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Split Votes at CITCOM

Beginning with the 09 January 2006 meeting of the Royal Oak City Commission, the tabulation below will list NO-votes by the elected officials. Whether patterns emerge over time  -- framed by temperament or topic or principle or politics -- remains to be seen.

DISCONTINUED. Enough no-votes have been cast to enable us to conclude that the commissioners for the most part base their vote on issues, not framed primarily by temperament or politics.

So I have stopped maintaining this tabulation, although I'll leave it in place for a while as a reference item. -- FJV: 20 Sep 06

However!
With the election of former City Attorney Chuck Semchena to CITCOM, activist-readers have suggested that I tabulate any split vote to see if any 4-3 or 5-2 pattern forms. That tabulation starts below. -- March 2008

One more time:
The election of two-and-a-half newbies -- Rasor, Poulton, and Capello -- resulted in enough 5-2 votes during their 21 December 2009 meeting for readers to request tabulating split votes again for at least a few months. See.

And, Starting in January 2012 -- after the election of DuBuc, Fournier, and Goodwin -- we begin again. [See}

Date Elected Official Topic Impression
09 Jan 06 Drinkwine Appointments to DDA In City Manager Tom Hoover's medical absence, It bothered Drinkwine that the appointments had been  proposed by Acting City Manager Tim Thwing, who sits on the DDA and whose Planning Dept does most of the DDA's work.
20 Feb 06 Drinkwine Rezoning application by Beaumont Hospital Although two or three other commissioners and the mayor agreed with Drinkwine that proper procedures had been followed and proper notice given, all except Drinkwine deferred to residents' demands for more time and more hearings.
20 Feb 06 Ellison Shakespeare in the Park Ellison abstained because his wife is a performer in the group.
20 Feb 06 Drinkwine & Andrzejak Following current procedures for resolving a paving petition where residents split 50-50, rather than informally talking to residents. I must have missed something in the dialogue, because I don't understand what Terry's and Mike's objections were.
06 Mar 06 Drinkwine Requiring retailers to notify the city when they plan to give alcoholic beverages to their patrons. Drinkwine doesn't consider he proposed amendment to the special event ordinance strict enough. 
06 Mar 06 Capello, Drinkwine, Ellision Require 2/3, supermajority vote when making decisions re transferring Enterprise Funds to the General Fund. Because such a policy can be overridden by a simple majority vote, there's some question about its practical usefulness.
06 Mar 06 Capello, Drinkwine, Ellison Re-create an Ice Arena Committee Does this re-establish an unnecessary layer of bureaucratic control?
06 Mar 06 Drinkwine Restrict any transfers from Enterprise Funds to General Fund to 20% per fiscal year Supermajority or not, each commission has to make specific judgments each fiscal year, so the 20% restriction in meaningless.
20 Mar 06 Drinkwine Requiring retailers to notify the city when they plan to give alcoholic beverages to their patrons. (Second reading) Drinkwine doesn't consider he proposed amendment to the special event ordinance strict enough. 
17 Apr 06 Andrzejak A parking-related resolution by the Traffic Committee, which included the committee's request/announcement for holding a public hearing related to the issue. Ginotti had restated the resolution, omitting the request for a public hearing Although the Traffic Committee has the authority to hold a public hearing without seeking approval from the commission, Andrzejak says, "I had no problem keeping the language in the resolution calling for the public hearing that the Traffic Committee is going to have anyway. Other than that the Commission was on the same page."
19 June 06 Ellison, Lelito, Miller Traffic Committee resolution to remove "No Parking" signs from West Harrison All three no-voters cited concern re emergency vehicles as their main concern. Miller would have voted to allow Permit Parking. Lelito says the majority's preferences should have been the deciding factor. Ellison is concerned that workers in or visitors to the nearby office building will park on the street, considering that  safer than the building's parking lot.
10 July 2006 Ginotti & Miller A lot-split. A symbolic protest vote against lot-splits in general.
10 July 2006 Ellison, Ginotti, Lelito Resolution to deny a liquor license to Doc Green's. The dissenting three saw neither an alcohol threat nor a binding precedent in granting the license transfer from another city.
21 Aug 2006 Ginotti A lot-split A symbolic protest vote against lot-splits in general -- a bit more justified this time because there had been variances granted by ZBA.
21 Aug 2006  Andrzejak, Drinkwine, Miller Rescind resolution which denied tavern license to Doc Green's. (See 10 July, above) No new information was presented to justify reversing the denial . . . Setting bad precedent . . . Fear that tavern license might be upgraded to full C-status in the future.
21 Aug 2006 Andrzejak, Drinkwine, Miller Grant tavern license to Doc Green's. Consistent with their vote immediately above.

 

Split CITCOM Votes
Date Issue NO votes
03 Mar 08 DENY Liquor license transfer Ginotti, Lelito, Ellison
03 Mar 08 DENY Sidewalk Cafe Ginotti, Lelito, Ellison
17 Mar 08 Re-establish Ice Arena Committee Drinkwine, Ellison
07 Apr 08 Add Alternate to LCC Lelito
  Hold over granting license to Massage Establishment (after 3-3- vote to deny) Drinkwine, Semchena
  Mandate Internet Filters, 1st reading Lelito, Ellison
  Approve appointments to Library Board Drinkwine, Semchena
14 Apr 08 Approve Second Reading of Ice Arena Committee Ordinance Drinkwine, Lelito, Ellison
  DENY Massage Establishment License Ginotti, Lelito, Ellison
05 May 08 Appoint Semchena as LCC Alternate Ellison
  Forward to LCC Black Finn sidewalk cafe request Lelito, Ginotti, Drinkwine, Ellison
  Approve Black Finn sidewalk cafe Andrzejak, Miller, Semchena
  Use outside attorney to keep Elements closed Lelito
19 May Budget Approve DDA Development Fund Budget Andrzejak, Miller, Semchena
  Rescind license denial re Elements Massage Miller, Semchena
  Approve Elements license Miller, Semchena, Drinkwine
  Approve Mandated Internet filters at Library Lelito, Ginotti, Ellison
27 May Budget Approve hiring 2nd Assistant City Attorney Semchena, Andrzejak
29 May Budget Approve filming crew work in Downtown Miller
  Return $11,000 to Community Coalition (4-3)
02 June Reconsider Community Coalition funding Lelito, Semchena, Drinkwine
  Deny funding to Community Coalition (3-4) Semchena, Drinkwine, Lelito, Ellison
04 Aug 12-year Tax Abatement (5-2) Andrzejak, Miller
  Postpone voting on promoting police sergeants (6-1) Ellison
08 Sep Require Black Fin to appear (3-4) Ellison, Drinkwine, Ginotti, Lelito
22 Sep Approve Disney-related events (5-2) Andrzejak, Drinkwine
  Authorize Bond Resolution (1-1) Miller
06 Oct Divest city parks (4-3) Andrzejak, Miller, Semchena
  Divest Bassett Park (3-4) Drinkwine, Ginotti, Lelito, Ellison
  Draft purchasing agreement for Sakwa proposal (3-4) Drinkwine, Ginotti, Lelito, Ellison
  Reduce license fee to $75 for sidewalk sign (3-4) Andrzejak, Ginotti, Lelito, Ellison
20 Oct Require Hoover to omit travel expenses request (3-4) Drinkwine, Ginotti, Lelito, Ellison
  Approve Hoover's original request for reimbursement (4-3) Andrzejak, Miller, Semchena
10 Nov Hold a series of special meetings re "Solutions" (3-4) Drinkwine, Ginotti, Lelito, Ellison
  Hold one public hearing before RFP goes out (6-1) Ginotti
  Wait for cost-benefit report before privatizing parking management (5-2) Drinkwine, Ginotti
  Proceed with demolition of 855 S Main (4-3) Semchena, Lelito, Miller
  Modify/Expand Task Force re development process in Royal Oak (2-5) Andrzejak, Drinkwine, Ginotti, Ellison
  Assign Ellison as rep on Development Task Force (6-1) Semchena
01 Dec Purchase 225 S Troy (6-1) Miller
  Privatize Parking Structure Management (6-1) Andrzejak
15 Dec DDA reappointments (6-1) Drinkwine
  Seek bids re WROK (2-5) Andrzejak, Drinkwine, Ginotti, Lelito, Ellison
  Approved WROK contract (5-2) Miller, Semchena
  Search for Senior Citizen Coordinator replacement (5-2) Andrzejak, Semchena
  Accept Police Chief recommendation re Royal Oak Music Theater (4-3) Andrzejak, Miller, Semchena

 

After the election of Capello, Poulton, and Rasor

21 Dec 09 Approve conditional PUD amendments re Emagine (5-2) Andrzejak, Semchena
  Approve conditional Emagine plan of operation (5-2) Andrzejak, Semchena
  Extension request for Sixth & Main development proposal (5-2) Andrzejak, Semchena
  Reform Act 312 re compulsory arbitration (6-1) Drinkwine
  Allow Cloverleaf Bistro license request to go to CITCOM first, instead of LCC (4-3) Drinkwine, Poulton, Semchena
25 Jan 10 Approve Midtown Parthenon (4-3) Andrzejak, Rasor, Semchena
  Pull 2 items from Consent Agenda (6-1) Rasor
  Continue Bistro license hearing for Cloverleaf (now 711 Bistro) (6-1) Rasor
15 Feb 10 Approve City Manager Employment Agreement (4-3) Capello, Drinkwine, Poulton
  Grant nonprofit status to Equality for a Cause (6-1) Rasor
  Dance permits for D'Amato's & Goodnight Gracies (6-1) Semchena
01 Mar 10 Reject DDA request to spend money on streetscaping (4-3) Capello, Drinkwine, Poulton
05 Apr 10 Postpone nonprofit approval for BD Group (6-1) Rasor
  Approve DDA Streetscaping expense (6-1) Semchena
  Approve directing Staff to work on noise/vibration ordinance (6-1) Semchena
  Approve 1st Reading of amending DDA Ordinance (5-2) Ellison, Rasor
19 Apr 10 Approve 2nd Reading of amending DDA Ordinance (5-2) Ellison, Rasor
  Approve 180-day Moratorium re Medical Marijuana (6-1), Rasor

Split Votes 46th CITCOM, after election of DuBuc, Fournier, and Goodwin

23 Jan 12 To conditionally postpone demolition of 620646 West Eleven Mile 6-1, Poulton
  To approve a liquor license and plan of operation for Burgrz Royal Oak 6-1, Goodwin
  To approve a dancing permit for Fifth Avenue 5-2, Capello, Poulton
  To approve the hiring of a fulltime accountant for the Finance Department 5-2, Capello, Poulton