Historical Commission Meeting

Historical Commission Meeting Madison Heights, Michigan October 08, 2025 A Historical Commission Meeting was held on Wednesday, October 08, 2025 at 6:30 PM at Library - 240 W. 13 Mile Rd. CALL TO ORDER at 6:33 p.m. by Chair Scott. ROLL CALL PRESENT Chair Margene Scott Vice Chair Jennifer Ballantine Treasurer Justin Suarez Council Representative Mark Bliss Council Alternate Sean Fleming Martha Covert Regina Juska-Svoba Martha Kehoe Kate Kapas Jason Kowalski Joel Seewald Cheryl Suiter Kevin Wright Staff Liaison Vanessa Verdun-Morris ABSENT Rebecca Chambliss 1. Excuse members who gave notice of absence. Motion made by Kehoe, Seconded by Juska-Svoba. Approved unanimously. ADDITIONS/DELETIONS Kehoe requested to add Obituaries at Library as #12 under new business. Ballantine requested Harvest festival be added to agenda. Added as #1A. 1A. Purchase candy for Historical Commission to pass out at Harvest Festival not to exceed $200. Motion by Council Representative Bliss. Covert seconded. Passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. Approve Minutes from April 2025. Motion by Kehoe. Seconded by Kapas. Passed unanimously. MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC No public present wishing to speak. 1 REPORTS 3. Treasurer Report - Treasurer Suarez Motion by to file Treasurer report as printed. Motion by Juska-Svoba. Seconded by Martha Covert. Passed unanimously. 4. Heritage Rooms - Chair Scott Chair Scott thanked Kevin and Jason for assisting with the rooms for September open house with 31 visitors. Wright noted that several visitors were alumni of schools in Madison Heights. Next open house is December 13. 5. Moments that Made Madison Heights Subcommittee Report: Council Representative Bliss, Chambliss, Treasurer Suarez, Chair Scott, Covert, and Wright Council Representative Bliss needs to collect photos of events and more information to identify dates on some of the suggestions from last meeting. Information is due to Council Representative Bliss within one week. At November Council meeting, they would like to present Moments that Made Madison Heights. Chair Scott, Covert, and other commissioners will host open house during City's Tree Lighting, November 24. Committee would like to create podcasts of outgoing council members for City YouTube account. Allocate up to $1000 to purchase T-shirts with a design and sale price approved by the subcommittee. Motion by Council Representative Bliss. Kowalski seconded. Passed unanimously. 6. Oakland County Underground Railroad Exhibit for January & February 2026 – Wright Staff Liaison Verdun-Morris reported that the exhibit is on-track for January & February display in the library Exhibit Room. WORK PLAN REVIEW 7. Historical Commission Work Plan 2025. Council Representative Bliss reported Experiencing subcommittee’s shift to quarterly Open Houses has proven successful, with over 100 visitors to the Heritage Rooms in total. Two more will be held this year on November 24, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and December 13, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Council Representative Bliss reported the Naming Committee has not submitted any names for the upcoming year. The Alva Mills naming is waiting pavillion completion at Rosie’s, and the AAC Game Room is still waiting to be named after Rich Clark. Staff Liaison Verdun-Morris reported the results of the RFP for digitization of the Heritage Rooms Documents. Allocate not more than $3000 for digitizing and authorize the digitizing subcommittee to prioritize materials for digitizing. Motion by Covert. Kapas seconded. Passed unanimously. 2  Motion for make a recommendation to City Council to seek grant funding partnership with schools in Madison Heights for digitization. Motion by Suarez, Seconded by Ballantine. Passed unanimously. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS 8. Elect Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. Current officers: Chair: Margene Scott Vice chair: Jennifer Ballantine Secretary: Vanessa Verdun-Morris Treasurer: Justin Suarez Motion to keep Suarez as Treasurer. Motion by Covert. Seconded by Wright. Passed unanimously. Motion to keep Verdun-Morris as Secretary and appoint Kevin Wright as Social Media Coordinator. Motion by Covert. Seconded by Juska-Svoba. Passed unanimously. Motion to keep Ballantine as Vice Chair. Motion by Covert. Seconded by Juska- Svoba. Passed unanimously. Motion to keep Scott as Chair. Motion by Kehoe. Seconded by Covert. Passed unanimously. 9. Set meeting dates for 2026. Staff recommendation: January 14, April 8, October 14. Motion to set dates as recommended. Motion by Ballantine. Seconded by Suarez. Passed unanimously. 10. Work Plan 2026 Motion to table creation of work plan until January 14 meeting. Motion by Covert. Seconded by Kapas. Passed unanimously. 11. Open House Program - Suiter Suiter presented the Galaxy Drive-in Theater display for the December open house. 12. Obituaries at Library Kehoe requested someone replace her as the collector of local obituaries to file in library. Ballantine volunteered and will coordinate transfer of duties with Kehoe. ANNOUNCEMENTS None. ADJOURNMENT at 8:55 pm by Chair Scott. 3