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FREQUENTLY ASKED CHARTER QUESTIONS

Q: What is the Dearborn City Charter?

A: The Charter is not unlike our national constitution in that it dictates the structure of the city, its rules and the by-laws that govern how the city operates. It essentially is the guiding framework of how the city must operate. Dearborn City Charter hasn't been reviewed since 1979, the year voters adopted it.

Q: Why is Dearborn reviewing its Charter?

A: Dearborn's City Charter requires that voters be asked every 12 years whether the document should be reviewed by an elected commission. Dearborn voters said yes to that question in the city's Aug. 2, 2005 primary election. A nine member Commission was elected Nov. 8. Five commission members are from Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido's slate; three seats to a second opposing slate and one to John Jay Hubbard, a former Dearborn City Councilman and Dearborn City Clerk.

Q: What is the job of a Charter Commissioner?

A: The job of the Charter Commission is to, quite simply, review Dearborn's City Charter. Elected Charter Commission members will review and potentially propose changes to the document. Those changes could range from proposing the City Charter be reviewed more frequently; change staffing levels of police and fire protection to even reviewing whether term limits for our elected officials should be considered.

Q: Does the Commission have the authority to change the Charter?

A: No. The Charter Commission can only recommend changes. The final decision on whether to adopt any of the Commission's proposals rests squarely on the shoulders of Dearborn residents. All proposals must be put before Dearborn voters in a future election. If there are no changes, the city continues on with the current Charter in its present form. Since its inception, several amendments to the Charter have been approved by voters.

Q: How long does a Charter Commissioner serve?

A: No more than three years. Commissioners are paid $50 per meeting attended.