Councilman Kevin Butler (Ward I), Councilman Michael Summers (Ward III), Councilwoman Nickie Antonio (At-Large), Councilman Brian Powers (At-Large), Council Woman Mary Louise Madigan (Ward IV), Councilwoman Moniqu Smith (At-Large) and Councilman Thomas Bullock (Ward II) with former Councilman Michael Dever and his family

On the night of January 19, 2010, Council President Kevin Butler (Ward I) called the meeting of City Council to order at 7:34 P.M. The first order of business by Council was to recognize Michael Dever, for his years of service to the City as a City Council member and Council President. Dever was appointed to an unexpired Council seat in January of 2003 and re-elected by his own right in 2005. In 2006 his fellow Council members elected him Vice-President of Council and in 2008 President, a post in which he served until December of 2009.

Councilman Butler thanked Dever for his mentoring while he was on Council and his even head while Council President. Butler also said that he believes he has big shoes to fill. Councilwoman Madigan, Council Vice-President, as she was also under Dever, addressed his children, who were also in the audience, and told them it was a real pleasure to work with their father. She continued saying he was always even tempered and sensible and very careful as to how he conducted the Council as a body. Many more kind words followed by Council members Brian Powers, Tom Bullock, Nickie Antonio, Michael Summers and Monique Smith surrounding Devers respect, mentoring and fairness while on Council.

After Council passed the resolution, Dever thanked Council and the Mayor for the honor as well the voters for allowing him to serve the City. He said it was a pleasure learning how our government functions and being able to contribute to it. He found it a humbling experience. Before he finished up his comments he made the point to thank the Council Clerk (Mary Hagan) and Legislative Liaison (Amy) for their work and said they are the ones that really keep the Council running and help keep the public educated on what they are doing.

As you may remember, in the last issue of this column an ordinance was mentioned recognizing Around the Corner and Rozi’s Wine House for their many years of business in the City of Lakewood. However, due to a busy holiday schedule a representative of Rozi’s was not able to make it to that meeting. Therefore, Council took the time at this meeting to recognize Rozi’s and pass the resolution recognizing them for their 70 years of business in the City of Lakewood.

Moving on to another recognition, Councilman Tom Bullock (Ward II) asked Council to recognize Mara Manke for her work as a co-caption of the Lakeland Block Club. As block clubs are becoming an important part of Lakewood’s communities, Lakeland’s block club has taken the idea to a higher level. Besides the meetings and safety emails, along with their newsletter, the block club also has a welcoming committee for rental tenets, CPR classes at the annual block party, a spring litter clean up day and recently, a beautification process to plant hundreds of bulbs that will bloom in the spring, among many other things. Mara Manke has been an important part for creating and continuing many of these activities, and Councilman Bullock believes she deserves to be recognized as she steps down from her co-captain seat.

Council passed the resolution and then the standing Lakeland co-captains also presented Manke with a certificate thanking her for all her time and effort.

Next Councilman Bullock introduced a revised ordinance to allow leashed dogs in Lakewood parks. As you may remember, this past summer Bullock brought forth the idea of allowing leashed dogs in Lakewood parks. However, rather than introducing an ordinance that would allow leashed dogs in the parks he introduced an amendment to the currant ordinance that would allow the Director of Public works to decide whether or not dogs would be allowed in the parks. After much debate and disagreement over how an ordinance allowing leashed dogs in Lakewood Parks should be written, the ordinance got lost in the Public Safety Committee, which Bullock chaired, after its second reading and was allowed to expire. With the previous version expired, Bullock introduced a new ordinance that will allow a pilot program for leashed dogs in Lakewood parks to be tried at Kaufman and Lakewood Parks. The Council placed the ordinance on first reading and referred it to the Public Works Committee, which Bullock now chairs.

After the regularly scheduled agenda items several members of the Committee to Bring Back the Daily Lakewood Circulator spoke to Council and the Mayor. They wanted to remind them that the Circulator is still a great concern for many of Lakewood residents, even more so now with the wintry weather. Some tried to offer some new ideas, while the Mayor provided them with an update of were the current situation lies.

After extensive comments the meeting was adjourned.

Council meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at 7:30 P.M. in the City Hall Auditorium. The next regularly scheduled council meeting will be held on February 1, 2010. For a copy of the agenda or for any other information regarding the Lakewood City Council, you can find it at onelakewood.com/citygovern_council.html.