DEARBORN – After 24 years on the city council, Nancy Hubbard and Suzanne Sareini attended their last meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Fellow councilpersons, the mayor and the city clerk took the opportunity to praise the outgoing councilwomen for their service and dedication to the city.

“The citizens were well-served for 24 years,” said Mayor Jack O’Reilly Jr. of Hubbard and Sareini’s tenure, adding that they had a commitment to get out in the community and hear residents concerns. “They came back with unique information to bring to the discussion.”

Outgoing Council Pro Tem Sareini said she will miss serving the people of Dearborn.

“It’s been an honor working with all of you,” she told the council. “Good luck for the new council. Thank you for having me all these years.”

The new council, which was elected in November, will be sworn in on Jan. 2 and hold its first meeting on Jan. 14.

Hubbard and Sareini opted not to run for reelection in November. All other incumbents won their reelection bids. Sareini’s son Mike and Susan Dabaja will be the only new members on the council.

Hubbard, who has served the City for six consecutive terms, is the daughter of Orville Hubbard, Dearborn’s mayor from 1942 to 1978. 

Hubbard (L) and Sareini.

Hubbard expressed her pride in the expansion and construction of many City facilities during her time on the council, including renovating the Civic Center into the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center and moving the City Hall to a new building, a project that is still underway. Artspace is closing in on buying the current City Hall after paying a $50,000 deposit, and the council is already budgeting the makeover of the new Dearborn Administrative Center at 16901 Michigan Ave.

The outgoing councilwoman said moving the City Hall to a central part of Dearborn was her “father’s dream.” 

Hubbard added that her biggest pleasure was helping people who could not help themselves. She also praised the mayor and her fellow councilpersons for the work they have accomplished.

“I congratulate the mayor and all my colleagues,” she said. “We did this as a team.”   

Councilman Brian O’Donnell thanked Hubbard and Sareini for their service and extended his gratitude to Council President Thomas Tafelski, who will be replaced by Susan Dabaja after she received the highest number of votes in November’s election.

“It is not an easy job preparing and running these meetings,” O’Donnell said. 

He also voiced his appreciation for Tafelski’s leadership, thanking him for helping Dabaja prepare for the job.

Dabaja and Mike Sareini introduced themselves to the meeting’s audience and praised the current city council.

Tafelski wished the incoming council members luck. “I will be very happy to give you this,” he told Dabaja, pointing to the council president’s gavel.

The Dearborn City Council unanimously approved the first reading of the garage ordinance amendment that would ban garages from being converted into habitable spaces. However, the amendment will need a second approval from the incoming council before becoming an official ordinance.

The amendment, which has sparked much controversy since it was introduced almost a year ago, has made rounds between the council and the planning commission. It was last sent by the council to the planning commission on Sept. 24 in order for the body to review and clarify parts of it.

The new ordinance defines a habitable space as “a space within a structure for living, sleeping, eating and cooking.” It prohibits bathrooms or cooking facilities in garages and allows faucet sinks in compliance with City code only.

The amendment still allows residents to utilize their garages for parties, hobbies, socializing and other temporary uses, but bans installing screen doors that would obstruct the entry of a vehicle.

The ordinance also bans garages from being converted into places for business.

The new city council can still strike down the ordinance. But the amendment is likely to pass on Jan. 14, because all five incumbent council members who won reelection in November are in favor of it.

In other business, the council awarded Ghafari Associates a $208,400 contract for architecture and engineering services for the new Dearborn Administrative Center. It also awarded a $15,020 contract to American Interiors for furniture installation and layout consulting services for the same building. 

Tafelski, who opposes the sale of City Hall, was the only councilperson to vote no on both resolutions.