City Chickens and the strange machinations of Grown Ups to determine if chickens are apropos.

At the December 12th City Commission  meeting Caroline Baxter,  a ten year old student, at East Hills Elementary School, by virtue of Recognition  of citizens in the audience  spoke to City Commission, about a  passion hers which is chickens. 

City Manager Jay Craven in an interview with Channel  4 News Click on Detroit said that prior to her  appearance  before them Caroline had written to City Commission about her desire to to speak to them,While written notice  was not necessary, it was polite, and it gave the Commission the  the chance to be better prepared than they appeared to be on December 12th.


Caroline thinks chickens make great pets and she talked about misconceptions people might have about chickens as pets. Her presentation  was fact based and very logical from her point of view. Particularly in regards to drawbacks of  other allowable pets like dogs who bark, weigh more, and  make for bigger clean up.

Caroline Baxter spoke or answered questions for approximately seven minutes. You may see this segment of the meeting by moving the fast forward ball at the bottom of the December 12th City Commission meeting video in an earlier post to the 17 minute mark.

 Upon her conclusion, Mayor Dul admitted he didn't know what our  city's rules (on chickens) are. City Manager Cravens thought they  came under the zoning ordinance. On that point he was mistaken but he had good grasp of what the correct ordinance said omitting the fact that current regulations, classify chickens as poultry or live stock, which are not allowed by City ordinances.

Commissioner Coakley  made a motion that City Commission take the matter under consideration, get the opinion from our City Attorney, and after reviewing  the the ordinances come up with a recommendation for our citizens in this regard.  

The motion passed. 

Mayor Dull closed the topic with "Ok so we can take the matter under advisement and come up with something for next month."

For friends of fowl was seemingly a promising start.

Unfortunately  in the world of grown ups "next month" however does not always  mean "next month." If you earn your living by selling things you quickly pick up on this. point. Next month however is by far better to No or Never.

In retrospect this writer believes that in their haste to promise a more informed "next month" Commission failed to give Caroline Baxter her due  with proper questioning defining the parameters of what she was asking for, discussing ramifications of said, and considering possible alternatives for all concerned. That is what adults get when they go before a City Board or commission.

Any thing less has a name in the adult world. It is called a dog and pony show. It is the job interview where they love you to death but aren't going to hire you because you are so over qualified. In short it is saying No and Yes at the same time which is what 
grown ups do because they think it polite.

Television  has asked, and even  a graduate of the prestigious Yale Divinity School has had to admit a that we are not smarter than a fifth grader.

The truth of  that became apparent at  the December meeting  when  Commissioner Sheer made a series of puns about  chickens which amused himself and Commissioner Coakley. The puns  were later quoted  the verbatim in the Eccentric newspaper. Commission Hardy asked if Carolyn had written her rather excellent presentation herself or had help from her mother. Commisioner McClure remembered aloud about a grandfather, gentleman farmer, who maintained pigs on the premise.

This writer has vivid memories of the hard scrabble asphalt (good for skinning elbows and knees), playgrounds of a Sacramento California grade school where proof was a perquisite. Who had a higher batting average  Willie Mays or Mickey Mantle?  Prove it and out would come the baseball cards.You lose you forfeit your card. You say you  climbed a tree the requisite 15 feet to earn  Cub Scout merit badge ?  You have to prove it and half the class would follow you to the tree in question to watch you do it again.

Carolyn Baxter was asking the commission for  a change  of City ordinances by allowing  all residents ownership of up to five chickens.

City Commission, which has the elected responsibility  to represent 3800  residents  residing in approximately 1500 domiciles did not ask Carolyn how many residents she believed would support her request.

It was a Channel 4 Click on Detroit reporter who asked that Question.

To see the entire news clip click here

Click on 4 Detroit is a collection of news clips  taken by Channel reporters and available on line.  Carolyn's claim that most residents do not care we believe is true only at first glance. 

Living in Bloomfield Hills requires a certain investment and that is why the City is conservative in its approach to change. 

News accounts seemed to derive a bit  of schaden freud  from a city of stereotypical swells chasing chickens in the backyard.

Both  the Eccentric  and Click on 4 Detroit reported that  City Commission would review and  discuss the Chickens at the January 13th Meeting.  That did not happen.

 As explained in a letter to City Commission, City Manager Cravens, received a  phone call from a resident who was opposed to idea and mentioned other grown up considerations like deed restrictions. The matter is now on hold pending the a hearing of Carolyn's initiative at a neighborhood  association.

Ordinances determine the character and the charm of a City.
We doubt that many of the City's residents moved to the City of Bloomfield Hills for the purpose of raising  or owning Chickens, or are excited about the prospects of chickens  or the  structures required  to house them in many yards. Rightly or wrongly they may feel that such may detract from the City and reduce the value of the  property for which they paid a pretty penny.

The Eccentric quotes Mr. Baxter  Caroline's father as saying, "It would be nice if  the City was even willing to try it (Chicken ownership)  on a limited trial basis.

We think not. We are not a city governed by trial and error.  The 3800 plus residents who comprise approximate 1500 households are governed by ordinances. With a few exceptions we do not have walls or fences in the City. That is determined by an ordinance with  idea being that we are an open community. Ordinances are what protect you from loud music blasting, a large backyard deck that blocks your view of the City's natural features, or this writer using using  the front lawn as an auto grave yard.  In the City of Bloomfield Hills Ordinances are our fences.

There is also another consideration.Caroline Baxter is a serious student of birds. The Eccentric Newspaper quotes her as telling City commission that she has has memorized every kind of bird in Michigan and can recognize them  by appearance. Her dream is to study at the Ornithology lab at Cornell University Here the Eccentric erred  by referring to a Cornell College which is a small but distinguished school in the Midwest. 

The lab of  which Caroline Baxter speaks is actually at Cornell University of Ivy League fame and located Ithaca New York.
If there aren't  legal restrictions of home owner association or  even City ordinances (which  get revamped at will by non resident City Employees these days) a solution  for the sake of  documented scholarship for one Caroline Baxter could be had. 

If that is not possible there is still the rather excellent Bloomfield Hills School System who is  responsible  for the education of the City's school children. Regrettably our City Commission has very little contact  or even a volunteer liaison with the School Board  whose meetings showcase many examples of  student initiated independent study. That is what Model High school is all about. To learn  more about Model High School visit their face book page by clicking here.

While Caroline  Baxter is still in elementary school, Exceptional students place out and move up  to advanced classes in  a variety of subjects.

A family friend of our's son  found his mother's high school French book in the attic one August. That fall he not only place out of beginning French, but later created a bit of a sensation when he celebrated his intermediate status by sassing the instructor in   perfectly pronounced, but  rather vulgar, argot of the Paris slum.


.

 

Good Fences make good neigbors per Carl Sandburg and Mending Wall

100 years ago Carl Sandburg wrote  Mending Wall with the now famous line Good Fences make good neighbors.

Something there is that doesn't love a wall, That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it, And spills the upper boulders in the sun, And makes gaps even two can pass abreast. The work of hunters is another thing: I have come after them and made repair Where they have left not one stone on a stone, But they would have the rabbit out of hiding, To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean, No one has seen them made or heard them made, But at spring mending-time we find them there. I let my neighbor know beyond the hill; And on a day we meet to walk the line And set the wall between us once again. We keep the wall between us as we go. To each the boulders that have fallen to each. And some are loaves and some so nearly balls We have to use a spell to make them balance: 'Stay where you are until our backs are turned!' We wear our fingers rough with handling them. Oh, just another kind of out-door game, One on a side. It comes to little more: There where it is we do not need the wall: He is all pine and I am apple orchard. My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him. He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbors'. Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder If I could put a notion in his head: 'Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it Where there are cows? But here there are no cows. Before I built a wall I'd ask to know What I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was like to give offence. Something there is that doesn't love a wall, That wants it down.' I could say 'Elves' to him, But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather He said it for himself. I see him there Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed. He moves in darkness as it seems to me~ Not of woods only and the shade of trees. He will not go behind his father's saying, And he likes having thought of it so well He says again, "Good fences make good neighbors."

Local opposition, deed restrictions, prompt City Manager Cravens to urge delay in adoption of ordinance amendment to allow for chickens in the City.

City of Bloomfield Hills Ordinances relating to livestock which includes poultry.

• Sec. 3-3. - Birds and birds' nests.
  
  No person, except a police officer acting in his official capacity, shall molest, injure, kill or capture any wild bird, or molest or disturb any wild bird's nest or the contents thereof.

  (Code 1971, § 9.63)
• Sec. 3-4. - Livestock prohibited.
  
  (a)

  This section is adopted for the purpose and with the intent of exercising the city's power as provided in chapter II of the Charter, including the power under section 4 to define, prohibit, abate, suppress or prevent all nuisance and all things detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the city and the causes thereof, by prohibiting certain animals from being possessed or maintained within the city with limited, temporary exceptions, and providing for penalties to be applied for violations of the prohibitions. These regulations and the purpose and intent in adopting them is in recognition of existing development and uses that have been lawfully established within the city and determination that the reasonable and peaceful use, enjoyment and value of those uses and developments would be diminished or interfered with by the presence within the city of livestock, which as defined herein, are found to be undesirable, unsuitable and inconsistent with and detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the city and its inhabitants.

  (b)

  "Livestock" means horses and other equine, cattle, sheep, swine, mules, burros, goats, llamas or other new world camelids, bison, poultry, rabbits and other animals used for human food and fiber or primarily for service rather than companionship to humans. Livestock does not include dogs and cats.

  (c)

  It shall be unlawful and a violation of this section for any person to possess or maintain livestock within the city. Owners or possessors of livestock shall be responsible for compliance with this section and subject to punishment for violations. For purposes of this section, "possess or maintain" means the act or ability of having or exerting control and influence over livestock, without regard to ownership and "owners or possessors" mean persons who have a right of property in livestock, who have livestock in their care of custody, or who knowingly permit livestock to remain on or about property occupied or controlled by them.

  (d)

  The prohibition in section 3-4(c) shall not apply to lawfully established and maintained principal permitted uses under the City of Bloomfield Hills Zoning Ordinance, that by necessity require the possession or maintenance of livestock, and to the temporary possession or maintenance of livestock by persons or entities licensed by the state or U.S. Department of Agriculture if:

  (1)

  The location of the livestock conforms to the provisions of the zoning ordinance of the city.

  (2)

  All livestock and livestock quarters are kept in a clean and sanitary condition and so maintained as to eliminate objectionable odors.

  (3)

  Livestock are maintained in quarters so constructed as to prevent their escape, and to provide for their biological needs.

  (4)

  No person lives or resides within one hundred (100) feet of where the livestock are possessed or maintained.

  (5)

  A written application containing all information necessary to confirm compliance with the preceding requirements is made by the licensed person or entity and a permit for the temporary possession or maintenance applied for is issued by the city.

  (e)

  Owners and possessors of livestock in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) plus costs of prosecution or by imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court, with each act of violation and every day upon which any such violation occurs constituting a separate offense, as provided in city Code section 1-11.

  (f)

  Possessing or maintaining livestock in violation of this section is declared to be a public nuisance as if said offense were specifically listed in section 10-2 of the city Code.

  (g)

  Possessing or maintaining livestock in violation of this article is declared to be a public nuisance as if said offense were specifically listed in section 10-2 of the city Code.

  (Code 1971, § 9.64; Ord. No. 302, § 1, 10-14-97)

Wholesale Utility tree destruction or clear cutting on Kensington prompts outrage from Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie. City offers only acquiescence.

Of the two reactions, the former is probably what sent Attorneys from both communities  (they are represented  by the same law firm) to Court to prevent  further cutting until the matter could be discussed.

The December  19th 2014  edition of the Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle headlined  Residents upset about  DTE Tree Trimming

The  Eagle reported that  Bloomfield Township Supervisor  Leo Savoie told  Township residents  by email that "the way they (DTE ) went about it  is was completely unacceptable. We are going to stop (the cutting) until we meet (with DTE),  and set up a plan. We can notify homeowners what that plan is and we can identify  what is going on so  do everybody can understand  what is going on so everybody  can understand  the scope of the project.

City of Bloomfield Hills residents received no information other than what was published in various community newspapers. City Manager  Jay Cravens  reportedly s took solace in the fact that  DTE "voluntarily"  agreed to suspend cutting  until matters could be reviewed further.. Cravens also told  the Eagle that "in coming weeks  we will talk  DTE about re-vegetation  and reforestation plans for the affected area,

 Cravens later told this publication that DTE was not bound  by City's Woodland Tree ordinance.

Mayor Dul corresponded to the Eagle by email  saying,  "With the idea of preventing  future power outages DTE is taking on  a program to remove all trees in their public right of ways. When mature hardwoods are clear cut, I as citizen, mayor, and landscape architect, feel their (DTE) approach is extreme. As and independent utility (DTE) we don't  have control over their initiative.

Pehaps not but a little outrage might help. DTE spends many  dollars advertising and emphasizing that they are a partner, caring friend, and valuable resource of the communities they serve.

 In fact  DTE is or was currently working with City Manager Cravens  and City Commisioner Michael Coakley in determining ways to prevent power outages in the City  by burying power lines. According to City Manager Cravens the only hold up on that project is cost.

 A DTE spokesperson was quoted in the Eagle edition of  December 19th  as " saying they were responding to complaints about service reliability from both customers and local officials as well as the Michigan  Public Service Commission who as a result of the ice storm last winter (2013) directed us to be a lot more aggressive with  tree trimming. While we make every effort to  work with our customers right now we are no longer no asking permission. It is  totally different approach to laying clearance but it is something that is needed to provide our customers with reliable electric service." 

If  Holiday activities  resulted in your missing   the December 19h edition of the Eagle, The front page article   can be readt by clicking on Residents upset about DTW tree trimming
The article  is written by  Tiffany Esshaki   Cand G staff writer.

1. The Eccentric Newspaper in a December 22nd editorial titled Public should have had  its say before trees fell  wrote .... 

That scenario played out following a Dec. 21-22, 2013, ice storm that caused an estimated 600,000 residents to lose power – some for several days.

The Michigan Public Service Commission held hearings about the storm, in the hopes of preventing major outages in the future. Among the orders that came out of a Dec.n (2014) meeting in Lansing was the following:

“Consumers Energy Company and DTE Electric Company shall develop a hazardous tree removal program in 2015, addressing trees that are outside of the right-of-way. This program shall be incorporated into their normal vegetation management programs, and shall be included in any future electric rate case application.”

It didn't take long for crews working on behalf of DTE to sharped the chain saws and carry out the order.

The destruction of so many mature trees is a disgrace. Even worse is the poor communication on the part of DTE to local officials and residents preceding the carnage.

If residents and public officials had any notion of the scope of work that was in the works, they would have protested vehemently and called for a series of local public meetings before trees were cut down.

Local public meetings with DTE should have been part of the process all along. Going forward, there has to be a better solution than clear cutting. The option of paying a special assessment to bury the wires under ground wasn't put to residents, many of whom may have preferred spending thousands of dollars each to dig a whole rather than see the trees chopped down. In failing to explore options with local residents, DTE failed in its primary mission of serving the public.

Going forward, every tree that can be saved should be and nothing less will do.to read editorial in it's entirety click here

 Downtown Birmingham Bloomfield Hills  in a December 19th article published in their on line editionn  titled Tree Clearing  Concerns residents and Officials, states that DTE  hired Davey Tree to do the tree cutting and reported that as many as 20 Davey Tree trucks could be seen in the area of Kensington Road the day of the cutting. A photograph  accompanying the article shows  many  of such work vehicles in the background.  The photograph  in the Downtown Publications article may be enlarged by clicking on it.

To see the picture and to read the article in its entirety by News Editor Lisa Brody  Click here.  Extras that come with article include the ability to  share the article with  friends  via  email,  a variety of programs, or print it.

Downtown reported  that  Joe Robinson, part of the vegetation management team for DTE on site on Kensington Road, said the tree clear cutting was a very targeted plan based on nine power outages the area had experienced in 2014. "It was one of the worst-performing areas we had, and we are marking the most unreliable areas with over-line corridor trimming or removal," Robinson said. "This will continue for trees within the corridor."

City of Bloomfield Hills Manager  Jay Cravens  told Downtown Publications   that the City had been working with DTE for several months, through  mid-November, about outages in the area "We had been interested in meeting with them to have other options like raising power lines above the trees, or burying lines, where feasible," Cravens said.

Cravens  said DTE received a directive from Michigan public works officials to clean their right of ways, " and they got this directive, and a couple of days before they started, I got a call from Robinson. It appears this operation was ground-to-sky; everything from ground-to-sky was removed. A crab apple tree is not going to get in the way of lines. There was a distinct disconnect between the contractor and DTE."Cravens added.

"I think they (DTE) acted a little too quickly, and if they had mapped the area a little bit better, the results would have been better," Cravens said. "It's like thumbing their nose at people."

The Fall issue of  Hills Highlights, the official newsletter of the City of Bloomfield Hills arrived in the mail boxes of City residents shortly before the 2014 November election.  The newsletter's format  consists of articles written by City Commissioners and other City officials on matters they are working on. The de facto editor is  City  manager Jay Cravens.  On page 5 in an article  written by  City Commissioner Michael Coakley. The commissioner  discusses the City's focus on the infrastructure.  He writes "City Management, and the (City) Commission are teaming up with DTE executives  in a pilot program project  aimed at improving power delivery and reducing  the number  and severity of power outages in the City."

   Commisioner Coakley continued with, "In  the coming  weeks Jay Cravens  and I will be conducting with DTE executives a field study of DTE transition infrastructure  and the physical constraints and challenges  posed by our  traditionally bucolic environment. We will be looking at husbandry  and technical solutions  in improving the power infrastructure in the City to deliver power with consistency and readability, commensurate  with  the living standards expected for Bloomfield Hills. DTE is being pro- active with us in this initiative which we appreciate.  We look forward to working with DTE on this important pilot project.

Unfortunately . for the optimistic  Commissioner Coakley. There were other forces at work.  When the proactive DTE  arrived  in town shortly before the Christmas Holidays the rules had changed. No one asking for permission or considering other alternatives.

Back issues of the Hills Highlights are usually archived on the City Web site but the one referenced above from last October has not appeared there yet. The publication of the first edition of the Hills Highlights for 2015,  spoken of at the January City commission meeting, as imminent, has yet to appear. It was expected  to shed further light on what City Manager Cravens calls the "The Tragedy on Kensington ".

  In conversations with this publication and other media Cravens  has stated that burying the utility lines is a beyond the annual 9 million dollars of the City Budget. DTE has also  described it as a  expensive proposition that may not be a guaranteed solution. 

Underground lines can and do break which is why residents are advised to call Miss Dig before they dig.

Cravens suggested two  possible solutions both of which would have residents paying for burying utility lines. The first is a special assessment which is also known as a Special Assessment District or SAD.  Here a street or neighborhood band together to pay the bill for their turf alone. SADs are quite popular in the township where they are used for road repair.  Cravens however seemed to favor a second alternative which would be a surcharge by the utility, placed on everyone's monthly bill.

One wonders what the amount would be and for what period of time. One also wonders how necessary, residents many of whom have purchased generators. would find this matter. The storm that created Kensington tragedy occurred in December of 2013.

The City of Bloomfield Hills suffers from another ailment city commission has yet to address. Perhaps because it is one of the City's more desirable features. That is low population density.  Our city with 3800 residents occupies more land than the City of Birmingham with 20,000 people. When the lights go out  whose gets fixed first ?

At the last City Commission meeting  the once optimistic  Commisioner Coakley sounded less than enthused when he said "There is no way around it. you can  have reliable power or you can have trees and vines but you can't have both."

Commissioner Scheer who lives close to area  effected said   utility companies  generally have a large leeway when it comes to protecting their equipment, and that it would be be difficult, to challenge DTE on a legal basis unless  the company  had trimmed vegetation outside the 30 foot easement.He would however ask DTE to reconsider the Ground to SKY initiative  

But not everyone is just asking and it if anything happens to improve the situation it may be  is for that reason. 

As a result of  a  conversation With city resident  Geoffrey Fieger, Commisioner Hardy,  told the Eccentric  that Mr. Fieger mentioned he would like to get involved with the matter.
Last week it was reported by many media  that Fieger had filed a $54 million dollar lawsuit against DTE. The Dollar amount  is reported to be the same amount DTE is paying to Davey Tree for Ground to Sky Tree removal. Some  homeowners whose property was effected say they are participating in the lawsuit  because they have not been contacted by DTE.

 The January 18th  Eccentric stated that DTE would  begin cutting again in February. Attorney Fieger does not believe that will happen.

 The Eccentric reports that DTE ,Supervisor Savoie ,and City Manager Cravens are expected to meet with in February to discuss possible line burial.

 Last but not least the DTE is still reaching out to the communities it serves by organizing field trip for elected officials.

That is what Commissioner Coakley, presented as a pro active break through  five months ago.

City of Bloomfield Hills Weekly Public Safety Report.

Message From The Chief

The City of Bloomfield Hills is committed to providing the highest level of public safety service. Our officers are cross trained as certified police officers, fire fighters and medical first responders. This combination allows us to respond to our residents effectively, efficiently and faster than traditional police and fire departments who operate independently and are not cross trained. Our mission is to protect and improve the quality of life of our citizens by providing public safety services in a courteous, professional, and respectful manner. Effective public safety service requires a partnership between the community and the public safety department. Our core values which include accountability, integrity, respect and teamwork support this community partnership concept. The BHDPS will strive to maintain our quality of public service through leadership, training, and commitment to the safety and peace of mind of our residents and visitors

Week of Jan 22 Nothing to report this week.

Week of Jan 15 Nothing to report this week.

On 12/25/2014 officers responded to an address in the 1800 block of Rathmoor Road on a Carbon Monoxide Alarm.  Police and fire units utilized monitoring devices to assess levels of carbon monoxide in the residence, which were elevated.  The source of the problem was tracked to a faulty heat unit in the attached garage.  The unit was put out of service until it could be repaired.  The home was cleared of carbon monoxide and units cleared the scene.  There were no reports of ill effects to the residents.

On December 18, at approximately noon, officers were dispatched to First Merit Bank, 39520 Woodward on a report of a person attempting to pass a fraudulent check.  Upon arrival officers encountered a female leaving the bank, and were told by bank employees that this female was the person attempting to pass the fraudulent check. 

Contact was made with a 50 year old Warren MI female who was found to still be in possession of the alleged fraudulent check.  A records check on the female revealed that she had outstanding warrants from agencies in the area.  She was taken into custody on those warrants.

Investigation into the check she had in possession showed that the Saginaw MI business that the check was to be drawn against had received several notifications on this date that persons were cashing similar checks against their account in this area at several bank branches.

The report was forwarded to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for review, and a one count warrant for Uttering and Publishing was authorized against the woman.  Court action is pending at the 48^th District Court.

On December 12, 2014 at 11:31 a.m. units of this agency were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Lone Pine on a house alarm.  Upon arrival the officers discovered that unknown person(s) had broken out a window and entered the residence.  Once inside the officers discovered that the house had been ransacked.  

During this investigation, a call was received from a resident in the 800 block of Ridgewood stating that his home had been broken into.  Officers responded to that scene as well, finding that unknown person(s) had made entry through a door and ransacked the interior of the home.  It was obvious to the homeowner that several items were missing from each residence.  A witness came forward for the Ridgewood and another witness came forward for the Lone Pine address and provided information that led investigators to notify area departments to watch for a red mini-van occupied by two young white males.  This van was seen at the addresses by the witnesses during the times when the Home Invasions were thought to have occurred.

Moments after the notice was issued, Beverly Hills Public Safety Officers were dispatched to a Home Invasion in progress in their city.  The suspects fled the scene in a red mini-van.  After a short vehicle chase, a 20 year old woman from Taylor was taken into custody.  The driver of the van, a 24 year old Warren man fled from the vehicle and was found hiding in a storage shed a short time later by officers.  The third suspect, a 25 year old Roseville man was taken into custody in the lobby of a nearby business after a tracking dog was utilized.

The van that the three were using was found to have items taken from homes in Beverly Hills, and Bloomfield Hills. 

The three suspects have been formally charged for the Beverly Hills Home Invasions and charges are pending in the Bloomfield Hills cases.

Oscar Best Picture Nominee Trailers/Previews. The Academy could have nominated as many as ten films but stopped at eight.

Editors Note: Nominated  Movie Previews,  now in demand, come with introductory commercials. They have been screened and rated P-13 or "Appropriate for Audience." Parental guidance suggested for language, and mature content.

Best Picture, Director, Actor nominations

Best picture,  Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting  Actor and Actress nominations.

Best Picture,  Director Supporting Actor and Actress nominations.

Nominated for Best Picture

Best Picture, Director, Best Actor, 

Supporting Actress  nominations.

 

Nominated for Best Picture

 Best Picture, Actor, and Actress nominations

 Best Picture, and best Supporting Actor.

City of Bloomfield Hills Commission Meeting Jan13 2015.

CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS
City Commission
Agenda for Meeting January 13, 2015
The regular meeting of the City Commission will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
January 13, 2015 at City Hall 45 E. Long Lake Road Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304. Phone
248.644.1520, FAX 248.644.4813.

1. Call to order and Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Consent Agenda
A. Bills Payable for December 2014.
B. Department Reports:
a. Finance Director / Treasurer
b. Public Safety
c. DPW
d. Building
e. Engineering
C. Minutes:
a. City Commission Regular Meeting held December 9, 2014.
D. Correspondence:
a. Memo from City Manager: 2014 - 2015 Goals.
b. Bloomfield Hills Garden Club Correspondence.
c. Memo from City Manager: Ordinance on animals in a residential
district.
3. Recognition of Citizens in the audience.
4. PUBLIC HEARING: The commission will conduct a public hearing on the use of Community Development Block Grant Funds.
5. The commission will hear an update on the 2015 Road Improvement Program.
6. The commission will hear an update on the Chesterfield / Quarton Road
Program.
7. The commission will consider adoption of the 2014 – 2015 Budget Resolution.
8. The commission will hear a presentation on the financial forecast.
 9. The commission will consider adoption of a Resolution requesting re-allocation
of assets.
10. The commission will appoint board and commissions members for terms to
begin January 2015.
11. The commission will consider award of the contract for the Single Municipal Waste Hauler.
12. The commission will consider an Inter-local Agreement for the Department of
Public Safety with the City of Troy.
13. The commission will consider approval of two Traffic Control Orders.
14. The commission will consider the introduction of the sign ordinance
amendment.
15. The commission will hear City Manager comments.
16. The commission will hear an update on individual lead responsibilities.
17. The commission will consider other business.

Planning Commission Meeting of January 13th. No real Agenda Items at 4pm Meeting but it is expected that Commission will elect officers for 2015-2016.

CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Planning Commission
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
The regular meeting of the Planning Commission will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday,
January 13, 2015 in the City Commission Room, 45 E. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills,
Michigan 48304-2322, Phone (248) 644-1520, FAX (248) 644-4813.
1. Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Minutes
a. Planning Commission meeting held on November 12, 2014.
3. The planning commission will hear a presentation on the sign ordinance
amendment.

The power of individuals to make a difference and a trip to Italy highlight Baldwin New Titles 12/23/2014

The Good Lie (DVD): They were known simply as "The Lost Boys." Orphaned by the brutal civil war in Sudan that began in 1983, these young victims traveled as many as a thousand miles on foot in search of safety. Fifteen years later, a humanitarian effort would bring 3,600 lost boys and girls to America.

Check availability

The Trip to Italy (DVD): Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are on an all-expenses-paid trip for the Observer. Their tough assignment is to drive through beautiful Italian country, eat lavishly, and stay in exquisite small hotels, all so that one or the other can write high-toned culinary drivel for the paper. Check availability

Pride (DVD): U.K. gay activists work to assist miners during their extended strike of the National Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984.

Check Availability