Council Ready to Work Together, Move Forward After Troy Mayor Recall

In Troy, where embattled Mayor Janice Daniels was recalled Tuesday by Troy residents, the remaining six City Council members are now faced with the task of appointing a mayor to serve until the Nov. 5, 2013 city election.

And while some Troy residents are concerned about Council's ability to work as a team – especially after a highly contentious split vote on the transit center in December and a split vote on a recent amendment to the city's distracted driving ordinance – council members are assuring Troy residents they are ready and willing to work together to move the city forward.

"That we're a split council, that’s a perception people have rather than understanding everyone on council wants to do what’s best for the city," Councilman Doug Tietz said. "Most of the time, we all agree."

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Mayor Pro Tem Maureen McGinnis, who will likely be sworn in Thursday as acting Mayor of Troy, said she is confident in Council's ability to move on after the recall.

“I really am looking forward to the six of us coming together," McGinnis said. "We’re going through a process new to all of us. I think we’re going to be able to come to the table and have an open and honest discussion to choose the best person."

She added that the recall, while successful, was still a close vote for Troy residents, and she understands that some residents may be dissatisfied with the results.

“It was close, and I’m sure people voted yes and no for a lot of different reasons, so I don’t really know how people are going to be reacting at the council meeting," she said. "I’m hoping we can really focus on the future and come together to go through this process to find a replacement."

Councilman Dane Slater, who is slated to take over as acting Mayor of Troy at Monday's Troy City Council meeting, said he feels confident the remaining six Council members have the city's best interest in mind.

"I’ve talked with five out of six council members since the recall happened, and we’re all on the same page," Slater said. "We are not going to move backward. We’re going to move forward. I’m very, very optimistic the six of us are going to work well together."

“I think the distractions are gone," agreed Councilman Jim Campbell. "It’s not to say we’ll agree on anything, but at this point, there’s going to be more of a team effort to get the city back on track, the council back on track, and get somebody in there who’s acceptable to Council and the people of Troy.”

Council has demonstrated its ability to work together in recent months by unanimously voting to appoint a new city manager, voting 6-1 to approve the construction manager at risk contract for the Troy Transit Center project (Daniels was the only dissenting vote), and making many other decisions unanimously or nearly unanimously.

“I think we just need to treat each other with respect and cooperate and do what’s best for the city," Tietz said. "I think all the City Council members have the best interest of the city in mind, and that’s the most important thing."

“We’ve had enough negativity to last for a lifetime," Slater said. "You’re going to see a lot of positive things happening in Troy now.”

What's next

Mayor Pro Tem Maureen McGinnis will be sworn in as acting Mayor of Troy as soon as the Oakland County Board of Canvassers certify Tuesday's election, which could happen as early as today.

At Monday's Troy City Council meeting, the role of Mayor Pro Tem will rotate, as it does every November, to the next council member in line, which is Councilman Dane Slater. Slater would then be sworn in as acting Mayor of Troy unless council amends its Rules of Procedure, which are also up for review at Monday's meeting.

Then, Troy City Council has until Dec. 11 to appoint a replacement mayor to serve until the November 2013 city election. If a sitting Council member is appointed mayor by a majority vote, Council must appoint a replacement council member to serve until the November 2013 city election.