Rochester Mayor Stuart Bikson will present the annual State of the City Address on Thursday, March 14, at 7 p.m. at the Rochester Community House, 816 Ludlow. A reception will follow featuring complimentary light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments provided by Rochester restaurants. RSVPs are requested at mayor.office@rochestermi.org. … [Read more...]
Bikson wins another year as mayor
November 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Stuart Bikson was elected to another year as mayor of the city of Rochester Tuesday by a unanimous vote of city council. Jeff Cuthbertson was elected to another year as mayor pro tem, also unanimously. Their terms expire in November, 2013. “It’s always an honor to be voted by your peers as mayor,” Bikson said. I will continue to work hard. I think the city council is very strong and I look forward to working together in the future.” … [Read more...]
Happy Thanksgiving–Main Street is open!
November 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment
At 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Rochester Mayor Stuart Bikson thanked everyone who worked on the reconstruction of Main Street. He then led a ceremonial barrel roll as he and city-council members kicked the orange barrels to the curb. The road opened two days ahead of schedule after the summer-long project. … [Read more...]
Is OPC spat over?
August 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The Rochester Older Persons Commission’s 2013 budget was approved unanimously by Rochester City Council Monday, apparently bringing to an end more than a year of wrangling over OPC oversight. The vote was unanimous, although Councilwoman Kim Russell abstained since her mother is the OPC’s executive director, Marye Miller. Council never approved the OPC’s 2012 budget and sought an opinion from Attorney General Bill Schuette as to whether OPC may have violated state law by continuing to … [Read more...]
Schuette asked to settle OPC budget dispute
June 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The dispute over the Rochester Older Persons Commission budget is now in the hands of Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette. The city of Rochester has asked Schuette for an opinion on whether the OPC is violating state law that governs entities created by an interlocal agreement, specifically by spending money without a budget approved by the member communities. Rochester Hills City Council and the Oakland Township Board have approved the OPC’s 2012 budget; Rochester City Council has … [Read more...]
Rochester in tip-top shape, mayor says
March 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Though some may see the upcoming reconstruction of Main Street through downtown Rochester as a headache, Rochester Mayor Stuart Bikson said the project will prove to be one more indicator that the city is operating in top form. “Confidence in our city is extremely high, even when our road construction is coming up,” he said March 29 during the sixth annual State of the City Address. “Rochester is making a huge investment in this project and we are completely committed to it.” He said the city … [Read more...]
RARA seeks new HQ
February 7, 2012 by Leave a Comment
For the past decade, the Rochester Avon Recreation Authority has been feeling the need to expand beyond its rented headquarters on East Second Street in downtown Rochester. Though spending $130,000 a year on rent and taxes, the RARA board has been putting aside money towards a future facility. Now, with new Executive Director Ron Jewell on board, RARA is ready to plot its next move. In January, Jewell appeared before both the Rochester and Rochester Hills city councils. “For over 10 years … [Read more...]
Readers want to know: Q & A on the OPC
January 31, 2012 by 1 Comment
In an attempt to answer readers’ questions about the current OPC budget dispute, we consulted the Interlocal Agreement that governs the OPC, budget documents, meeting minutes, the most recent audit and relevant officials. WHO RUNS THE OPC? The OPC was created as a separate public corporation in 1983. The municipalities of Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township jointly fund it and share authority under the terms of the Interlocal Agreement (ILA). The OPC does not have taxing … [Read more...]
Rochester offers compromise on disputed OPC budget
January 24, 2012 by 2 Comments
Rochester City Council is offering a compromise aimed at ending the standoff over the Rochester Older Persons Commission’s 2012 budget. Council voted 5-0 Monday in support of a budget that would give OPC employees a 1-percent bonus and continue the current pension plan. But the offer eliminates step increases in 2012 and reduces the budget’s payment to employees in lieu of health insurance. The OPC operates under an interlocal agreement between Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland … [Read more...]
Rochester State of City is March 29
January 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Save the date: Rochester Mayor Stuart Bikson will deliver the 2012 State of the City Address on Thursday, March 29, at Rochester Community House, 816 Ludlow. Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by the mayor’s speech at 7 p.m. RSVP’s are requested to Deborah Farrah at dfarrah@ci.rochester.mi.us. … [Read more...]
