West Bloomfield

Despite nominations, Planning Commission remains unchanged

By Eric Czarnik
C & G Staff Writer

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste’s latest attempt to replace Don Jackson on the Planning Commission failed at the Jan. 9 Board of Trustees meeting.

The board voted 4-3 to reject the nomination of West Bloomfield resident Dorian Coston to the Planning Commission. Clerk Cathy Shaughnessy and trustees Larry Brown, Gene Farber and Howard Rosenberg voted no, and Ureste, Treasurer Teri Weingarden and Trustee Steven Kaplan voted yes.

After Ureste made the motion to nominate Coston, Kaplan praised the nominee as a knowledgeable paralegal who has been active in the community.

“He’s lived in our community for six years,” he said. “He’s a very responsible and intelligent person. He has a master’s degree. And I know he cares about the developments in West Bloomfield and redevelopments. And in my view, he would be an outstanding planning commissioner.”

In the past, Kaplan has said the supervisor should be able to choose commission members who reflect her vision of economic development, and he added that the township needs new talent. However, other trustees have said they see no reason to remove Jackson from the commission.

During the discussion, Shaughnessy asked Coston about his residency in West Bloomfield. She said she did some research and checked the qualified voter file — which she said are public record — and found out that he didn’t apply for voting status in West Bloomfield until August 2009.

“I’m hoping you weren’t living here and voting in the city of Detroit,” she said. “That would be illegal, of course.”

Coston said he didn’t break any laws; he explained that his family has lived in West Bloomfield for six years, but he only became a full-time, voting West Bloomfield resident in 2009.

He said he lives near the border of Farmington Hills and has been active in the Farmington Public Schools district.

“I’m always about planning. I’m always about taking the data that is available and making sure that you can plan accordingly,” he said. “I think we would definitely need someone who’s familiar with the laws and someone who is outgoing.”

Coston is Ureste’s latest nominee. Earlier attempts to replace Jackson with Lance Stokes, Eleanor Squaire-Spears and Pamela Dover also came up short in votes. Although Jackson’s term was set to expire last fall, he may remain on the Planning Commission until a replacement is approved, township officials said.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Eric Czarnik at eczarnik@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1058.