Letter: After Sweeping Election, Oakland Township Needs a Transition Plan
Does Oakland Township need a transition plan for its new government? This letter writer says yes.
Letter to the Editor:
Approximately one month ago, the citizens of Oakland Township, in a dually elected process, asked for a change in their township leadership. One week after this sweeping election, a Board of Trustee monthly meeting was held. During the open comment period of the meeting, I requested that the current Board of Trustees direct the Township manager to develop a transition plan for an orderly transition of township government. I made this request as both a citizen and property owner within Oakland Township, and that it be presented by August 31, 2012, to all involved parties.
After conferring with some of the newly elected officials, it has come to my attention that no transition plan has been developed, but that there has been one meeting with the Township manager. When I questioned Supervisor Fogler on this issue on September 4, 2012, she informed me, in no uncertain terms, that she has no intention of having such a plan developed or implemented. It’s very disheartening to think that our Township Supervisor, Mrs. Fogler, who has given years of service to the citizens, has taken this position.
As I noted during the August Board of Trustees meeting, one of the greatest things about our Founding Fathers, and the representative republic that was put in place, is the peaceful transition of power in this country. No where in the history of mankind has such a system been successfully implemented, or endured. I am asking one more time, in this forum, that Mrs. Fogler step up and honor her commitment and legacy by putting together the transition team, and present it to the incoming, recently elected Board.
I look forward to hearing a good report at the next Board meeting, which will be held on September 11, 2012. If you feel as strongly as I do about this issue, please contact Supervisor Fogler directly through www.oaklandtownship.org or via Oakland Township email at jfog36@sbcglobal.net.
Respectfully,
John H. Markel, Oakland Township
Have something to say? To submit a letter to the editor, email clare.ramsey@patch.com.
Paul
7:37 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Can't wait to watch the Tea crazies in Oakland Township. Shoud be entertaining.
Christopher
10:43 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Thankfully, the more intellectual, open minded left will be there to show us how to behave.
(Just in case you missed it, your name calling reflects more poorly on you and the Dem's than it does on the Tea Party.)
Paul
10:55 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
No, I'm a real Republican. I don't fly snake flags.
Carolyn Young
11:21 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
While a transition plan would be great, I doubt it is necessary. We have our excellent management team staying and they will help. The new team should be attending all meetings at this point and planning for the transition themselves as well. The best way to learn is to do sometimes.
CraigPenn
11:27 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Paul, just an fyi, by stating you are a "real Republican" and that you "don't fly snake flags," makes it pretty clear you are, in fact, NOT a republican. The "snake flag" has a long, proud, and historically significant part in our country's history. It is considered one of the first flags representing the United States, later replaced by the Stars and Stripe. Since Obama has taken office, it has come to represent, again, a symbol of American patriotism, disagreement with government, or a symbol of support for civil liberties. So, which civil liberties do you NOT support?
Erin
1:00 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Craig - we're talking about Oakland here and an effective transition. I'm hoping they work things out smoothly.
RE: Gadsden Flag - Just to be clear - it actually came back into recent prominence through Ron Paul grass roots supporters in 2007, objecting to GWB's: “nation-building" outside the US, using 9/11 as an excuse to launch an unnecessary war in Iraq and to stay in Afghanistan long term, profligate public spending, expoding debt, and the unconstitutional expansion of Executive power especially the Patriot Act. Here's a one of Ron Paul supporters blogs from July 12, 2007. http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?6814-Gadsden-Flags-For-SC-Rally
It's understandable that any incoming president who continued some of W's policies would incur the same anger over these issues.
Charles
11:33 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Did the board take a formal vote and direct the township manager to create a transition plan ? If not, than why would they do it ? What if another citizen comes in and says they dont want one done.......what then ? If the board voted on it, then yes. If they didnt vote on it....then no. You cant just have every citizen come in and direct the manager to do something. Hopefully the incoming board members are coming in and getting acquainted with township operations. If not....then shame on them.
CraigPenn
12:41 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
I was at the last BOT meeting, where Mr. Markel made this request. Since Mrs. Fogler stated in her campaign literature that she was "working over 40 hours a week for the Township" this seemed like a reasonable question. After speaking with the incoming members, who were basically told they were on their own, I would tend to support Mr. Markel's request. Apart from Judy Workings, who is being extremely helpful in getting Karen Reilly up and running, I would suggest the BOT man up and honor our history of smooth transition of power.
Candi Murasky
1:21 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Does anyone know what happened to Dinah's restaurant "Seasonings" in Oakland Twp.? It is all closed up w/nothing in the cases & no sign. I am hoping she is OK
Robert Cucheran
2:07 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Candi, Dinah decided to close b/c she wasn't making it and she had a lot of turnover at chef too. That's what I heard anyways. I live down the street from there.
Joseph Peruzzi
1:50 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
One of the best comments I have read is that the soon to be new board members should regularly attend the BOT meetings from here on. The Parks Commission through its chairperson has asked our new commissioner members to attend our meetings now that they will be taking office in November, and they have been coming, taking notes and hopefully will be more than up to speed when they join the commission officially. Some even volunteered their time at the most recent Goodison Goodtymes. This will probably be a somewhat strained time for BOT members, other commission members as well as township employees. But I always thought of Oakland as being a supportive community for all its residents. Hopefully that hasn't changed.