On CITCOM
Who stays, who goes?
The count is already at four, of young but mature guys who haven't run before who have told me they will probably vie for elective office in Royal Oak in 2009. They are from the left, from the right, and from nowhere. They like and respect, or not, different incumbents. They seem to share the perceptions that (a) the mood at the commission table has turned ugly, and (b) personal animosities are too often and too obviously affecting votes, and (c) there is no likelihood of that mood improving among the incumbents so it is time to begin a "full house" change of players. Add those several previously unsuccessful candidates, male and female, who may choose to try again and 2009 promises to be interesting.

Terms expire in 2009 for Ellison, Ginotti, Lelito, and Miller. The terms of Andrzejak, Drinkwine, and Semchena expire in 2011.  -- 15 Nov 08

Replace the DDA team, too?
The comments, just above, were written before that -- uh, unusual -- 17 November CITCOM meeting. During Public Comment, former City Commissioner Pat Capello suggested that a group which would publicly initiate a political challenge re a Christmas Parade emcee might well be replaced.

2009 Royal Oak Politics
Readers have suggested that VersagiVoice create a page where they can find, in one place, ongoing news and comment about local politics, as I did for the national campaign. [See]

Fire Station conversion to Historical Museum moving along
While the necessary architectural, engineering, contracting, city approval process goes forward -- so that the Northwood Fire Station can be updated to meet code specifications required by the structure's change of use -- cleanup work is being accomplished. Volunteer Johanna Schurrer, for example, is scouring and painting kitchen cabinets. Chuck Button, owner of Button's Rent It, has just completed triple-sanding and varnishing the hardwood floor of the upstairs former dormitory. That dorm will become the major area for storing objects, documents, books, and photographs not on current exhibit. [Pictures]

CITCOM Micromanaging gone mad
Staff was directed to come up with a list of items as part of an overall plan to address at least one budget-related item on each CITCOM agenda for some indefinite period, I gather. Last week, after complaining that the list was confusing to read and demanding a rewrite, the commission argued about whether to hold a series of Special Meetings to focus attention on the list. The minority in favor of Special Meetings maintains that too many commissioners and the mayor are "sitting on their thumbs" and avoiding addressing financial shortfalls seriously. The majority counters that many of the items do not justify CITCOM attention, because they are operational matters, not policy matters. The 3-4 decision was not to schedule Special Meetings at this time.

Although I consider the entire exercise a waste of Staff time, I went through the list and labeled the 50-plus items as I would if I were on the commission: (a) Operational, (b) Policy, and (C), Not sure. VersagiVoice readers can find the entire list on the city's website. For the fun of it, they are invited to classify the following selections, presented here in no particular order:

Double-sided printing of computer printouts . . . Refill printer cartridges . . . Sell advertising on non-emergency vehicles and the website . . . Bill all departments separately for postage . . . Move the pension system to the Michigan Employees Retirement System . . . Cost allocation study . . . Millage Increase . . . Hybrid vehicles . . . College Intern program . . . Police Department shifts . . .

In my mind, two-thirds of the 50-plus items are operational. The rest can be brought up one-at-a-time at regular CITCOM meetings -- on the condition that discussion is limited to 15 minutes. If more time is needed, then schedule a Special Meeting for that item only.

CITCOM  has a Bah, Humbug meeting
Not much was accomplished at CITCOM's 17 November meeting. Oh, there were announcements and presentations, but the dominant exchanges were about a  Semchena/DDA-initiated proposal to replace -- at the last minute --  Commissioner Carlo Ginotti as emcee of the Christmas Parade. It would take a Special Prosecutor two years to determine the "truth" among the charges and countercharges; about who knew what, and when he/she knew it.

VersagiVoice will comment on the meeting next week. In the meantime, two observations:

1. The angry and personalized dialogue added to the concern that this particular mix of personalities is approaching dysfunctionality.

2. The DDA seemed to stake a claim, in writing, that about some matters DDA's power supersedes that of CITCOM. Expect a real turf battle to result from this.

City Manager's Weekly Report

Readers Say

County & State

Two years of road construction on Eleven Mile, from Greenfield to Woodward,  have come to an end, except for some punch list items like landscaping and curb repair which will be done in Spring. For Huntington Woods residents who live on Lincoln, the completion is a godsend: Since early 2007, Lincoln has been crowded with east-west drivers who normally use Eleven Mile. At rush hour, morning and afternoon, the traffic backed up through several stop signs.