By CHARITY B. SMITH
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK — The City Council held its first meeting at the new city hall July 14, a month and a half after moving to the new facilities.
“The holdup was because the Building Department was essentially using our new chambers as a storage area, until they got all their files and things put in the correct place,” Mayor William Matakas said.
The only thing that was not set up in time for the meeting was the audio and video capabilities. The meeting was not filmed for the public to view later. The audio and video department is expected to be ready for the next meeting on July 28.
The new facility has newer and more comfortable seating for the audience. The old facility used to be a church so the seating was at one point pews, as opposed to the muted pink plush chairs that fill the new city council chambers.
The audience filled about one-third of the new chambers, but every major department head was present at the meeting. The meeting lasting just over two-and-a-half hours — longer than normal — and covered 25 city-related issues, from lighting for the ice arena, to using the city of Dearborn’s jail facilities and banning sky lanterns.
(Charity B. Smith can be reached at [email protected])