Letter: After Sweeping Election, Oakland Township Needs a Transition Plan

Letter to the Editor:

Approximately one month ago, the citizens of Oakland Township, in a dually elected process, asked for a change in their township leadership.  One week after this sweeping election, a Board of Trustee monthly meeting was held. During the open comment period of the meeting, I requested that the current Board of Trustees direct the Township manager to develop a transition plan for an orderly transition of township government.  I made this request as both a citizen and property owner within Oakland Township, and that it be presented by August 31, 2012, to all involved parties.

After conferring with some of the newly elected officials, it has come to my attention that no transition plan has been developed, but that there has been one meeting with the Township manager.  When I questioned Supervisor Fogler on this issue on September 4, 2012, she informed me, in no uncertain terms, that she has no intention of having such a plan developed or implemented.  It’s very disheartening to think that our Township Supervisor, Mrs. Fogler, who has given years of service to the citizens, has taken this position.

As I noted during the August Board of Trustees meeting, one of the greatest things about our Founding Fathers, and the representative republic that was put in place, is the peaceful transition of power in this country.    No where in the history of mankind has such a system been successfully implemented, or endured.  I am asking one more time, in this forum, that Mrs. Fogler step up and honor her commitment and legacy by putting together the transition team, and present it to the incoming, recently elected Board.

I look forward to hearing a good report at the next Board meeting, which will be held on September 11, 2012.  If you feel as strongly as I do about this issue, please contact Supervisor Fogler directly through www.oaklandtownship.org or via Oakland Township email at jfog36@sbcglobal.net.

Respectfully,

John H. Markel, Oakland Township

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