Rochester Hills To Discuss Civil Rights Resolution

Rochester Hills City Council will consider tonight a plea by a group of residents to formally oppose pending legislation that the residents say would roll back civil rights.

House Bill 5039, introduced in October by Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, would prohibit municipalities from extending special rights to those not covered by the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976.

The Elliott-Larsen Act protects people on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, weight, height, familial or marital status. But it does not offer protection on the basis of sexual orientation.

Many municipalities have approved their own ordinances that extend the act's protections to gays and lesbians. This House bill says municipalities could "not adopt" such ordinances.

Last month, to oppose the bill.

Maurer said that because the bill has been drafted by a lawmaker in the city, it tells gay and lesbian residents of Rochester Hills that they are not welcome there. The bill, Maurer said, is a rollback of great strides in the civil rights movement.

McMillin has defended the bill as making civil rights protections uniform at a state level.

Councilmember Ravi Yalamanchi asked his colleagues to study the resolution and put it on the agenda of the next council meeting, which is planned for 7 p.m. tonight.

The resolution reads as follows:

WHEREAS, the diversity of our community makes Rochester Hills a great place to live, work, and raise a family; and

WHEREAS, the City of Rochester Hills recognizes that respect for diversity is a vital component of successful economic development and talent retention; and

WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 22 of the Michigan Constitution guarantees each city and village the “power to adopt resolutions and ordinances relating to its municipal concerns”; and

WHEREAS, the State has no legitimate interest in restricting the ability of local units of government to adopt anti-discrimination ordinances that reflect the values and unique circumstances of our communities and opposes House Bill 5039 and urges the Michigan Legislature to defeat this legislation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to State Representative Tom McMillin, State Senator Jim Marleau and the members of the State House Judiciary Committee.

In other business

City councilmembers will also hear from Pat McKay, director of the , about a major restoration project that is in the works at the museum.

The museum is converting its 1927 calf barn, a nationally registered historic site, into . The center will permanently house retired U.S. Rep. William S. Broomfield’s personal papers and artifacts from the Cold War years.

Also on tonight's agenda:

• Discussion about the awarding of an additional liquor license in the city.
• A contract for the fireworks display for this year's .
• The purchase of spring tree-planting services.
• A presentation to top supporters of the Holiday Helpers of Rochester Hills program.