"Troy is a city of subdivisions . . . Royal Oak is a city of neighborhoods."

That was the overview that Terry Drinkwine wanted me to keep in mind as he countered VersagiVoice's frequent questioning about whether city government should concern itself with "quality-of-life" matters when the city is in financial trouble.

"I don't play soccer; I don't walk in Tenhave Woods. But others do, and they want to play golf, walk to a park, skate in the ice arena, play hockey, watch their kids play baseball . . . and they should continue to have those choices." While VersagiVoice has  wondered whether a city in financial trouble can justify maintaining a Recreation Department, Terry contends that profits from such enterprise funds as the Ice Arena -- while maintaining enough reserves for capital and operational expenses -- should be used to expand recreational activities.

Terry is not pretending that Royal Oak doesn't have financial problems, but he insists on taking the long-view, even while short-term decisions need to be made. But before we got to nuts-and-bolts matters like budget deliberations and collective bargaining and parking, he found another way to express his quality-of-life mindset: "Shakespeare in the Park, concerts in Veterans Memorial Plaza (the Library Lawn), Meals-on-Wheels, kids safely playing all over town . . . We need to encourage, even subsidize, all those things which keep a neighborhood a neighborhood." Terry's passion showed in the speed with which he made these points and in the slightly higher tone of his voice – different from the slower speaking "bulldog" who sits at the Commission Table.

"People don't come to live in Royal Oak to work for a major employer. They come because of our neighborhoods, our schools, our recreational facilities -- for our quality-of-life, which feeds their hearts and souls."

Turning to those nuts-and-bolts.

Sell city assets?
No, but:
Golf courses? People are using them. . . . Too many parks? "I've lived in a city with one park. Here, each cluster of neighborhoods can visit a park." . . . Once an asset is sold, it's gone forever. . . . BUT; "If it can be shown to be economically feasible long-term to sell city hall, its parking lot, and the police station in a mutually beneficial public/private arrangement, I'm willing to explore the idea."

Budget issues
"Sorry, we can't solve the city's problems with a CPA mindset. It is illogical to demand an immediate $600,000 cut in expenditures, then charge the Administration with using scare tactics whey they tell us how many positions we would lose.” Drinkwine is willing to consider focused outsourcing, "but not as just an empty philosophy. Let's investigate specific suggestions."

Nor is "taking the money from somebody else or somewhere else a solution." And "eliminating the position of deputy police chief or deputy city manager doesn't eliminate the need for that administrative function, whatever you call the position."

Legacy cost problems cannot be resolved in one contract. "We can't undo 30 years of collective bargaining all at once." But, Terry suggests, we should be able to begin thinking about taking another look at buyouts. Remembering that the concept of a buyout was intended to take care of emergency situations, he wants to initiate years-of-service and biological age requirements.

Collective Bargaining
Both the city and the unions have in the past acted "stupid, trying to back the other party into a corner." And what works for, say, DPS employees won't necessarily work for police officers. "A police department is a quasi-military organization. It doesn't, it can't, operate by consensus, for example -- a suggestion made by a previous Administration. Drinkwine reluctantly agreed when I suggested that some collective bargaining animosity has become institutionalized, so  excessively adversarial attitudes remain even as the people change. He went further, acknowledging that some bargainers have been mediocre or personality-driven, but he sees a move "away from polarization and toward seeking commonality."

There were times in the past, he remembers, "when we didn't go into contract arbitration, when arbitration was over this or that interpretive issue."

Need for a millage
Not yet, partly because most residents haven't felt the effects of the cuts already made. Yes, grass cutting is a few days late and city hall's office hours are limited, but the grass doesn't grow beyond control and "how many residents actually come to city hall?" On the other hand, it is unfortunate that residents can't see how much service is being rendered with fewer people, "and those workers aren't complaining. You haven't seen any slowdowns any sickouts."

As a practical matter, "How much can we expect residents to do without?"

Repeating a fear he has expressed at the Commission Table, Terry worries about the city's ability to handle two simultaneous emergencies “The emergencies I worry about are multiple incidents that take up time where time is of the essence such as; water main breaks, snow and ice storms, multiple fire runs, injury accidents and increased violent crime which is sure to go up due to the economy.”

CITCOM & Administration
For an elected official whom I have several times labeled a bulldog, Terry pulled an Ellison-like gentleness on me when I asked him to off-the-record rate his colleagues' effectiveness, except to acknowledge the existence of one personality conflict which comes through the television screen. He allowed as how some don't seem to have done their homework occasionally. And he commented that some of the micromanaging that I complain about comes when the issue has been lost sight of and the dialogue has gone off-focus onto philosophy or personality “or ego.”

He acknowledges, for example, the early irritation between him and Carlo Ginotti, saying, "It was lawyer versus cop until we got to know each other." When Drinkwine has something he would like department heads to discuss, he alerts them by phone; some colleagues prefer a lot of documentation ahead of time. Terry is sometimes among the most vigorous challengers of the Administration, but he gives City Manager Hoover and staff a high grade for performance and attitude.

Despite his concern for residents and neighborhoods and quality-of-life, Terry says elected and appointed officials “pay a little too much attention to the same group of people who are always appearing before the commission.”

Despite laws which forbid requiring most city workers to be residents, it bothers Terry that only City Manager Hoover and Fire Chief Wil White live in Royal Oak. He recalls his years as a resident and police officer: "When I showed up at ball games or civic gatherings, I was told what the residents thought of my service!"

About Downtown
"The problem remains that landlords are holding out for the high rents that come from restaurants, and the costs are too high for small businesses and retailers." Then there’s the problem of choosing between the extremes of letting every business come in or of discouraging further development.

"We need south side parking, and I will refuse to vote to approve any work on existing facilities until I see a long-range plan. New parking should be prioritized south of 6th street, and we must begin the process of integrating the area north of Ten Mile. Then we can realistically think of attracting office space and retail."+

About Himself
Drinkwine chuckles that I group him with the Democrats, maintaining (a) "When I first came on board, some considered me a Republican" and (b) Neither party serves the people well, so I guess I'm an Independent."

As always in these conversations, we both spoke off-the-record, comparing knowledge and impressions about such events as the departure of former City Manager Larry Doyle, the almost firing of retired City Attorney Chuck Semchena, the 1-term term of Mayor Urich, the performance of former commissioners.

Mini-Bio

Married for 38 years to Linda; three children, four grandchildren.  Viet Nam veteran; served 28 years on the ROPD, owned and operated Affordable Optics, currently works for Berridge and Morrison as a commercial real estate agent.  Interests:  Fly fishing, Grouse hunting, golf and spending time up north.  Favorite committee:  Parks and Rec

List of Coffee Conversations