Letters, 10-7-09

Letters, 10-7-09

Published: Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Commissioners differ over decor I must respond to The Macomb Daily article on Oct. 2 regarding my office at the County Building In 1998, the Macomb County Administration building was constructed so that the Macomb County Board of Commissioners and other departments could have more office space to operate efficiently. The layout for the ninth floor, which houses the Board of Commissioners, includes 13 individual offices, a conference room, meeting room, library and several other areas for general office equipment. The 13 offices have historically been used by the board chair, vice-chair and committee chairpersons as a place to conduct county business. A floor plan chart shows the names of each commissioner occupying an office. Some are committee chairs and some are commissioners who are not assigned to a chair position. They have simply moved into an empty office for convenience. The commissioners who occupy an office are generally the type of commissioners who need a place of business to address county matters. Because I have been named chair of the Public Services Committee, I am responsible for meeting with department heads to address county issues. Just as other chairpersons have their own office, I have found it necessary to occupy my own. It makes it much easier and more time efficient for department heads to meet me at my office. The Macomb Daily stated that I “commandeered” an office or went “against protocol.” While those colorful words could make the stories more spicy, there could be nothing further from the truth. The office that I moved into belonged to former commissioner Betty Slinde. Slinde was the longest serving commissioner in Macomb County and moved into her office as soon as the building was constructed. When she retired from politics, I simply moved into her empty office. I was even issued my own key. I decorated the office with personal items. One item was a picture of “James Bond 007” and the other was a picture of “Legally Blonde.” Since I am in the movie business, I plan on meeting with people in the movie industry at my office. For many years I have been trying to entice film producers to come to Macomb County. I even flew to Hollywood, at no cost to the county, last year to try and persuade a movie producer to shoot his next film in Macomb County. Since then, several movies have been shot in Macomb County, including “Gran Torino.”Apparently, County Board of Commissioners Chairman Paul Gieleghem did not want my movie pictures hanging in my office. He issued a memo stating our offices “should not be decorated with personal belongings that diminish or compromise the professionalism of the board office.” While I respect Gieleghem’s opinion, I totally disagree with him. I believe that offices shouldn’t be bare, but rather somewhere where the occupants can express themselves and their guests can feel at ease. I believe in the First Amendment and, unless something is obscene, you should be able to display it. My office atmosphere makes it fun to come to work and fun for my guests to enjoy. Other commissioners and employees have said that it “livens the place up” and “refreshes people” around the office.Gieleghem and I are at odds as to what personal items would “diminish or compromise the professionalism of the board office.” Therefore, I have chosen to let the court decide. Should the court decide in Gieleghem’s favor, I will remove the pictures. But until then, the pictures will remain. This could all be avoided if Gieleghem would just ease up.The Board of Commissioners has major budget issues to address. I believe that the least of our worries should be about what pictures I have hanging in my office. Carey Torrice Macomb County commissioner