Thursday, May 6, 2010

The Plan

To understand why the alternative plans work and make sense, you first have to understand the problem. The Introduction of the plan explains the truth the city will not, for reasons that remain murky, address. Lest you think we're crazy and not credible, the Assistant City Manager, the financial manager, has admitted to us that our numbers are, "Essentially correct."

So read The Plan here.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

The plan looks good and is very different from what the "Z" man has. This should go out to all the citizens of Troy!

Anonymous said...

It is interesting that with all the privitizing and cutbacks that there are still two assistant city managers plus Manager Szerlag. With fewer employees and fewer departments how can this be justified?

I also am confused on why we still need highly compensated department heads. Why do these positions still exist at this high rate of pay when their departments are getting smaller or do not exist anymore (as of July 1st)?

Although we have an excellent police force, with today's financial issues is it necessary to have officers assigned to schools, community affairs, etc?
The city would still be safe without these "soft" positions.

With so many companies leaving the City, there's not nearly as many people within Troy during the day as there once was. Therefore, we should be able to have less police on the roads during the day.

It appears for many calls, two cars are sent each with one officer. Wouldn't two officers and one car make economic sense? Do we need as many cars as we have in our police fleet?

There is much cost cutting that could be done and the city would still be safe. Sterling Heights has fewer officers, a larger population, and more demographic differences. Their community is considered safe also. Perhaps we should check what they are doing to make things work rather than thinking we have the "perfect" solution to scheduling and manning our force.

Barry said...

Excellent comments. Thank you for making them. Councilman Howarylak made similar arguments during the last Council meeting. We're very top heavy. And it appears the long term employees with the fattest pension benefits stand the lose the most in our fair-share plan. That would explain why they are so opposed. Perhaps one or more of them would like to respond?

Regarding the PD comments, can you provide statistics regarding Sterling Heights PD? I've often noted not only two but as many as four or five TPD cruisers at traffic stops. It seems quite excessive. Of course, each situation is unique and no one wants to put an officer in danger. But as often as I've witnessed it, it's hard to believe they're always necessary. Again, your points about the SHPD are interesting. Perhaps Chief Mayer would respond. Chief?

marv rein said...

THE Troy POLICE and Fire Departments were b4 the City was a city.One of the orginal founding families,were the basic of the TROY,michigan FIRE and People and seems to be almost a family business, and many were hired with 'promise'a sure REtirements.and since 'public servants can REtire with full benifits sooner then the private sector,early as 52.can easily turn towards,,thinking of TAX wasted schemces,as a new career.example z-MAN COLLECTS ONLY 3 PENISons,papageorge,military,OAKLAND county,STATE ,AND many more penisons.in TROY THE Teachers r really RUDE.