Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The Royal Oak City Charter does not describe an exact process for filling Mayor Pro-Tem Patricia Capello's seat after she resigned Monday night.
The Royal Oak City Commission will decide how to fill an unplanned vacancy following the surprise resignation of Mayor Pro-Tem Patricia Capello. Capello is relocating to Texas and tendered her resignation at Monday's city commission meeting. She has approximately six months left on her term. The city charter provides a vacancy be filled by appointment of a majority vote of the remaining members of the commission, but it doesn't describe the exact process or specify a time frame, according to City Attorney Dave Gillam. "The commission can decide on a long drawn out process or have a discussion at a public meeting and make an appointment," Gillam said. Another more formal option would be to ask for letters of interest and conduct interviews…
Mayor Pro-Tem Patricia Capello announces her resignation at Monday's Royal Oak City Commission meeting.
Monday’s meeting of the Royal Oak City Commission ended with a surprise resignation. Mayor Pro-Tem Patricia Capello announced she was relocating to Texas and that Monday's city commission meeting was her last. Reading from prepared notes, she said she had been looking to downsize her empty nest for the last year. "We were looking for a smaller home in Royal Oak so that we can spend our summers here and winters in a warmer climate, probably Texas. Well I didn't find a home in Royal Oak, but we did find our dream home in Texas. We purchased it and will be relocating very soon. With my husband's health issues, and my son's health issues, and 40 years of accumulation to clean out and put our home on the market, I need to focus all of my …
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Monday, May 20, 2013
Hargan sees a seat on the city commission as an opportunity to present fresh ideas.
Diane Hargan, a 30-year Royal Oak resident who has never held public office, has decided to launch a campaign for one of three commission seats on the line in November. Hargan, a licensed veterinary technician, stated her campaign will be about "low budget and high contact." There are three open seats on the City Commission. As of Monday morning, Sharlan Dpuglas, Jeremy Mahrle and incumbent David Poulton have also pulled petitions to run for city commissioner. Hargan's announcement is as follows: Diane Hargan, a 30 year resident of Royal Oak, announced she intends to seek election to the Royal Oak City Commission this November. Having worked exclusively in the private sector, she sees an opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to the …
A request to change the Arts, Beats & Eats festival agreement and an update update from the Suicide Prevention Task Force are among the many items to be discussed at City Hall.
A dog census is one of many items on the Royal Oak City Commission's agenda when it meets today at 7:30 p.m. on the third floor of City Hall. Commissioners are expected to hear a recommendation from City Manager Don Johnson to hire temporary census workers to go door to door to verify dogs in Royal Oak have valid licenses. In his recommendation to the commission, Johnson said Oakland County animal control estimates less than 10 percent of dogs in Royal Oak are licensed. He added most dog bite incidents involve unlicensed dogs. As an incentive, Johnson recommends that residents who license their dog in June have a $20 delinquent penalty waived. The city manager is also expected to recommend the following rates for dog license fees:
Friday, May 17, 2013
Douglas is a Royal Oak planning commissioner and has served on several municipal committees.
Sharlan Douglas, a 20-year resident of Royal Oak, has announced a run for Royal Oak City Commission. Douglas, who owns Douglas Communications Group, is currently a member of Royal Oak's Planning Commission. There are three open seats on the City Commission. As of Wednesday, Diane Hargan, Jeremy Mahrle and incumbent David Poulton have also pulled petitions to run for city commissioner. Douglas' announcement is as follows: Sharlan Douglas, a 20-year resident, planning commissioner and business owner, has announced her intention to run for a seat on the Royal Oak City Commission in the November election. “Royal Oak has so much going for it today,” she said in making the announcement. “I think I have the experience, skill and vision to help …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Under new rules, if your dog bites or attacks a person or another animal, you will have to maintain a minimum $1 million insurance policy to cover claims for any personal injuries inflicted by the dog.
Royal Oak's new 'dangerous' and 'potentially dangerous' dog regulations and penalties take effect today. Under the new rules, any dog that bites or attacks a person, dog or domestic animal is determined to be 'dangerous' in Royal Oak. Owners of such dogs will have to secure the animal in a locked pen or yard, post a warning sign, complete an animal obedience class and have a microchip injected under the dog's skin or have the dog tattooed. Owners will now also have to maintain a minimum $1 million insurance policy to cover claims for any personal injuries inflicted by the dog. State Farm, which publishes a list of the top ten states with the most claims for dog bites the previous year, ranks Michigan sixth nationally with 151 claims worth…
With three Royal Oak City Commission seats up for grabs and the mayor's post up for re-election, five hopefuls have pulled petitions for the November election.
The deadline to file petitions to run for city commissioner and mayor is still weeks away, but so far five candidates have pulled nominating petitions from the Royal Oak City Clerk. Mayor Jim Ellison kicked off his re-election campaign in March. He first entered public office in 1991 as a city commissioner and was first elected mayor in 2003. As of Wednesday, Ellison is the only candidate who has pulled petitions to run for mayor. There are three open seats on the City Commission. Commissioner David Poulton has pulled petitions; as of Wednesday, Patricia Capello and Jim Rasor have not pulled petitions to run for re-election. Prospective candidates circulating petitions, include: To be a candidate for Royal Oak City Commission, the …
Monday, May 13, 2013
When it's finished, the new streetscape will include ornamental streetlights, wider sidewalks, and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps.
The construction project that will change the streetscape of 11 Mile Road officially began Monday morning in Royal Oak. The $1.9 million makeover, which is expected to be completed in the fall, will tear up and build anew 11 Mile's sidewalks from Troy Street to Campbell Road. The project will add new ornamental streetlights, wider sidewalks, and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps. Water mains will be replaced where needed, and curbs and gutters will be installed to correct long-standing drainage problems. "We're widening 11 Mile where we can by 3 feet," said Interim City Engineer Matt Callahan. The lanes will remain the same size, but new 18-inch concrete curbs and gutters will be added to each side of the road. The gutter pan…
Friday, May 10, 2013
Reps. Jim Townsend, Vicki Barnett, Andy Schor introduce package of legislation to reduce gun violence.
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Friday, May 10
Democratic state representatives will introduce a package of legislation aimed at curbing gun violence and increasing public safety. The package calls for universal background checks for gun purchases, protections to keep guns away from individuals convicted of domestic assault, increased support for mental health systems in Michigan, promotion of safe zones and the expansion of gun-free zones to include public libraries. "We are fortunate not to have recently experienced tragedies like Massachusetts, Arizona and Colorado," said Rep. Jim Townsend, "but the reality is that over 150 gun deaths have occurred in Michigan since the tragedy at Newtown. It shouldn't take a mass shooting in Michigan for us to take action on commonsense gun safety …
Royal Oak bar set to open on May 23.
The Royal Oak City Commission had no objections to Hamlin Corner adding an additional sidewalk café seating area and an elevated disc jockey stand when it met Monday night. By Wednesday, the 6,700-square-foot restaurant/bar, which is set to open on May 23, had completed the outdoor seating area surrounded by concrete planter boxes. Are you looking forward to the opening of Hamlin Corner? RELATED:
Ronald Wolf
3:31 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
I do not understand the rush to hire another wasted outside attorney opinion. Someone has friends I guess. Any investigation at this point is an exercise in futility if the defendant is not available to defend herself. And in any case she does not have to respond as this is not a formal court. More money thrown to the wind. This matter is for a real court to decide and even if protocol was … more ›