TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR SAVOIE FIRST CASULTY IN REDUCED PUBLIC COMMENT.

 The irony of the  situation can't be overstated and this writer  finds it hard to fathom that none of the bodies on the  Bloomfield Hills Township Board  of Trustees could figure this out for themselves. 

Since Leo Savoie was appointed Supervisor  in 2011,  The Township residents have enjoyed  free and virtually unlimited  access to their  elected  officials and the Agenda items they proposed via  Public Comment at Public Meetings.  Supervisor Savoie as an appointed Supervisor  rather than elected  may have felt a compelling need to  listen to his constituents.The Public Comments privileges he initiated   exceeded that of neighbors Birmingham  and the City of Bloomfield Hills. The Former came close but lacked Savoie's stature, decorum, civility or Master of ceremonies cool.

Of  a slightly similar persuasion was one Michael Mcready (2011) who in 2010 after four unsuccessful attempts became  the  Mayor of the City of Bloomfield Hills. His Predecessor disdained Public comment and suggested residents who wish to be heard to e-mail him.
McCready was the exact opposite who's Public Comment  went often to  the midnight hour. Critics said McCready could be generous with his
 time because he owned his own company. In realty the Company Mcready owned demanded  of him state wide travel and often overnight  travel. Yet McCready never missed a commission meeting a record not yet equaled. Currently he is serving a third term as State Representative for Birmingham, East West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Township. and the Cities of Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills.

 As kindred spirits McCready and Savoie became friends and the former invited the latter to lunch with the  Lieutenant Governor at Buster Dave's Grand opening   and later as  McCready's  guest at the Governor's State of The State's annual  address.

There seems to  be a definite link between a successful career as Public Servant  and a willingness to listen ones constitutes. Occasionally  Leo,  always willing to serve where ever  the need arose became   became the defacto Mayor of of other communities  in times  of Crisis as well.
It happened in the winter or 2014 on Kensington Road  in the City of Bloomfield Hills. The street is mostly in the City of  Bloomfield Hills and dead ends at big Beaver  but a few of the Kensington addresses belonged to the Township residents and are actually closer to Sommerset  Mall than the Township City Hall.

What was as been described as fleet of tree cutting trucks  contracted by DTE arrived and began cutting tree cutting on private property claiming they were asked to do so by by "City officials and public utilities" The City Manager of the City of Bloomfield however   saw no evil or heard no evil that day nor was he anywhere to be seen or heard that day  This despite the fact that The City of Bloomfield Hills was Ground Zero that day. 
What saved the City that day was the fact that in their zeal to chop Tree Company in adherently  cut down trees on Kensington which
 were in.Bloomfield Township.
That brought the incomparable Leo Savoie  who drove  approximately five miles and by title and tone of voice alone  demanded and got the immediate  cessation of all cutting activities  on private property until the Township or City said otherwise.
It was the beginning of Leo Law which was adopted by other communities in dealing with the utility.

 Later in the day The Mayor of Bloomfield Hills one Michale Dull  e-mailed  a newspaper saying there was nothing the City could do about the matter but he was wrong.

Leo is and be will be until  voters decide otherwise  Township Supervisor.
 As Recently a few weeks ago  he was telling the  Birmingham  Bloomfield Eagle Newspaper that the Township  was studying their contract  with the waste hauler who bought out Rizzo to see what options the Township has. Leo Law II.? Too  early to say but at least somebody is thinking  about possibilities in terms of perhaps promises made and benefits    continued  for the township citizens.

 Simply put  when you reduce public comment for common man regardless of reasoner quantity you also diminish Leo Savoy because he ran it better than other governing boards for more half a decade.

That being said, even with  Public Comment reductions opted for  by  the Township Board of Trustees  Public comment for the Townships 40000 residents  is still  ahead of neighboring   Birmingham  (a close second with 20,000 residents) and  the City of Bloomfield Hills which in reality has no public comment for its 2500 residents.
So suck it up Leo because it is really quite simple.  the previous allowance  for Public comment made  the  Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees  the most legitimate form of government in our area.  Who says?  Public Comment says and proves it by its existence. Sure the the masses may be unruly and disrespectful at times but you chair the meetings Leo and you most certainly know how to do that despite  ambitious well wishers  who suggest you cut back  leaving others to wonder if you have lost your nerve or your verve,  After all taking public comment is where it all began for you and you are still one of the few who can do it well.

You most certainly know how to do that ambitious well  wishers  suggest you cut back  leaving others to wonder if you have lost your nerve or your verve,  After all taking public comment is where it all began for you and you are still one of the few who can do it well.

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee, Leo.

These famous words by John Donne were not originally written as a poem - the passage is taken from the 1624 Meditation 17, from Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions and is prose. The words of the original passage are as follows:

John Donne
Meditation 17
Devotions upon Emergent Occasions

"No man is an iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee...."