candgnews.com
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JULY 26, 2023 Vol. 34, No. 16
PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS COULD ALL RECEIVE FREE MEALS THIS COMING SCHOOL YEAR/8A
BY ERIC CZARNIK
eczarnik@candgnews.com
Another step has been taken to clear the way for the city of Sterling Heights to get its own administrative diversity, equity and inclusion officer. During a July 5 meeting, the Sterling Heights City Council approved a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, between the city and the Michigan Association of Public Employees Supervisory Employees Union. According to city officials, the memo of understanding is part of the collective bargaining process, and it addresses staffing position changes and contractual wage steps. In this case, one of those staffing changes involves the creation of a diversity, equity and inclusion officer position, which was recently funded in the 2023-24 city budget. According to the MOU, the DEI officer role would have salary steps ranging from $86,923 to $122,739 for the 2023-24 fiscal year, if the candidate is hired by the city after 2012. According to the city, the DEI officer would implement the city’s DEI plans and programs, including those pertaining to worker engagement and workplace culture. One such plan would train city employees about “cultural competency, gender and sexual differences,
Police prepare to keep Sterlingfest safe BY ERIC CZARNIK eczarnik@candgnews.com
Well over 100,000 people are expected to attend the Sterlingfest Art and Music Fair around Dodge Park and Utica roads July 27-29. And it’s the Sterling Heights Police Department’s mission to keep everyone safe while good times are had. Events like carnivals and festivals can draw trouble. In May, the Berkley Days festival was cut short by a day after several fights among teenagers were reported. That same month, Oakland County sheriff ’s deputies reportedly were deployed multiple times to quell violence among fighting teenagers during a Rochester Hills Lions Club/Leader Dog Spring Carnival. According to Sterling Heights police Lt. Mario Bastianelli, the Sterling Heights Police Department uses all of
its resources to keep Sterlingfest fun, safe and enjoyable. “The safety planning for this event starts months in advance,” he explained in an email. Bastianelli said that once the event begins, the department deploys a large presence of uniformed police officers who work alongside plainclothes officers, officers riding bikes or Segways, and traffic safety officers. Surveillance towers also help the officers keep an eye on anything unusual. “We also utilize our amazing partnership with our citizen volunteer groups which are Citizens On Patrol, and Community Emergency Response Team,” Bastianelli said. “We know that with our collective efforts with all of the city departments, we will have another year of safe family fun for everyone who visits our event.” Bastianelli also gave some advice to the public on ways See STERLINGFEST on page 6A
Crowds gather at a previous Sterlingfest Art and Music Fair. Sterling Heights police say they plan to deploy a large police presence to the festival July 27-29 to keep attendees safe. File photo by Patricia O’Blenes
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Approved memo clears way for DEI officer