Why I am running

I have had the opportunity to see the best practices of our city commission,  the Bloomfield Hills School Board, and The Baldwin Library Board. I regret to say we are woefully inadequate in resident participation. We are a government of five of which four always agree. Maybe our commission sees no need to seek alternative points of view. In the last five months the city commission has not even sought the opinion of residents on issues such as a Code of Ethics for appointed or elected leaders, or questions for a $9500 Citizen satisfaction survey.  The Baldwin Library has in the meantime published two surveys for a much larger audience at a fraction the cost. The Difference? The library did their surveys in house. Our Commission hired a company.

There are ways Municipal City Commission or like organization can communicate with and involve it’s Citizens if it wants to little or no cost.

The School Board uses Community Partnership Committees to identify concerns and develop future leaders.

The Baldwin Library cites volunteers as main factor in balancing the budget.

Both School Board and the Library allow and encourage public comment at every meeting.

Public Comment at our City’s Planning Commission meetings is only allowed  at public hearings which are required by law.

Many municipalities use blogs  to keep residents informed about ongoing projects like the tree ordinance and to solicit continued resident input. Pages on Face Book and Twitter have been used to accomplish the same results. For almost all of the above money is not required.  Just imagination. Regrettably when you have four of five votes imagination is the last thing that comes to mind.