New Commission Steering Dexter Toward Official City Status Announces Meetings

Newly elected members of the City Charter Commission will hold another of several meetings to move Dexter from a village to an official city on Wednesday.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in the Copeland Board Room, 7714 Ann Arbor St. Subsequent meetings will be held at the same time and place on Jan. 8, 15, 22 and 29. Watch for additional details on the village web site, www.dextermi.gov.

In November, village voters elected nine charter commission members – John Hansen, Philip Arbour, Jack Donaldson, Matt Kowalski, Phillip Mekas, Mary-Ellen Miller, Thomas Phillips, Michael Raatz and James Smith.

At an organizational meeting, Hansen was elected chair and Arbour was elected vice chairman.

The election was the first step in Dexter becoming a city.  Over the next several weeks, the commission will draft a proposed city charter to be placed before voters at a future date.

If it’s approved, the process of becoming a city is complete. If not, a second draft can be placed before voters. If the second proposal were turned down, Dexter would remain a village.

The meetings are public and will follow Michigan open meetings law guidelines. Agendas can be accessed online. The City Charter Commission web site also includes links to model charters, packets of materials provided to commission members, meeting minutes and other related material.