Conversation with
Ilene Hill

I reached out to Ilene Hill because there was/is some suggestion in civic circles that she was denied another term as member-at-large on the Downtown Development Authority because she had publicly questioned the appropriateness of Commissioner Ginotti again serving as emcee for the Holiday Parade.

Ilene didn’t hesitate to address that issue during our conversation, but she ranged over everything from the need for a “boutique hotel” in Royal Oak to the need to attract new blood, younger people, to the many volunteer-staffed city boards and committees. Hill, 52, first became involved in civic affairs in 1992, serving on the Traffic Committee. She served as vice chair during Jim Ellison’s tenure as chairman.

She was appointed to the DDA in 1997. Term-limited after twelve years, she was denied an extension and has been replaced by former City Commissioner Patricia Capello, “even though there remains an empty seat on the DDA,” says one Hill admirer who feels the denial is politically motivated. As it happens, Hill was honored by proclamation for her years of DDA service at the opening of the 12 January 2009 CITCOM meeting.

Ilene, and her husband, Scott, have owned and operated Main Floor Covering Carpet One for over 30 years. She has three sons ages 16, 21 & 25. Ilene was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1987, she has endured five of her six brain surgeries while serving on the DDA. “I think staying busy with my family, job, city affairs and teaching Pilates helped me to endure the day-to-day challenges. I am proud to say I am three years brain tumor free.”

Ilene’s description of her DDA experience is generally upbeat. As she and I went around the DDA table, she described individuals who are “underappreciated” or not assertive enough or forceful speakers, while praising the effectiveness of the mix of occupations on the board -- architect, attorney, restaurateur, engineer, retailer. “We disagreed and debated as necessary but always respected each other's opinion.” The conversation moved for a few moments to the personality conflicts currently poisoning CITCOM deliberations.

And that led to what seems to be institutional animosity between DDA and CITCOM. Hill remains puzzled as to its cause, specifically as it affects retailers, but also as it affects operational relationships. She agrees that the tension has remained over the years, even decades, as individuals came and went on both bodies.

“Take parking, for example. At the commission’s request DDA forms a Parking Committee, then we were not allowed to make decisions. Then the entire responsibility is reclaimed by the commission and special joint meetings are held. At times, I felt like it was just wasting my time and energy on an issue not being addressed.”

About the Holiday Parade emcee confusion: “For me, the issue is how we can justify providing what amounts to a $50,000 commercial to any elected official who may be running for re-election or for another office. It just happened to be Ginotti this time.” I suggested that the matter became politicized because her move came too close to the parade day. She informed me that the administration did not want the DDA to address the issue and that is when it became political. [DDA-Hoover exchange]

The Holiday Parade was discussed briefly during the 12 January CITCOM meeting, primarily because the drop in sponsorships is pushing more of the cost onto taxpayers. No decision was made except to take a closer look at the situation this year.

About what many perceive as DDA’s ousting of former Marketing Consultant Peggy Goodwin, Hill chose not to identify the groupings on the Board. She would only comment that Goodwin was obviously very successful but “was occasionally hard to work with.”

When I made my repeated complaint that I resent having two city officials sitting through discussions about the color of newspaper boxes and suggested that most of DDA’s work can be accomplished by ad hoc committees, Ilene replied that the now-disbanded Main Street Oakland Committees were an attempt to do that. For procedural reasons DDA terminated its Main Street Oakland ties, and “bright young people who emerged to participate have been lost.”

Hill expanded that thought to emphasize that the many volunteer-staffed city groups should make it policy to attract newcomers, instead of recycling veteran volunteers. “Sure, we old-timers can provide institutional memory, but Royal Oak – especially downtown – is increasingly populated by young people who should be brought on-board.”

The city’s status, specifically the financial dimension, kept coming up and throughout the discussion Ilene offered pithy comments:

“We have to do with what we have.”
“Always threatening that Police and Fire will have to be reduced is irresponsible.”
“Take leaf pick-up. Most cities don’t offer free leaf pickup off the streets. If we checked, I’ll bet it would cost less to supply each household 50 leaf bags a year.”
About development: “Think a boutique hotel downtown. Manufacturers’ reps who come to town would love to have somewhere to house their boss, without having to travel to Troy or Southfield. (She opined that, only a big hotel can be justified at 696, and that is harder to accomplish.)
Cutbacks in city services might have the beneficial effect of encouraging citizens and neighborhoods pick up the slack, Ilene says. Bagging their own leaves is one example. She recalls that for years her neighbors in the homes she owns behind the store cleaned up the alley as another example.

Returning to the lack of collegiality between the DDA and CITCOM: “Voters must demand that the two groups work to regain trust in each other.” About CITCOM specifically, she says, “Voters have a right to expect reasoned debate rather than rants.” We touched very briefly on the fact that there’s a local election this year.

Ilene and Scott have moved “one mile outside of Royal Oak,” to accommodate their family’s needs, but Royal Oak obviously remains her emotional home city.

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