Ypsilanti's Civil Service Chief Resigns

Ypsilanti's civil service chief resigns

By BONNIE DeSIMONE
NEWS VPSILANTI BUREAU

YPSSIANTI - John Barfield, chairman of the Ypsilanti Civil Service Commission, has resigned after having bought a new home outside the city.

State regulations require commissioners to live within the city limits. Barfield was unavailable for comment Friday.

Barfield, 56, is the owner of Barfield Companies, which includes manufacturing, engineering and design, and janitorial divisions. Last October, the firm, was named Minority Business of the Year.

The commission has been highly visible over the last several months as it hammered out procedures for hiring two new firefighters. Barfield, who was concerned about the fire department’s record in hiring minorities, battled hard to have the pool of applicants broadened to include black candidates. Last month, his efforts were rewarded when the city hired Fred Williams, only the second black to join the department in 18 years.

City council will vote on a replacement to fill the vacancy at its regular meeting Monday night. Mayor Peter Murdock will recommend retired Eastern Michigan University professor and black historian A.P. Marshall for the post.

“He’d work well with the rest of the commission, and represent the city’s viewpoint very well, especially in areas of affirmative action,” Murdock said of Marshall. The commission will then have to elect a new chairman.