City Commission Meeting May 24th 2011

This was a meeting to make new appointments. It was the first time in perhaps a decade or longer that the position of Mayor was not one of the appointments made. Instead a Mayor actually elected by city commission presided. Also on the agenda was the annual review of the City Manager's performance and time for a discussion of other topics. The meeting was not televised .

It is easy to know when you are in the city of Bloomfield Hills. The street signs are black and gold.

Commissioner Ms.Patricia Hardy (who would have been Mayor under the old rotating mayor system (see previous post) sat  next to Mr. Michael Zambricki (first elected mayor in at least nine years). She was sitting where she sat last year as the then Mayor Pro tem. He was sitting in former Mayor Mr Michael MCready's old chair, the mayor's chair. Ms.Hardy and Mr. Zambricki spared back and forth in a nice sort of way. When the subject of planning commission appointments came up she wants to know why he  picked  some applicants who turned their applications in late when the very well qualified, former Mayor Mr. L David Kellet(who was  the audience)and Mr. Michael Dul turned their applications in early. Mr. Zambricki agreed  that both applicants have excellent qualifications, but Mr. Dul owns a Landscape Design Business and Mr. Kellet owns a construction company both of which could be regarded as a possible conflict of interest. In his administration, Mr. Zambricki said he wanted avoid even the suggestion of impropriety. A year earlier the then Mayor Michael McCready rejected Mr. Dul's desire to renew his position on the planning commission and picked Ms. Connie Salloum instead.

Mayor Zambricki picked himself to continue on the Cable Board. He also chose Ms. Hardy and Mr.McrCready to continue on the library board, and Commissioner Salloum to serve on Semcog or Southeast Michigan Council of Governments which is where, years ago a young Mr. McCready got started.

The Commissioners were basically pleased with City Manager Mr. Jay Cravens. Ms.Hardy who is usually more pleased than most about most thing, indicated a list of bullet pointed list of accomplishments Mr. Cravens  provided as "outstanding". During the evaluation
Mr. Cravens mentioned that Cranbrook is the City's largest property owner and with shifting responsibilities there was large liaison presence the city and the commission had to maintain. Dinners, parties, luncheons and so forth. Commissioner Ms.Sarah McClure since she "knew all the Cranbrook people anyway" promptly volunteered but there was no immediate indication other than a wan smile that Mayor Zambricki was ready to give all that up just yet. Ms.McClure was the financial brains of the McCready commission and it is hoped that she will have a similar roll in the Zambricki administration. In addition she was appointed as Commission's ex offico position on the zoning board of appeals.

In other business Jay Cravens said Soccra, a large waste hauling and recycling center in Royal Oak will meet on June 8th to consider the city's desire to provide residents with on going hazardous waste drop off.

In terms of the Baldwin Library no news has been received since the city's counter proposal..

The next scheduled meeting for The City Commission will be at 7:30 pm Tuesday June 14th. The planning commission will meet earlier in the day at 4pm. The Zoning Board of Appeals will meet the following Tuesday June 21st at 4pm.