Ethics Debate Continues in Royal Oak

Commissioners want more information on recent ethics investigation released to the public.

Mayor Pro Tem Patricia Capello is questioning the seriousness of a recent investigation on whether or not the actions of a Royal Oak city commissioner constituted an ethics violation. Capello told commissioners Monday night that when she requested a special meeting in August, along with Commissioner Peggy Goodwin, she expected an independent investigation concerning the actions of City Commissioner Jim Rasor and an Arts, Beats & Eats (ABE) parking station operation. "No investigating took place. There was only interviewing and not even face-to-face interviews," Capello told fellow commissioners. "There was no sworn testimony required." Attorney William Hampton, a former state legislator and Oakland County Circuit Court Judge, orchestrated …

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Ronald Wolf

10:08 am on Saturday, January 12, 2013

Leslie, This commission is made up of those whose are appointed at the disgression of the mayor, for example Don Johnson our city manager and those who are elected by the residents. The elected commissioners need to be reminded to keep repeating to themselves whom they are sworn to represent. All commissioners you would think should have no fear of displeasing the mayor, some act as if their jobs…   more ›

Gran Fondo, Ethics Investigation on City Commission Agenda Tonight

The Royal Oak City Commission meets at City Hall Monday to discuss mayoral appointments, Gran Fondo plans, Liquor Control Committee recommendations and more.

Might want to bring a sleeping bag to tonight's Royal Oak City Commission meeting, as city officials are expected to tackle a variety of matters. It looks like it's going to be a long night. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall. Commissioners will discuss releasing a legal opinion on whether the actions of one its members constituted a conflict interest or an ethics violation. On Dec. 3, in a closed session, attorney William Hampton discussed an attorney-client privileged legal opinion he prepared for the commission, according to a memo written by City Manager Don Johnson.   "The commission discussed releasing that legal opinion. In order for that to take place, the commission would need an affirmative vote to waive the privilege …

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Residents Plead With Royal Oak Leaders: Protect Human Rights

After nearly an hour of public comment, commissioners pass a resolution to draft an ordinance to protect the LGBT community and others from discrimination.

Monday night Royal Oak City Commissioners voted to create a "welcome mat" for the community by becoming the next Michigan city to enact a human rights ordinance. Commissioners voted unanimously to have City Attorney Dave Gillam draft a broad ordinance that will protect against discrimination in employment, housing or public accommodation on the basis of height, weight, marital status, source of income, family responsibility, education association, sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status. In doing so, Royal Oak will join Ann Arbor, Birmingham, Detroit, East Lansing, Ferndale, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Saginaw, Traverse City and Ypsilanti in enacting a human rights ordinance. The discussion of a human rights ordinance was …

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Judy Davids

9:11 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2012

We are closing the comment stream on this article, as the conversation is no longer productive. Thank you for your input.   more ›

Royal Oak Murder Victim's Estate Files Lawsuit Against Michigan Department of Corrections

Royal Oak attorneys Jim Rasor and Jonathan Marko filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Oakland County Circuit Court on behalf of the estate of 80-year-old Nancy Dailey, who was killed in her Trafford Road home in November 2011.

City Will Operate Fresard Parking Lots During Arts, Beats & Eats

Commissioner Jim Rasor is now out, and the city is in, to get revenues from a controversial parking station on Main Street.

A Main Street parking station, which has been the focus of debate, will now be operated by the city of Royal Oak during the Arts, Beats & Eats (ABE) festival this weekend. The city has a lease agreement with the owners of two former Jim Fresard sites - one at 400 N. Main Street and the other near Lincoln and the railroad tracks - to operate the properties as parking stations during the four-day festival, according to City Manager Don Johnson. The city will pay 25 percent of the gross revenue to the owner and use the remainder to help offset city costs, such as police and fire protection during the Labor Day weekend event. This past Monday, Johnson was contacted by owners of the Fresard lots. "They offered me the two lots and we signed an …

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Ronald Wolf

2:25 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012

Its Saturday afternoon, the rear of the Fresard lot is empty, any action is in the front. Guess this was a temptest in a teapot. Maybe the good times remembered from last year has something to do with this. No pun intended of course (ahem). For the sake of our city let us hope the weather holds up, the bugs don't bite and we break even this year despite all the negative publicity generated by my …   more ›

5 Stories You May Have Missed Last Week

A 'Do Not Knock' registry and an Arts, Beats & Eats parking controversy are some of the stories we covered last week.

A lot happened last week, and we want to make sure you didn't miss the top headlines on Royal Oak Patch. Here are five of our biggest, most-read stories from the past week: Royal Oak Resident is MIGreatArtist Finalist Douglas La Ferle's work will be on exhibit to the public at Park West Gallery in Southfield from Sept. 4 – 28. City Approves Ethics Investigation Over Arts, Beats & Eats Controversy Royal Oak City Commissioners want an outside investigator to determine whether Commissioner Jim Rasor has violated any laws or ordinances. Police Blotter: Man Robbed While Talking to Someone Impersonating City Worker Information supplied by the Royal Oak Police Department for the week of Aug. 16-23. PHOTOS: New Nose Revealed for Girl Attacked by …

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City Approves Ethics Investigation Over Arts, Beats & Eats Controversy

Royal Oak City Commissioners want an outside investigator to determine whether Commissioner Jim Rasor has violated any laws or ordinances.

The Royal Oak City Commission approved an independent investigation to determine whether the actions of one its members constitute a conflict interest or an ethics violation at a special meeting at City Hall Friday evening. Mayor Pro Tem Patricia Capello, who requested the special meeting along with Commissioner Peggy Goodwin, described receiving an anonymous letter on Aug. 14 that alleged inappropriate actions on the part of Commissioner Jim Rasor with regards to an Arts, Beats & Eats (ABE) parking station operation. Capello, who found the letter unsettling, followed up with City Manager Don Johnson who established Rasor had applied for an ABE parking station license for the former Fresard property.  The Main Street property was recently …

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Fullbright

12:38 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

Don: All of us here at the Institute "DVR" city commission meetings and them play them backwards as they were intended. Ironically, we have been able to divine that you and Wolf are examples of retro-evolution, and are evolving into simpler single-celled plants without nervous systems. Although you have plenty of sap.   more ›