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Bloomfield Blossoms: p. 138-139

Smith, Kay, 1925-

Bloomfield Township Public Library

Bloomfield Hills (Mich.) -- Politics and government -- History

Public buildings -- Michigan -- Bloomfield Hills

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GB01a071

part of 'Bloomfield Blossoms' by Kay Smith

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BLOOMFIELD HILLS GOVERNMENT AND CITY HALL In 1926, the area of Bloomfield Hills had outgrown its first two names, "Bagley's Corners" and "Circle City," but it was still part of Bloomfield Township and consisted almost entirely of large estates. In that year, its 1,100 citizens met in September and organized a charter commission, electing home rule over general law in order to manage their own destiny. Voters in 1927 approved the incorporation of the Hills as a village, elected Luther Allen president and drew up a board of commissioners. They surrounded the village with stiff ordinances regulating zoning, and soon realized they could qualify as a city. In order to keep from being incorporated into the then- forming City of Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills electors voted for cityhood in 1932, a year before Birmingham. In a settlement with the Township, they kept the hall which had been built in 1926 as a general maintenance and highway department unit, with one small office for Township affairs. The Township moved out and the city took over. This Bicentennial year the building is being renovated completely, following minor alterations over the years. The city commissioners hope to dedicate it before the end of 1976. John W. Fauver is the present mayor, Robert D. Gargaro, mayor pro tem, and commissioners are Joseph Daiek, Stephen J. Carey and William R. Shaw. Robert J. Stadler is the city manager.