This 17 page explanation from Road Commission found on Brandon Township website is mostly accurate. One can question how effectively RCOC uses their small funds – a different story.
Click to access Road_Maintenance_and_Funding_guide.pdf
The key thing to know is that our Board has little sway over roads unless they were to increase our taxes and take over from the County, which State Law prevents them from doing unless we vote to become a city, not a remain township.
Resident Marty McQuade recently sent this letter to Supervisor Mike Bailey and our Township Board.
McQuade Letter – OTFD Deficiencies – 12-10-2017
It expresses his concern about the slow pace of addressing Fire Department manpower issues. With his background as the top corporate executive for the Dupont Co Automotive Division in Detroit, Mr. McQuade some did volunteer consulting for the Fire Chief. The resulting 10-Year Strategic Operating Plan was presented to a Fire subcommittee and Township Manager by the Fire Chief in late 2015. I was there. This draft plan was never accepted, rejected nor even discussed at any Board Meeting.
OTFD 10 Yr. Strategic Operating Plan (2)
I attempted to get our past year’s EMS ambulance response time data report with Freedom of Information Request #1756. My request was denied. The denial letter said that this data contains patient information that is confidential under HIPAA. Since, in recent FOIA 1747, I received similar response time data for the period 10/1/15 to 5/31/16 and it contained no confidential patient information, I am appealing this denial as allowed under FOIA laws. A Special Meeting was set for Wednesday at 3 PM. One wonders why this could not have been scheduled for the regular meeting.
I assume there was some confusion on the part of whoever denied my recent request. Although the Deputy Clerk writes the denial letter, I assume that others actually write the response for her. For example, Attorney Dan Kelly told me recently that he sees all FOIA requests
Dale Stuart, our Township Manager, will be commenting at the end of tomorrow’s Board of Trustees Meeting (very long agenda) on the status of planning by Fire Department to improve EMS and fire responses. This is according to comments today by Township Supervisor Mike Bailey. He did not reveal he contents of Mr. Sturt’s remarks.
The chain of command for operations is that Fire Chief / Emergency Manager Paul Strelchuk reports to Township Manager Dale Stuart who reports to the seven member Board of Trustees. Our understanding is that “Fire Management” is making the plans. We take this to mean Township Manager Dale Stuart, Chief Paul Strelchuk and Assistant According to Township Supervisor Mike Bailey, Chief Lou Danek.
The meeting can be seen on Channel 17, on the Township website live or later on videotape.
This email was sent out today.
To:
Mike Bailey
Township Supervisor
Oakland Township
cc: Board of Trustees, Dale Stuart, Paul Strelchuk, Lou Danek
Subject: Request for Supervisor to add an agenda item at 12/12/17 Board of Trustees meeting – “Set deadline for initial report (description of problems) on fire and EMS response times”
I ask that you add an agenda item allowing a motion to be made at 12/12/17 Board meeting that “Fire Management should present, no later than the January 9, 2018 Board meeting, a description of the fire and EMS response time problems. This should include response time historical data to illustrate the problems and serve as a baseline to judge the effect of any changes in the “response protocol”
I am disappointed that a report Chief Strelchuk and Assistant Chief Danek are not included on the agenda for the 12/12/17 Board of Trustees meeting. After 27 months it seems that now is the time for the Board to set some deadlines for this ongoing work to improve response times.
But, how can any solutions be pursued until Fire Management and the Board agree on the problem to be solved or improvement to be made? Defining a problem (with data if possible) and getting agreement on the level of improvement desired and by when before pursuing solutions, is standard industry practice in today’s world. The attached Chapter 16 “Project Charter” gives very good guidance on this point.
We have been quite properly reminded that the “Board speaks through its motions”, when we have tried to hold the Board accountable for a statement from an individual Board member.
What follows is the entire Board record on this issue – one motion and two statements by individuals. The Board has assigned nothing specific to be done via a motion.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AUGUST 25, 2015 – REGULAR MEETING PAGE 4 of 5
“1. Chief Strelchuk – 10-Year Strategic Operating Plan
MOTION by Langlois, supported by Reilly to form a subcommittee regarding a 10-Year Strategic Operating Plan for the Fire Department consisting of Trustees Ferriolo, Giannangeli and Buxar.
Motion carried unanimously.”
*****************
Dale Stuart, Township Manager, 11-4-2017 Board of Trustees Meeting, Video Chapter 11
“Recently there have been comments regarding the response time experienced by the fire department while responding to medical issues and fires. It has been proffered that the Oakland County medical control board has set certain standards as to acceptable response times for an ALS unit. That is true; there are such standards. Fire Management is currently re-evaluating its response protocol and exploring ways to improve all fire tactical operations. This is an ongoing exercise and one that we take seriously and that has been ongoing for some time. There is no simple, easy or quick way to deal with the various issues; but as we get those prepared we will deal with the fire subcommittee and the Township Board to provide to you what options we think are available. “
*******************
Mike Bailey, Township Supervisor, 11-4-2017 Board Trustees Meeting, Video Chapter 12
“And as Township Manager Stuart indicated, the Board awaits input from Chief Strelchuk and Assistant Chief Danek as to their plan to improve our EMS and Fire response times. That’s a matter of record and they are challenged to come back and tell us, the fire subcommittee first, and then the board what things they are going to be doing in that regard.”
As always, I stand ready to assist Fire Management with problem definition and/or data analysis if invited.
Voters have a right to understand these problems now, so they can input to the Board the fire / EMS response times they desire.
Bob Yager
12/9/17
I Am Against Enforcement Section 16-111 of Proposed Revised Zoning Ordinance #16
At the Tuesday, 12/12/17 Board of Trustees meeting, I will be speaking against the unduly abrupt enforcement process detailed in section 16-111. It says, “…enforcement shall follow the procedures set forth in Ordinance No. 80….”
Ordinance No. 80 says, in 02.03.00 –“ (1) An authorized official who witnesses a person violate an ordinance, the violation of which is a municipal civil infraction, shall prepare and subscribe, as soon as possible and as completely as possible, an original and three copies of a citation.”
The above proposed enforcement process contradicts both –
and –
(Below is from Michigan Municipal Law, by ICLE Chapter 9,” Ordinance Enforcement.” Section 9.3 “Ordinance Examples”)
“Zoning. Municipalities can adopt and enforce zoning ordinances as authorized by the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, MCL 125.3101 et seq. Most zoning violations have been decriminalized and are prosecuted as civil infractions. The primary goal in the enforcement of zoning regulations is to obtain compliance with the zoning ordinance, so tickets are written when letters, personal visits, and warnings have been disregarded. The imposition of fines and costs by the court is a dissatisfying result if the underlying zoning violation is not corrected. Personal visits by zoning enforcement officers are very important in establishing the factual basis of an alleged violation and in obtaining compliance. Photographs of the condition of the property are critical, because visual evidence of an unpaved parking area, a porch built into a setback area, or a car parked on the front lawn are powerful evidence of the violation. Warning letters or notices advising the owner or occupant of a zoning violation help obtain compliance and are good evidence of delay in responding to requests for compliance. Unless required by local code, letters and notices of zoning violations do not have to be sent by certified mail.
A notice of a zoning violation may very well be an order or determination of the zoning official that can be appealed to the local zoning board of appeals before a citation is issued. The interpretation of the zoning ordinance usually is handled by the zoning board of appeals, if an appeal is filed to request the interpretation. The property owner or occupant does not have to wait for a ticket and a court hearing to receive an interpretation of the zoning ordinance. ”
I will also speak against the section that makes you a first offender, subject to a misdemeanor on a subsequent “violation”, even if your first ticket is dismissed. See below 16-111(1).
Here is the proposed section 16-111 that the Board will be voting on.
Feel free to support me in my remarks.
No, I am not running for anything. I just want fair and respectful treatment for me and my fellow citizens.
Bob Yager
12/8/2017
RochestreAn ad-hoc study committee has been asked by Rochester City Council to study how to provide future services and funding in light of a “development boom”. Specifically to study –
The committee consists of
Calls have risen dramatically –
| Year | Calls | Fire Stations | Firefighters / EMS (Paid-on-Call) | Budget |
| 2008 | 520 | 1 | 27 | |
| 2016 | 1626 | 1 | ||
| 2017 (estimated total calls)) | 1900 | 1 | 45 | $1,330,000 |
Rochester is 3.83 square miles in area, about 10.4% of Oakland Township area. Population is estimated in 2016 at 13,017 with a 43% increase in seniors from 2008 to 2016.
Sources of information “Downtown Rochester”, December 2017, pages 35, 46 and Wikipedia census data.
Planning Commission will review the exact wording of the proposed changes to six sections of the Zoning Ordinance that they voted to make at their 11-7-2017 meeting. I am most interested in section 16-111 Enforcement. See the changes in “red line format” in the meeting packet here.
https://www.ecode360.com/documents/OA3183/public/405306789.pdf
Via the email seen at this link: EMS Response Time Email to Board,
I have suggested to our Board of Trustees that they take action aimed at improving our Fire Department EMS ambulance response time to meet the 6 or 8 minute Oakland County standard.
To that end I have asked them to make public their data at 12/12 meeting that would:
• Form a data base line for detecting improvement.
• Alert residents to the issue in a quantitative way.
• Further Board goals of transparency.
Below is the limited data I have. This shows EMS response times for previous 6 months running in early 2016. I am suggesting that this graph be extended 19 months to the present to form a baseline to judge the effect of any improvement programs that are implemented.
For those willing to take a “deep dive” into this issue I refer you to this Oakland Township Sentinel webpage: “EMS Response Time Improvement Project” under the “Fire / EMS Dept.” Menu.
Fire Dept. Manpower – What is the Current Fire / EMS Manpower Situation?
Details of Oakland Township staffing
Station#1 – Collins Rd.
1 Paramedic / Firefighter 24/7. This takes three full-time personnel each working (24×7)/3 = 56 hours per week each.
Station#2 – Rochester Rd.
1 Paramedic / Firefighter 24/7. This takes three full-time personnel each working (24×7)/3 = 56 hours per week each.
During daytime hours these two are also on duty at Station #2, if not attending county meetings.
Paul Strelchuk – Fire Chief
Greg Ball – Paramedic / Firefighter / EMS Coordinator
Greg does it all. He was driving the fire truck to our last fire on Bear Creek Ct.
This chart below shows the staffing per station for Oakland Township and four similar townships. This data was collected by the Fire Department and included in a 10-Year Strategic Plan that was never reviewed by the Board of Trustees and therefore neither accepted nor rejected.
The fire Department web page shows our Fire / EMS personnel qualifications and year of hire: http://www.oaklandtownship.org/township_departments/fire_department/personnel.php
Oakland Township Sentinel 