The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Kayla M. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Observe a Local Meeting
On November 9, 2009, I attended the Troy City Council meeting. Mayor Louise Schilling called the meeting to order, and Father Ron Jozwiak from a local Catholic church gave the invocation, a prayer for the wisdom and direction of Almighty God as the council members strive to represent the people. The council, the public, and the police officers at the door stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and the meeting began.
Since this was the City Council's first meeting after election day on November 3, it opened with the installation of three new members to the council. Dane Slater, Maureen McGinnis and Wade Fleming took an oath to support the Constitutions of the United States and the state of Michigan, as well as the charter of the city of Troy "to the best of my ability, so help me God." After introducing their family members and friends in the audience, the three new council members took their places around the mayor. Mayor Schilling introduced a proposal for wording revision of the rules for selection of the mayor pro tem, and council members offered their opinions on it. Councilwoman Belltramini and Councilman Howrylak spoke against the proposal, pointing out that it completely changed the mayor pro tem policy. Howrylak referenced problems in the 1980s and 90s caused by similar proposals on mayor pro tem selection. Despite these members' arguments, the proposal passed when the city clerk took a vote. The council then appointed Wade Fleming as mayor pro tem for this year''s session.
Next on the agenda, the library manager gave her annual report on the Troy Public Library. She described the Radio Frequency ID program the library has adopted as an inventory and security system. After thanking volunteers and celebrating Troy citizens' record attendance to library programs, she mentioned kids' classes and adult computer classes whose popularity has grown. She closed with mention of the new Info Literacy for Job Seekers program, which trains citizens how to use library resources to find employment. Mayor Schilling then presented citizen Pam Brady with a certificate to recognize Troy for the America Recycles 2009 award. Both Schilling and Brady encouraged the public audience with the news that Troy recycled 4,375 tons of garbage and 10,000 tons of compost in the year 2009.
After addressing these items on the agenda, the council opened up the floor for public hearings, the most informal and interesting part of the meeting. Each of the speakers had 5 minutes to present their concerns to the council. First, two representatives from Troy Beaumont Hospital spoke briefly on a tax-exempt bonds issue. Next a man requested a millage increase because he was concerned that tax-fighting council members would close the library and community center. Finally, an angry man demonstrated the ugly side of democracy with his stormy, disjointed spouting of complaints against the mayor, council, and all citizens of Troy. This meeting opened my eyes to the wide spectrum of experiences in politics, everything from dry discussions of wording to lively library presentations to argumentative citizens presenting their views. And that was just the first page of the agenda.
