The Camp Hope Tent is located behind the thrift store. Courtesy | Barb Bortell

A makeshift homeless shelter continues to face its removal deadline of Feb. 1, despite a suggestion from Ward 4 Councilman Robert Socha at the Dec. 2 city council meeting to delay eviction until April.

“We have ordinances to say that you cannot occupy a building as a dwelling unless it meets certain standards,” Thomas said. 

Camp Hope, a large tent behind Hillsdale Community Thrift, currently provides beds and bathrooms to 23 individuals. The thrift store director, Melissa “Missy” DesJardin, opened the shelter in April 2023 as a temporary response to Hillsdale’s ordinance banning camping on public property. 

But the city says the camp violates building codes. Hillsdale Community Thrift did not conduct a site plan review by the planning commission before constructing Camp Hope, according to Thomas. She also said it is missing a permanent foundation.

“It doesn’t meet any of the state construction code requirements for a group home or a residence,” Thomas said.

The city had turned a blind eye toward Camp Hope for a year in hopes of finding a permanent solution for the residents of the camp, according to Thomas. 

Socha said the situation is difficult.

“I cannot expend the city’s money to help homeless people,” Socha said. “I don’t think it’s right to spend your neighbors’ tax dollars on something that’s close to your heart and that might not be close to their heart.”

Socha said he is uncomfortable with the eviction coming in February after the city had allowed the shelter for a year and a half for humane reasons.

“I’ve always applauded what Missy has done and what it is, but I’ve also always exhorted the community to get behind it and open their pocketbooks and find a solution,” Socha said. “I know these people are human beings, and I don’t want them out in the freezing cold.”

Thomas said the city would consider a request for extension of the teardown deadline if the staff of Hillsdale Community Thrift provides a reasonable excuse.

 “We want to work with people, we don’t want to take people to court,” Thomas said.

Ward 3 Councilman Bob Flynn said the cold may not be a problem if the eviction happens next year.

“Don’t take this wrong, but knowing the speed of government, I’m going to guess that by the time Missy is asked to tear down the structure and move those people along, it’s going to be nice and warm,” Flynn said.

The city council also addressed the vote for mayor pro tem Joshua Paladino at the Nov. 18 city council meeting. Ward 2 Councilman Matthew Bentley asked for a re-approval of Paladino as mayor at Monday night’s city council meeting.

Bentley objected to including the roll call of the council’s 5-4 approval of Paladino as mayor pro tem, which was included in the minutes of the Nov. 18 council meeting. 

“I will not acquiesce in a process which undermines the integrity of the fundamental activity by which council members represent their constituents and exercise the authority entrusted to them,” Bentley said at the Nov. 18 meeting. “I would move that by unanimous consent, we affirm that Dr. Paladino is the mayor pro tem.”

After Bentley’s motion to re-approve the vote, seconded by Ward 1 Councilman Greg Stuchell, the council voted 4-4 with Paladino voting in favor of a revote. The tie resulted in no revote.

Community member Ted Jansen argued the election was a violation of the Open Meetings Act because it was conducted with written ballots.

“Vote must be by show of hands or any way you want to do, nod your heads or whatever. But the public has the right to see who is voting at the time the vote is made,” Jansen said. “So Mr. Paladino, let Mr. Morrisey run the session as prescribed by law.”

The city council also appointed Jaminda Springer to the Hillsdale Library Board on a 7-1 vote, with Flynn voting against the nomination. Flynn asked Springer if she wanted to “ban books.” Springer said she does not support banning books, but she also said she wants to improve the quality of the library’s selection.

“I do think that the library is a vessel of our community, it is a vessel of the knowledge we have, the culture we have. I feel strongly about that,” Springer said. “Who else would be concerned about the library if not the board?”

The council also appointed Luke Robson, president of the downtown revival project Hillsdale Renaissance, to the Tax Increment Financing Authority board in an 8-0 decision.