart and Adam Strong; Councilman Saab subsequently named attorney Tarrick Turfie among those present. The council recessed for the closed session at approximately 5:33 p.m.

After returning to open session at about 6:42 p.m., Councilman Saab moved that the council "accept the recommendation of Administration on the legal opinion regarding the employee" and to "direct administration to follow-up as discussed." The motion, seconded and put to a voice vote, carried.

The council did not disclose details of the legal opinion or the content of the closed-session discussion in the public record during the meeting. The council’s public action recorded in open session was the acceptance of the administration’s recommendation and a direction that staff carry out the agreed follow-up steps.

The meeting adjourned at 6:43 p.m.