We’re sharing a recap of the most recent City Council meeting on June 2. The full video is available to watch on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cityofberkley.

 

Recognition for Emergency Manager Jack Blanchard

Mayor Dean shared a proclamation recognizing and honoring our Emergency Manager, Jack Blanchard, for his outstanding dedication and service to our community. After years of service as a volunteer firefighter, Jack has continued to selflessly serve as our City’s Emergency Manager on a volunteer basis. He shares his time and expertise by developing and implementing public safety protocols, disaster preparedness efforts, and emergency response plans for all events and special circumstances in the City of Berkley. His dedication to training and emergency exercises helps ensure that Berkley is well-equipped to respond to natural and man-made emergencies, protecting lives and minimizing risk. 

Jack’s work during times of potential crisis is instrumental in maintaining calm, effective, and coordinated responses. We are grateful for his leadership, community spirit, and generosity that exemplify the highest ideals of public service!

Disarmory Ministries Approval

Council approved a Charitable Solicitation Permit application by Disarmory Ministries to destroy firearms every Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM until November 1, 2025, in the parking lot of the Greenfield Presbyterian Church. This group destroys unwanted weapons from members of the community, and they will also have a donation bucket placed on the property for small donations that will go directly to the ministry to support their mission. Anyone interested in bringing a weapon to be destroyed must ensure it’s unloaded ahead of time, and the group then uses power saws to destroy the weapon according to ATF guidelines so it can no longer be used. The scraps are then used to create artwork.

Upcoming Dedication Ceremony

Former Mayor, Maybelle Fraser, served on City Council from 1989-1993 and served as the City’s first female mayor in 1995 for one term. She was instrumental in the construction of the gazebo that sits outside City Hall, and to celebrate the hard work and commitment she put into building it, the City will hold a dedication ceremony and place a plaque on the gazebo in her honor. The Berkley Historical Museum will also host an exhibit featuring information and memories from her life. Keep an eye out for more information about this ceremony!

Strategic Framework Q1 Report

Our City Manager and Assistant to the City Manager presented the first quarterly report on staff accomplishments within our City’s Strategic Framework, which was passed by Council in January 2025 after meetings throughout 2024 and 2025 to determine priority areas and the objectives that will help us achieve them. The Strategic Framework is a living document that helps us make decisions about how to best allocate our resources for the benefit of our community.

The report covers January 1, 2025, to April 30, 2025, and includes updates to each priority area. The full report and the Strategic Framework document are available at berkleymi.gov/strategicframework.

Want to Learn More?

• Watch the meeting recording

• Review the agenda and minutes

• Join us at our next meeting on June 16 at 7 PM - we'd love to see you there!

Thanks for staying connected with your city! Your engagement helps make Berkley better for everyone.