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City
Councilman -
Dearborn, Michigan
Councilman Robert A. Abraham
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The best way to explain my role as a public servant for the City of Dearborn is to first start with the regulations imposed upon me by our City Charter. In the broadest terms, the Council “shall provide for the public peace and health and safety of persons and property.” There are also explicit powers granted by the Charter such as power to control and regulate public streets and alleys, the ability to determine the terms and conditions for licenses and permits granted by the City, and, perhaps most importantly, the responsibility for adopting the City’s annual budget. |
Under these regulations imposed by law, there are several vital functions that I, as a council member, must undertake. For example, I attend several hearings related to demolition of property. As stated in the Charter, the Council must provide for the safety and welfare of the citizens. When neighborhood structures become unsafe and declared a nuisance to the community, it is our job to analyze the facts surrounding the property’s history and, if necessary, authorize the demolition of such properties.
The Council’s responsibility for the budget is probably the most vital function we serve. As representatives of the City’s taxpayers, we must insure that the City’s administration, led by the Mayor, is spending those tax dollars responsibly and in the best interests of the public at large. In a way, we serve as a “check and balance” in much the same way the Federal government is divided into checks and balances amongst the three branches of the executive, judicial and legislative bodies. The Council serves as an oversight body that watches over the administrative departments of the City, and the budget power is the most useful tool for performing this oversight.
As a public servant elected by the people, I also consider it a tremendous responsibility to respond to the needs and concerns of the citizens. If a citizen has a problem I will coordinate with members of my office staff or City department supervisors in order to achieve a resolution to the situation that benefits everyone.
A typical day as a Dearborn city council member demands a tremendous amount of time and energy. During the workday, while working full-time as an accountant, I regularly check in with our office staff regarding meeting schedules, projects that need to be done, or completion of tasks that I simply do not have the time to accomplish myself. During an average week, there are two evenings where the Council holds meetings, of which there are several different types. First, there are regular meetings of the Council, which take place on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. These are the meetings where the Council discusses and takes action on administrative issues and hears concerns of the citizens. There are also regular Briefing Sessions with the Mayor and administrative department heads where we are updated on current issues facing the City. Demolition hearings occur once or twice per month, where we consider the fate of buildings that have become dangerous nuisances to the community. There are also other special meetings and occasionally closed meetings, which are meetings held in private to discuss only certain issues as provided for by the law of the Open Meetings Act.
Most of these meetings begin anywhere from 5:30 to 8:00 in the evening, and last an average of an hour and a half or so. These meetings are essential to maintaining the administrative issues of the City, and also helpful to our oversight function.
Overall, being a city council member is a demanding and stimulating job, one that allows me to serve my community in the best way I know how. The privilege of being elected by the people of the community brings with it a tremendous responsibility, which is what drives me to do the best I can from day to day.
Biography
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