More Charter Change Information Now Available Thanks to CFF Forum
(Crystal A. Proxmire)
Citizens for a Fair Ferndale, a group dedicated to giving non-partisan information about election issues when the National Organization of Women (NOW) is unable to hold a forum due to their guidelines, held a forum on the upcoming ballot question of whether Ferndale should change the City Charter to give administrative responsibilities to the City Manager.
The forum, held Oct. 23, 2010 at the Ferndale Public Library, gave representatives from each side of the issue an opportunity to present their sides. Citizens for a More Responsive City Government is a group of residents organized to encourage voters to support the change. Approximately 90 residents have formally and publically committed to voting “yes” on the change. They were represented by Councilperson Scott Galloway at the forum. Tom Gagne, who led the petition drive to repeal the change when Council approved it earlier this year, spoke on behalf of those opposed.
To view the forum in its entirety, download it at: http://blip.tv/file/get/PRESENTS-FerndaleCharterAmendment2010Forum495.mov.
To read the Citizens for a More Responsive City Government’s position paper in favor of the change, see: http://fairferndale.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/CFF-Forum-Materials-10.20-Galloway-1.pdf. The group also has a website, at: www.ferndalechange.com.
To read Tom Gagne’s position paper opposing the change, see: http://fairferndale.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/CFF-Forum-Materials-10-22-10-Gagne.pdf. Gagne also has a blog about many topics, including this one, at:
The Ferndale 115 News has been committed to presenting both sides of this issue so that readers can make up their own minds. Our most recent article, which announced the CFF Forum, also gives links to prior coverage – https://oaklandcounty115.com/2010/10/15/1094charterissue/. Back in June we were the first to report Council’s decision – http://www.ferndale115.com/20100616powershift.html. And in July we brought you information about the petition circulated by the Gagne’s to repeal it – http://www.ferndale115.com/20100701ord1094.html.
The election will be held Nov. 2, 2010. Those wanting up to the minute poll results can get them at http://www.oakgov.com/clerkrod/elections/
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