City Hall Insider … 6/8/26

By Charles Sercombe
The city council met on June 9, and all councilmembers were in attendance. The meeting ran for five hours. This is the second, and final, part of the meeting summary.
In new business, the council approved several items related to the city’s ongoing project of replacing old lead water lines to residences.
The first item was to OK the annual renewal of investment bonds worth $5.6 million to fund this year’s portion of the project. Some 50 percent of that amount will be paid by the state. The other half will be paid from the city’s water and sewer fund.
The funding will allow the city to replace about 600 lead water lines this year.
Councilmember Mohammed Hassan and Yousuf Saed voted against the funding, but they did not explain why they were opposed.
In a related matter, the council unanimously approved hiring a contractor to do the water line replacement. Both Hassan and Saed, who voted against the funding, joined the majority “yes” vote to approve the contractor.
The council also OK’d the purchase of a sewer line replacement machine, known as a “prowler,” for $83,500, along with other related costs, for a total of almost $168,000.
The council then approved purchasing 17 planter boxes, to be installed at major intersections throughout the city.
Mayor Adam Alharbi said he was part of the planning process behind investing in the planter boxes, and that they are part of a citywide beautification project.
He said the city’s goal is to “make sure the (city’s) corridors are attractive and welcoming.”
He added that this was the least expensive way “to make our city look nicer.”
The planters cost $52,300, and there is a yearly $25,000 cost to maintain the boxes from May through September. The cost of the project will be added to the city’s new fiscal year — which started on July 1 — because the current city budget at the time couldn’t accommodate the cost.
Councilmember Nayeem Choudhury conceded that, “We’re spending so much money on other things.” He did not elaborate on what he meant by “other things,” specifically.
In another matter, the council accepted a $223,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, to assist in a project to transform the west Jos. Campau alley (from Caniff, going south several blocks) that will “allow for the installation of traffic calming measures, pedestrian amenities, and public art that prioritizes safety for pedestrians.”
A lengthy discussion was held on a proposal by Councilmember Choudhury to change Wednesday hours in city hall from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Choudhury said this would allow those who work past 4 p.m. to still be able to go to city hall and conduct essential business.
He noted that Secretary of State offices also offer similar extended hours for the convenience of the public.
Councilmember Hassan said that there are both “good and bad” aspects to the plan. He said the plan would depend on the cooperation of city hall employees.
City Attorney Odey Meroueh said he would have to negotiate any change in the work schedule with city employees.
The proposal was ultimately defeated, with Councilmembers Saed, Abu Musa and Mohammed Alsomiri opposed, and Councilmember Muhtasin Sadman abstaining.
In voting, Councilmember Alsomiri said the change would “bring a lot of confusion.”
A proposal by the fire department for the purchase of a communication software system to alert the public about emergencies was approved. The cost is $25,000 for a package subscription for five years.
Acting Police Chief Hussein Farhat was hired as the city’s permanent chief. Mayor Alharbi said that, since he’s been on the job for the past several months, Farhat has made a “positive change in our city. Things are improving with our police department.”
Councilmember Choudhury said he “tested” Farhat and his response to resident concerns. He said that Farhat “went above and beyond” in his response.
“That’s the kind of service we need,” Choudhury said.
The employment agreement did not mention what the chief is being paid, nor the benefits package included.
Farhat said he has focused on a number of needed improvements, including make sure command officers receive training – something they were not offered prior to his arrival.
“So, we are working on (getting) our leaders into training programs, universities, staff and command schools,” Farhat said.
He said it will take the department a few years to get up to speed on this.
A lengthy discussion was held on whether to sell three commercial properties at 11405, 11409 and 11415 Conant that were forfeited because of delinquent property taxes.
One of the properties is the former Kabob House restaurant, which was damaged in a fire.
(The building was also once a funeral home, previously.)
The city proposed selling the properties back to the prior owners, Musammat J. Begum, Nehar Begum Nessa, and Shaker Uddin Sadeak. The council’s proposal was to sell the properties for $95,000. The city purchased the properties from Wayne County, which had ownership, before they went to a tax auction for a minimum bid of $86,127.
The city’s other option was to put the properties up for auction to the general public.
Councilmember Choudhury said there is confusion whether the prior owners are disputing the selling prices.
The discussion became confused, with a lot of cross-talking among councilmembers.
The proposal was rejected by Councilmembers Musa, Sadman and Hassan.
Councilmember Choudhury declined to vote, saying he was “skipping” the vote. City Attorney Meroueh was asked if a councilmember can actually opt to “skip” voting on an issue.
Meroueh said he needed to research the matter, and later in the meeting confirmed that it is not a recognized option.
Choudhury defended his indecision because he felt rushed, and accused councilmember Musa of “gaining” on the matter and “trying to pass (the) resolution to gain yourself. … You didn’t give other people (a chance) to discuss.”
Councilmember Musa, sometimes standing up and shouting, replied: “You just trying to change your face.”
Choudhury: “You are shouting. Very unprofessional. … Please, there’s been so much chaos tonight.”
(Later in the meeting, Councilmember Musa opted to “skip” voting on a few issues in an apparent protest. Also, at a later meeting, the council reversed its initial decision not to sell the Conant properties back to the former owners, and instead approved it.)
The meeting then broke down into a shouting match over a resolution to censure Councilmember Choudhury.
Choudhury erupted, pounded the table top in front of him, and said, “I am speaking. … You are dealing with a very smart man here and (I) understand those things. I can’t disrespect people, but I like to understand. I’d like to get an explanation as to why you are censuring me. What is the reason? What is the main cause of this? It needs to be addressed live, in front of the people, and we are live and everybody can hear loud and clear.”
Choudhury admonished Hassan at one point, saying:
“I am speaking, excuse me. I have done enough from your behavior (it) is very bad. You are a very disrespectful man. You are the one reason everybody is chaos. You cannot keep on getting a good person to the dog house. You are the one reason why everybody is chaos. … You are slamming a good man. Your personal attack. This isn’t related to the city business or anything. You can’t censure me if I’ve (not) done something wrong. …”
Choudhury continued, speaking in the third person: “A person who is trying to serve this community. This is your personal attack. This isn’t related to the city business or anything. You can’t censure me if I’ve (not) done something wrong.”
Choudhury insisted that Councilmember Hassan, who proposed the resolution of censure: “Give me a valid reason. You’re defamating (defaming) me.”
Choudhury then threatened to take legal action against Hassan. He also said that the city attorney would be held accountable, but he did not give a reason.
Councilmember Hassan explained he brought up the resolution based on a police complaint filed by an independent journalist, Ahmed Sharaf Aldeen.
He said the alleged incident happened outside of the council chambers after a recent council meeting. Hassan said there is a “video pool record showing there is (where) the misbehave happened. The what I don’t want to say here, and the very aggressive way you approach him, and that time I was outside.”
At this point Hassan held up an alleged copy of a police report of the incident in question.
Councilmember Choudhury said that anyone can make a complaint at anytime “and then make statement. This is America. I can go and (file a complaint) against him right now downstairs (to the police station), make any complaint and they will have to dock it. They will have to record it, right? … I have a professional email sent to the city (police) chief and a city administration about his (Aldeen) misbehavior and conduct. All of these things you are saying are not true.”
Choudhury continued: “Outside is my own personal matter. He (Aldeen) could have taken me to the court, not bring this to (the) council meeting.”
To Hassan, Choudhury said: “You are not my father to censure me like outside businesses. Are you my parenting? Are you parenting me for a 49-year-old man? You are censuring me like a child. Like I’m a kid. Like I’m here to get censured because my business. What I done in my business or outside.”
In the vote to censure Choudhury, only Choudhury voted in opposition.
(At a future meeting, the censure was then reversed.)
After this, Mayor Alharbi reacted to what had happened at the meeting overall.
“I think we should try to get to a point where we respect each other,” he said.
Choudhury replied: “It’s not going to happen.”
Mayor Alharbi continued: “It’s at a point where it’s like out of control. It’s not now (how) it’s supposed to be. … Everybody makes a mistake. … We shouldn’t be jumping into censuring people like we first did with (Councilmember) Saed.”
(The council did censure Saed at a previous meeting, but that decision was later reversed. During the vote to censure Saed, Councilmember Choudhury was the only one to vote in opposition.)
Councilmember Choudhury continued criticizing fellow councilmembers for censuring him, saying his reputation had been attacked and that they had “ganged up” on him.
He said he was treated “like a third-class citizen.”
“We are Muslim,” Choudhury said. “We are brotherhood. We are family men. We have respect for each other. We have dignity.”
Choudhury also said he’s “glad” the Conant property deal was rejected, because that meant it could now go to auction. He also warned that people will move out of the city because of the “chaos, and unethical decision(s), that the city council makes.”
During public comment, Ibrahim Aljahim called for the council to “start a new chapter in Hamtramck, with the mayor, the council, the (police) chief and the city attorney and the acting city manager and the city workers. Let’s start fresh.”
(Aljahim was once employed by Oakland International Academy. In 2024, he pleaded guilty to a second degree sexual assault charge involving an 18-year-old mentally disabled male student at the academy.)
The meeting finally ended, some five-plus hours after it had begun.
What is our City Council up to these days? We have the highlights of the latest council meeting.