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An Opportunity that Could Be Lost

2010-04-14T11:26:00Z

Metro Detroit cities are suffering from the same economic demise. We have had a the down turn in the real estate values, loss of jobs, decreased revenue sharing and the list of negatives goes on and on.....................................................welcome to Michigan 2010.
The problem in most cases of area cities is viewed as death to city services, jobs and city amenities. Troy has a unique situation unlike most of the other Michigan municipalities in the state. Troy has a massive internal city government machine with lots of city run services. The city, unlike those in the area, did not outsource its services early on in years past which places Troy in both a good and bad situation now. We all knew the day would come when big government, even at the local level, would be unsustainable and that day is here for Troy, but the right decisions in the right areas for cuts could provide the city with a surplus of money to add services and areas that would place Troy years ahead of other area cities for the recovery that will arrive in the years to come.

The dollars saved from just two to three areas which are now becoming common place solutions but in Troy's case offer huge new funds to provide city leaders with opportunities to add services new parents, new residents and those looking to come to Michigan in the future would lure people to Troy and increase property values, reinvent Troy as a metropolitan mecca instead of a metropolitan skeleton of what once was. By privatizing the DPW and Motor Pool along with Police services Troy residents could have a conservative budget surplus of atleast 8 million dollars....yes a surplus....What could be done with those funds? Beautification projects could move forward, enhancement to city parks, retention of the community center, library and other quality of life services. A lot of money would be available. Those available funds could give opportunities to city leaders unlike those in other metro Detroit communities who have already made these cuts early on and now have nothing left to cut. Most cities have already scuttled their DPW in favor of private companies. Motor Pools are long gone in favor of private repair facilities and a metropolitan police department of multiple south Oakland county communities or a Sheriff's contract would provide a recycling of existing cash flow already there. Troy has areas left to cut and tap "locked" money in favor of freeing a portion of that money for re-inventive uses.

Troy could emerge even a stronger community financially, better positioned to lead the area in economic recovery instead of follow the region and re-emerge as a center of excellence in a redefined and re-energized way....all with dollars we already have through a more focused, better allocated and citizen focused uses of existing money!

Why the Library is Expendable

2010-04-12T11:12:00Z

City residents are clamoring about the potential closure or reduced services of the Troy Public Library in upcoming months. The library and all of its supporters reinforce the need for the library by stating it is a community resource, good for kids and great for seniors to congregate and a valuable necessity. The question is, is it really?

Let’s compare Troy’s library to other adjoining communities that could adequately support Troy residents should the library face reduced services or elimination. Bloomfield Township spent the better part of the last 8 years renovating and updating their library system to the point that buildings were completely transformed and renovated. Birmingham’s library which has routinely supplied neighboring communities, library resources at a very high standard with exemplary facilities and electronic capabilities could easily take Troy residents and is in close proximity. Rochester’s public library, although a bit north to the Troy, is also a state of the art facility with newer building and above average electronic services.

When we look at the services against those of the TPL, we see an old facility, in need of updating and modernization, less than ideal size and on a cost basis should be folded into another area library system rather than supporting the costs to “catch up” to neighboring community’s library systems already in place with the budget funds being able to be spent in other more important areas. Area libraries are all looking for funding sources and would love to accept Troy residents on a community based overall fee or on a “utilization” paid system or “membership style” program. Troy needs to consider the closure of the library let’s be real about this from a proper management assessment. I know this is an unpopular decision but one that is in the best interests of the residents who would gain better resources and services elsewhere and assist the budget bottom line.

How to Cut Police Call Volume to Reduce Need for Officer Staffing Levels

2010-04-12T00:01:00Z

This troubling budget and economic time call for drastic measures. As most Troy residents often see, the Troy Police cruising the Interstate stopping speeders, assisting disabled vehicles and handling accidents accounting for at a conservative estimate 10% of daily call volume. What residents also fail to realize is that the Interstate police function that Troy often provides is not mandatory simply because I-75 runs through Troy.

Did you know that departments like Madison Heights, Pittsfield Township and Detroit do not routinely handle any calls for service related to the Interstate. Yes, that is right they refer all calls to the freeway to the Michigan State Police dispatch center for MSP troopers to handle thus reducing officer time and expense handling matters that are not a necessity for their agency to supply. All that would be required to do this is the Chief to issue a directive to dispatchers to forward all calls for service to the state police on I-75 and Troy officers only provide mutual aid to the MSP troopers when asked. This simple action would reduce department expense investigating traffic crashes, fatal accidents, disabled vehicles, motorist assists, traffic enforcement manpower and other functions that draw from city coffers without one for one reimbursement. This action would also allow the department to function better with less staffing as is projected in the July 2010 layoffs. The chief could direct officers to patrol surface street, subdivisions and industrial parks and leave the interstate to MSP.

No Love Among the Boys in Blue

2010-04-01T12:11:00Z

The looming summer layoffs have created significant tension in the ranks of the Troy Police Officers Association and the Troy Police Command Officers Association so much so that the Troy Command Officers are trying to find a means to confine the job loses to the Troy Police Officers Association and shield themselves, I guess that is what we have grown to come accustomed to from the leadership ranks not surprisingly.

The information obtained says that the Command Officers are trying to find a legal basis where they can self demote or a similar method to return to the police officers union to the detriment of the lower seniority police officers who would face job cuts and could face even more job cuts if this tactic is allowed to stand. Low level Sergeants and Lieutenants are looking to return to the officers union, a union they left in favor of getting promoted. A promotion was not mandatory to accept and was a probationary one year time limit which would have given one year to change their mind and return to their previous job assignment. Now after taking a promotion, making more money and leaving a previous union, all done voluntarily, these same people want to come back and steal back the jobs from those who filled open slots or did not have the same opportunity just to save their own jobs - ridiculous!

So much for the "thin blue line" and the "family" attitude that normally prevails in a cohesive police agency............Lets avoid the entire problem and outsource or regionalize and let the Chief and all his administration re-interview for command positions in a combined multi- municipality police department.

Time to regionalize or outsource is definitely here. End this embarrassment for good!

Police Victories Only Reinforce Regionalization

2010-04-01T12:06:00Z

Recently the Troy Police administration is doing everything it can to garner good press and show that their “boys in blue” are a required necessity and not worth looking at for downsizing or outsourcing. While doing this aggressive campaign of getting every good deed and criminal capture plastered all over newspapers especially the regional papers, they may also have helped to accomplish the very thing they are fighting against.

The police department is utilizing its undercover and in some cases combined agency units bringing to light a very interesting point. The police are trying to avoid cuts and / or outsourcing to the Sheriff or a regionalized new police entity of several Oakland County police departments to save huge budget and legacy dollars. While making these combined arrests, the police are proving that consolidation and regionalization could work. In the past several weeks you have seen joint efforts between Troy, Sterling Heights, Auburn Hills, Royal Oak and others. These moral victories the police are capitalizing on also serve to reinforce that integration of some of these agencies into a regionalized police agency is entirely possible, economically in the best interest of residents and could provide just as complete of police service as the residents have been used to in the past. The aspect that Troy Council is worried about is that they will lose local control and would have a more limited role in the day to day puppeteering of the police department and its inner workings.

A regionalized police agency with or without the integration or utilization of the Sheriff just makes plain financial sense.

Marijuana Possibilities for Michigan

2010-03-26T15:42:00Z

Recently California has evaluated legalizing marijuana completely similar to alcohol. The preliminary plan would charge sales tax, a hefty licensing fee for stores selling it. The state projects it could raise HUNDREDS of Millions of dollars. The state’s voters were recently polled and 56% of voters said they would support the proposal.

The question we pose is should Michigan pose a similar law, tax the marijuana sales under the sales tax law and an added premium tax similar to the liquor tax to be put into a future medical care fund. Stores would have to pay for a license similar to a liquor license so revenue is available through that avenue as well with added annual licensing and state or local facility inspection fees. Another question is could local municipalities be allowed to impose a “city or local” tax to help local governments managing the process recover its costs……

These are all areas that question should this be evaluated under these tough economic times? We do not support either position but are posing the question. Is it worth looking at for Michigan as well if it could provide greatly needed revenue?

Troy Public Schools Doing What City Council Isn't

2010-03-21T17:09:00Z

The Troy School District could give some tutoring to the city council in revenue generation. The TSD recently announced it was interested in exploring selling advertising within its school buildings to companies and others. The plan which is similar to Southgate and other area districts could generate up to $100,000 per building annually, a figured that of itself will not solve the district money problems but sure does make an impact. Its new ideas in generating revenue as a means to avoid making further cuts and proposing millages that are destined to fail that sets the school board apart from the city council. City council is looking to hack and cut but is missing the bigger picture of new revenue generation and creativity to bring new dollars to the city.

Readers suggested ideas, some big and some small that could offer partial solutions and alternatives to elimination of quality of life services, only to be shrugged off by city council. Unwillingness to open city facilities like the aquatic center and community center to partner cities like Rochester Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield Twp and others is shortsighted and falls short of a regionalized approach as Szerlag preaches so often.

It is nice to see a board within the city that is interested in preserving resources with innovative ideas and thinking outside the box. City council should start attending the school board meetings and taking notes, they might be able to learn a few things about running an organization.

What Collaboration Can Do.......

2010-03-21T16:54:00Z

How many of you have been to Cobo Convention Center recently? Remember a year or two ago when the City of Detroit relinquished control of the facility, a facility that was plagued with repair needs, mismanagement and on the verge of losing the North American International Auto Show? The facility came under the supervision and management of a multi-county regional authority charged with restoring the facility, providing consistent competent management and providing the region with a convention center to enter the national stage once again.

Well folks if you have not been to Cobo recently, you would be amazed at what real management can do. Gone are the days of lobby carpet so soiled and dirty that you wondered if there even was a cleaning crew, pillar paint peeling and scaling, bathrooms that you believed you would need a shower after exiting the bathroom or the convention area that lacked up to date lighting and electrical for displays and activities.

While visiting the center recently we walked in the front doors and the carpets were impeccably clean days into a convention involving kids, food and slurpees. Maintenance that was actively cleaning the restrooms, pillars that sparkled with new paint and overhead electrical fixtures and conduit that was very new. Security that was attentive and telling parents to keep their kids under control. I realize that the facility is undersized to sit on the national stage and needs more repairs, but my god what a little leadership can do to change several suburbanites image of this facility.

If Detroiters could collaborate on other issues, projects and ventures just imagine what a magnet this region could be in the future. We should start with a multi-country board to restore and reopen the aquarium and other facilities that clearly the city does not have the funds to support but a regional approach might be able to rebirth.

Robin Goes It Alone---- Again

2010-03-19T20:21:00Z

Recently while her cohorts were busy trying to find ways to arm twist the citizens of Troy into rethinking their millage vote, Council person Beltramini was the only one who had the guts to say "STOP" there are better ways. Beltramini proposed finding a means to provide the institutions that are slated for closure the resources to become self sustaining. This action was not without risk while her closed minded cohorts were pulling out their red pens scaring young kids that their library might go away and that the seniors might not be able to go to the community center. Robin we salute you for going against the grain once again. You need the support to keep stepping up in these tough times and acting like a leader which unfortunately is very lacking on council to date.

Robin please propose taking a look at the hard departments like the city attorney's office, eliminating one assistant city manager or the city clerk position and outsourcing the police to the Sheriff . Give the citizens back the quality of life aspects that are needlessly being threatened and make the cuts where they can be made without hurting the residents.

Troy Law Firm Could Take Over City's Legal Services at a Much Lower Cost

2010-03-18T16:20:00Z

As you may recall in a previous article that the outsourcing of the Troy Legal Department could save the city significantly. Recently we also indicated that Taylor and Port Huron had already moved for privatization adding to a long list of cities that have already done so. You may also recall that the city in closest demographics has a legal budget of $750,000 while Troy's Law Department boasts a $1.2 million dollar budget.

While reading about these other cities a familiar name emerged. A prominent law firm in Troy, McGraw and Morris. Here is a link to their website. McGraw and Morris

The firm has municipal government experience and is a city business. The current legal budget by comparison prior to any cuts is approximately $500,000 too high and should have been capped at $750,000 years ago. If one we to pare that budget to parity with the comparable cities it would provide a cost savings of $500,000 immediately. Now factor in the 40% additional projected savings in the Szerlag report and our legal budget should currently be in the $450,000 - $550,000 range for a total annual savings of approximately $700,000.

The city would eliminate the pension costs of these in house employees, obtain specialized legal advice instead of generalist attorneys currently employed in house, and forgo all legacy costs of in house personnel. This one change could cure a decent portion of the annual budget shortfall.

To make the situation more appealing, McGraw and Morris provided an hourly rate of $125 / hour to Taylor. This rate is highly appealing and from a city business. What better way to solve the budget crisis and help area businesses that provide stability to the city. If this city had responsible, focus based representation, we could eliminate the senseless waste that exists in our current legal approach and mindset employed by in house personnel. Currently in house personnel justify their positions by fighting lawsuits regardless of merit in many cases. Outside counsel would provide better legal advice in an objective manner at a much better price.

Are Troy Police Administrators Better than Volunteer Firefighters?

2010-03-17T16:51:00Z

The Troy Police Chief, Captains and some Lieutenant(s) receive take home vehicles at the city expense. One member questioned the need for such an expenditure. The cars routinely cost in the area of $20-35000, plus maintenance, insurance, and gas. With the average lifespan of an assigned vehicle at 3 years, that equates to roughly a $10-15000 annual expenditure per administrator or $60-100,000 annually for take home cars. The member questioned why if private industry routinely utilizes a car allowance program with an average monthly rate of $500 per month, how come that program was not chosen by police administrators over the vehicle purchase program? The member further questioned why two captains need a city owned vehicle at all since two of them live within the city limits, the chief resides in Sterling Heights and an emergency response back to the station would be only delayed minutes in a privately owned vehicle. The member then suggested why not equip their privately owned vehicles with a siren and a magnetic roof light if necessary? When one thinks about that suggestion, it begs real consideration since many volunteer fighters: a) live in the city, b) routinely respond to emergencies at all hours of the day and night and c) utilize their own private vehicles. The volunteer firefighters function appropriate and adequately with that system in place, why not our police administrators. If time is such a consideration do you not have supervisors who are supposedly trained and capable of managing the emergency in your absence similar to a doctor heading to the hospital to see a sick patient, the resident or ER doctor cares for the patient, right? The final point this member wanted to address is why does a Lieutenant that is in the public relations area driving a take home car at all?

In close, this program should be eliminated immediately by Chief Mayer and lead by example and give his car up first. So Chief are you going to lead by example?

Brown Ruling Hurts Troy in Kocenda Case- Landmark Decision

2010-03-17T10:41:00Z

December 2009:
In a highly emotional case of Brown vs Cassens Transport, the United States Supreme court refused to rehear a landmark decision of the 6th Circuit Court of the United States in allowing a worker to sue their employer and the work comp doctors, managers and other related to thwarting of his claim. The suit which was filed under the R.I.C.O. act, a law which primarily surrounds the act of racketeering had not been allowed to proceed until the Brown case. This case paves the way for employees who believe misconduct took place in their case an additional remedy outside of state comp court. This is a huge victory for employees and a sheer message to employers and insurance managers. The law even allows the defense lawyers to be named in the case.

Ruling Published February 24, 2010

Case History:
"The original Brown v. Cassens decision in October, 2008 involving a Michigan workers’ compensation claim stirred lively commentary in business, risk management and employee benefits publications. Attorney blogs and Web sites projected either foreboding or celebration depending on the author’s convictions and practice orientation. LexisNexis and other legal resources added entries. Professional firms such as Sedgwick CMS updated their clients. AHollywood actor even featured Brown v. Cassens in a demonstration clip on his promotional MySpace site. Clearly the word is out.

The Supreme Court’s December, 2009 denial was widely reported in established risk management industry media. Despite the denial’s critical importance in enabling Brown v. Cassens to proceed, however, it seems to have generated little fresh commentary in the blogosphere. More significant indicators that additional suits should be expected are:

Brown v. Cassens is not alone. Although still rare, other workers’ compensation-related lawsuits are being allowed to proceed on the basis of RICO arguments.
The target is tempting. RICO provides for treble (triple) damages, increasing the potential payoff for a successful plaintiff; and a class action suit would multiply the exposure.
The legal profession is tooling up. The American Bar Association’s ( ABA ) Labor and Employment Law Section has scheduled a session at its March 4-6, 2010 meeting entitled “Erosion of the Exclusive Remedy Doctrine.” The panel includes one of the Brown v. Cassens defense lawyers. The program announcement promises, “If you practice workers’ compensation law, employment law, represent injured employees, defend insurance companies, self-insured employers, governmental agencies, adjust claims, or practice medicine you cannot afford to miss this program.”
source: lexisnexis.com

This case is important in the Kocenda case because Kocenda has asserted all along that his case was continuously thwarted by members of the city administration and risk management along with officials outside the city but hired by the city to administer the city's work comp claims. In Kocenda's case attorneys prepared for a possible successful Brown ruling by asking both city doctors about their income relating to independent medical exams and answers ranged, but one indicated that a significant portion of his income is derived from the IME's of work comp agencies and he did not testify for plaintiffs. The other was asked other questions which called his medical findings into question and painted a picture that he too may have been compromised by who was paying for his opinion.

Kocenda's attorneys have made no secret of their interest in utilizing this case to Troy's outside counsel. It may be where Ms. Linderman is headed in the future. We will have to wait and see. If it is where she is headed Troy has nobody to blame.

High Powered Attorney in Troy Police Case Retained by Affluent Restaurant Chain

2010-03-17T01:17:00Z

Affluent restaurant chain, Andiamo, has retained Marla Linderman to defend its cause against a group of current and former employees claiming inadequate payment of wages by the restaurant chain. The chain which has restaurants in Warren, Dearborn, Rochester and other locations is considered one of Metro Detroit's premier brands in the restaurant industry. Linderman, who is also Ofc Kocenda's employment attorney representing him in one lawsuit against Troy and will be representing him in another lawsuit against the city shortly is described as having "earned a reputation among her colleagues as an expert in civil rights law, a crusader for those who've been unjustly singled out, and a person with remarkable energy."

Linderman practices employment law for both the plaintiff and defense. She was named one of the state's "most up and coming" lawyers in 2007 and is considered one of if not the best employment attorneys in the state of Michigan , dethroning the former mainstay in Michigan employment law.

Do You Get Paid to Prepare for Your Work Day- Troy Police Supervisors Do!

2010-03-13T21:52:00Z

When you go to work are you paid to "prepare" for your work day. Well Troy Police sergeants, lieutenants and others do. They get "prep" time which equals their overtime rate of pay of 1.5 times their hourly rate for a half hour each day they work, for a total of 2 hours per week or 104 overtime hours annually per supervisor. Pretty neat eh? If you multiply that number of hours out times the number of supervisors on the payroll the amount is a mind-boggling waste.

The policy has been in place for years dating back to the days of Chief Carey and prior but in these economic times, you would think a chief who is supposedly fiscally prudent and complaining about loses in manpower and resources would abolish this practice in favor of cost cutting measures to save officers jobs and keep officers on the street. Not this Chief. This policy is just one of the devisive activities that are taking place within the police department that is pitting TPOA membership against TCOA membership. The patrol officers are viewing the practice as unnecessary and contributing to to needless spending.

It appears that Chief Gary Mayer and his command staff have not gotten a message from the carrier pigeon that the millage failed and needless waste has to be cut from the department. If anybody sees him tell him to start finding ways to quit wasting money and start acting like a leader.

We will divulge more activities taking place in the police department in the next few articles that should have residents purely outraged that they are being threatened by cuts in the Library, Community Center and other places yet our police department is going about its wasteful spending with the same business as usual arrogance. When this series is over residents should be demanding Gary mayer's resignation.

Stay tuned next week for more.

Pension Board Costs the City Several Hundred Thousand Dollars......Just Because!!!!

2010-03-11T11:08:00Z

In a move that can only be described as retaliatory, the employee pension board opted to cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars out of nothing short of a vendetta. Yesterday, the employee pension board voted to deny Ofc. Kocenda's pension in what appears to be a retaliatory act for Kocenda's pending litigation against the city and broke apart the parameters for a settlement of one of Kocenda's lawsuits. Kocenda's attorney and outside attorney James Reiter had the tentative framework for the beginning of a settlement that Kocenda's counsel offered that would have saved the city hundreds of thousands of additional dollars by placing Kocenda into the city pension plan due to his medical condition as a result of an injury sustained while at work. The pension board decided to split hairs and narrowly interpret a clause in the pension language to attempt to find any legal basis for them to torpedo the action, an interpretation Kocenda's attorneys disagree with.

If the plan a was approved, Kocenda's case could have potentially avoided an already costly case for the city and an embarrassing trial for the city. With the rejection, Kocenda's attorneys are contemplating further legal action now against the pension board and the move also will expose the city to $200-700,000 of additional damages that could have been avoided by not going to trial. Bluhm herself in a memo authored within the last 30 days indicated that this plan would save the city money as presented by Kocenda's counsel. The same action is being undertaken to fight Ofc. Todd Michael's pension request and he too is suing the department for misconduct that took place under former Chief Charles Craft's administration that was riddled with misconduct.

Kocenda's lawyers are discussing filing an new lawsuit against the pension board in the coming weeks based upon their actions which could subject the city to even more financial loses which can only be made up by new expenditures at a time when the city is trying to find every dollar it can to avoid looming layoffs and municipal closures.

Sometimes you just have to scratch your head and look at these employees and ask yourself do you want to save money to save your jobs or not?

Residents Offer Cost Cutting Ideas and Ideas for Opportunities- Updated 3/6/10

2010-03-06T17:38:00Z

This article is a small list of the more reasonable ideas submitted by residents to assist in locating money within the budget or recommending common sense approaches to invent new revenue for the city to assist in closing the city budget shortfalls as we receive more it will be updated.

Aquatic Center: Open membership to the facility to all residents of Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bloomfield Twp, Bloomfield Hills, Clawson, Royal Oak, Rochester / Rochester Hills, Oakland Township and others on a daily or seasonal membership with tiered pricing based upon type and length of membership
Library: open the library from 2pm- 8pm M-F and 9-5 on Sat and Sun.
Community Center: Open membership to the communities listed above in #1 on an annual, monthly or daily basis
Eliminate one assistant city manager position or eliminate the city clerk and merge the responsibilities of both positions. Another option was to reduce the assistant city manager position to one part time position as a secondary option.
City Attorney: contract all criminal and traffic matters to the Oakland County Prosecutor's office, retain civil with a contracted firm on an hourly basis eliminating the entire in house law department. Current rates being offered other cities are between $95 and $125 / hr which is a great rate and some of these rates are being provided by firms located in Troy and are name firms.
Police: eliminate the city police department and contract to Oakland County or reduce staff by one division across all employee unions, dispose of the police vehicles and equipment or use it to offset part of the first years contract costs.
Parks and Recreation: outsource all personnel relating to exterior and grounds maintenance, eliminate sports programs and enter into an agreement with RARA in Rochester to provide sports leagues and competitive recreational youth sports or another similar agency through a municipality the adjoins Troy.
Golf Course: sell or land lease one course to an outside vendor
Motor Pool: eliminate completely and outsource vehicle and fleet maintenance either though an onsite vendor utilizing the city garage on a lease basis or closing the city garage completely.
Risk Management: eliminated and outsourced
Raise all city fees for permits, police reports, inspections etc. by 20-25%
Expand the cost recovery ordinance to encompass more routine items that utilize city resources that could be billed for against the cost of service.
Reopen early retirement opportunities and retirement incentives to get long time city employees to retire.

UPDATES 3/6/10:

Allow existing employees to buy service time to get to a full retirement early, similar to school teachers
Begin strong recall efforts for 3-4 council members
Freeze new fire apparatus purchases, major equipment and all non essential purchases through 2013
Increase police vehicle mileage to 100,000 miles before retiring a vehicle
Freeze all new vehicle purchases in Streets and DPW, major equipment and all non essential purchases through 2013
Freeze all non critical or "beautification" projects that have not been already started or are not earmarked for funds that are unable to be reassigned to other areas of the budget
Reduce total city hall personnel by 50% across all city departments excluding emergency services
Create a citizen panel to advise council on recommended cuts

The consistent theme we are seeing is a desire by residents to move toward a united belt of the cities of Troy, Rochester Hills, Rochester, Birmingham and the Bloomfields. In reality that may be the best option or at least one option to strengthen all communities involved and to utilizes the most appreciative aspects of each community in a collective manner to develop and enhance a central Oakland county region.

Birmingham and Rochester offer the downtown atmosphere Troy lacks with quaint small businesses and restaurants while Troy offers the likes of Somerset with premium mall centered shopping and premium chain restaurant offerings as just one example. Consistent regionalized marketing and integration of a unified belt could serve to integrate the image of a unified central Oakland upscale belt of opportunity. Troy is not a Birmingham or Rochester, but it fits a niche with Rochester Hills and Bloomfield Twp all of which are municipalities that lack certain aspects of a city or township that do not have a central stabilized downtown anchor and its the blending of resources and opportunity that could assist all municipalities on that list.

Troy city officials should start assembling focus groups to assist in identifying the areas where RESIDENTS and not council want to see cuts. The residents should decide what they can and cannot live without in this case as well.

Ala Carte Millages Coming Soon- Round Two of Millages Coming!

2010-03-06T13:46:00Z

Well residents get ready. Your city manager and members of city council are not ready to give up yet at trying to pick away at your wallet. Sources inside city hall and in key areas involving evaluation of cuts are telling us that council and Szerlag are going to try and grind you into submission.

Here is the proposed unofficial plan and after we post this all of them will deny it and try to disguise it but here is the bottom line. They don't want to conceded defeat in reality. Instead this years budget as portrayed by Mr. Lenivov and members of Troy Citizens United is not as perilous as we were led to believe by the vote "yes" camp, but the strategy is to slowly begin cutting hours and services at the library regardless of the financial situation and other "quality of life areas" in an attempt to creat frustration among residents and make them question the 'No" vote in hopes that by the time the real budget troubles start in 18 months, they can begin hitting you with ala carte millages. Oh you want the library, we will take a millage for that and the friends of the library are already on board with him on this. Eventually it will move to all the remaining items and before you know it city council will have hoped to break the spirit of the people, out spend the "No" camp in hopes of breaking it apart and in the end achieve all that it wanted and more.

Residents it is high time that residents rise up, join together and stand tall. This council and manager have no intention of following your directive. What we see now is a smoke and mirrors surface attempt with the real strategy going on behind closed doors. Recalls are inevitable now. Certain members of council must go, there is no other option. It was our hope that when this millage was defeated that council and Szerlag would see the writing on the wall but the utter defiance that existed before the vote has only intensified after the vote within the walls of city hall. What council members are targeted need to be defined sooner than later and efforts put into motion before this group can get too far moving on their attempts to undermine the vote.

Residents be active, become vigilant and contact the Oakland County Tea Party and Troy Citizens United and become a part of the solution. Troy Citizens United has a facebook page under their name, join and start taking back control of your city. It is clear that Council thinks its their city to run as THEY wish.

Howrylak & Others Need to Start Looking at Beltramini as the One to Follow

2010-03-04T15:34:00Z

In his second term, Martin Howrylak needs to show breakout performance to get the confidence of the residents right now. Howrylak began to emerge during the millage issue by authoring a letter to residents indicating support of a "No" vote, a very dangerous decision given the prior momentum of council. Now in order to strengthen his image with residents, he should move visibly into the Beltramini camp and support her efforts to redefine the ideology and direction of council. It would be a positive step for these two council members to begin producing a united front. Beltramini who is already supported by multiple groups would most likely not face any recall potential but the options are all on the table for the remaining council members including the three most recent electees. Others may be rewarded who tend to swing in both directions like Mary Kerwin and Maureen McGinnis if they realize that the tide is changing and two others need to start showing an attitude more in line with the conservative approach to city government if they want to keep themselves out of the recall sights of groups like Troy Citizens United, the Oakland County Tea Party and others.

The Truth about the BBBBBus- UPDATED!

2010-03-04T14:34:00Z

Update: Troy Citizens United confirmed with Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard that they would respond if requested with their MCV (mobile command vehicle) if requested by a local municipality. Council and members of the police and fire department we can wipe the need for that right off the budget. Wow amazing Troy Citizens United can find $500K in savings in the budget yet our elected officials and city manager just want to keep spending money as if the millage had passed. (3/4/10)

It appears that the combined efforts of the police and fire departments in wanting to purchase a command "BUS" have gone a foul. We seem to question this expenditure in these economic times. We have seen data from comparable departments and cannot ascertain how they could go 3/4 of a million dollars over budget.

The second question is need. Our last recollection is that we already have a command bus stored up at the fire station on John R north of Square Lake. Our next question is what would be a cost to retro fit that bus. We are certain it is far less than the 700K plus being spent here on the new one.

Everyone also needs to know the story behind how we got our first command unit. The police and fire department got the vehicle on surplus from the SMART system for nearly nothing and along with a second unit for parts. The unit was converted by combined personnel at a fraction of the cost then or now for a comparable unit. This idea makes sound financial sense. Without the sweetheart deal then from SMART we would have never had our first command RV.

Flash forward to today. If there is a need for some remote reason that the current bus cannot be retrofitted or repaired should it be broken for some reason, why not look to departments around us and buy in on a shared basis. For example if Sterling Heights has one, and it does, contact Sterling Heights and ask if they would be interested in selling an interest in the bus to us, as well after all isn't that what Szerlag has been preaching, regionalization. We already do this in a somewhat similar manner to other communities through the special response unit housed at the training center and its vehicles.

This purchase under current economic conditions in this manner is plain ridiculous. Maybe we should not need to look for a shared basis at all, if we contracted the police services to Oakland County they already own one like this and a tank for the swat team and a boat for the marine unit, and at a whole lot better price, right Chief Mayer? Oh lets not forget the upcoming budget maybe the police and fire department will ask for a helicopter so we can be just like Oakland County too!

Robin Beltramini Stands Out

2010-03-02T11:17:00Z

Over the last few months we have been posting all the ills of city council, but another aspect needs to be discussed. During these hard economic times and tough decisions, as a council member it would be easy to vote with the majority, "go with the crowd" and protect your political skin. It takes a true leader to break from that ideology and leave the proverbial bubble of the group in a move that could mean potential personal sacrifice. Only one council member in the recent past here has managed to do that, Robin Beltramini. She should be saluted for her courage to stand up and break ranks when it was in the best interest of the community. Victor Lenivov has supported her in his blog and we waited because we wanted to make certain before we spoke openly about her. She had the courage to answer some of our questions in the past and yes refused others but was the ONLY council member to do so.

We at time4change think Robin's efforts should be recognized and commended because her political backbone is more of what our council needs. In the future, Robin's efforts could aspire her to higher political office in our opinion and at this time it appears that she would be a successful leader.

In a time of few highlights with city council, Robin Beltramini has managed to stand out as a ray of hope. Good luck Robin and keep up the good work!