Discussing Government Transparency and Trust with Former Farmington Hills Mayor Ken Massey

Former Mayor Jerry Ellis: "It's Like Trying to Sneak Something Through Behind Everybody's Back"

In this second conversation with former Mayor Jerry Ellis, we get into the structural safeguards that have kept Farmington Hills stable for decades - and why they're being undermined right now. Jerry explains the "weak mayor, strong city manager" system our charter established: the mayor runs meetings and cuts ribbons, period. No administrative power. Seven equal votes. It's worked "to perfection" for 25 years by keeping partisan politics and power grabs out of city operations. So what changed between the November election and December 17th? Jerry heard the same rumors I did - that the mayor wants to consolidate power, extend her term to four years, and replace not just the city manager but potentially the police chief, fire chief, and city clerk. "I was sick when I heard it," Jerry tells me. He also confirms what's been nagging at me: City Manager Gary Machin received positive performance evaluations and yearly raises. There's no documented cause for termination. When you schedule secret meetings over the holidays, cancel the strategic planning session where department heads get their annual direction, and exclude council members from knowing what's happening, you're not governing - you're grabbing power. Jerry spent 20 hours a week as mayor during the Great Recession, took a pay cut from his law practice, and never once tried to run the city's daily operations. That wasn't his job. Public service means respecting the system that works, not breaking it to serve your own ambitions.

Former Mayor Jerry Ellis: "If They Can Do This to the City Manager, They Can Do It to Anybody"

In this episode, I sit down with Jerry Ellis, attorney and former mayor of Farmington Hills who served our community for 25 years. Jerry doesn't mince words - scheduling a Friday afternoon meeting at 4pm without telling all council members the purpose is "totally unacceptable" and "like trying to do something behind everybody's back." As someone who helped structure our city charter and steered Farmington Hills through the Great Recession, Jerry knows what good government looks like. We discuss how secrecy and exclusion destroy the foundation this city was built on - nonpartisan cooperation and mutual respect among council members. Jerry shares stories from his time in office, like having a vigorous public debate with Councilwoman Nancy Bates over childcare facilities, then taking her out to dinner afterwards. That's how it's supposed to work. When council members can disagree respectfully and still break bread together, you have healthy governance. Jerry also addresses what happens when employees see their city manager targeted in a clandestine manner: "If they can do this to the city manager, they can do it to me." Morale goes to the floor. For someone who managed workforce reductions during the recession without mass layoffs - treating employees like family while saving the city $2 million annually - Jerry understands that trust flows downhill. Break it at the top, and you've broken your entire organization.

Discussing Economic Stability and City Management with Former Mayor Ken Massey

In this second conversation with former Mayor Ken Massey, we get into the nuts and bolts of how Farmington Hills government actually functions - and why that matters to your wallet and your property values. Ken explains why the mayor has no administrative power beyond running meetings, how the city manager oversees everything from our Triple-A bond rating to snowplow routes, and why political disruption at the top doesn't just stay at the top. We discuss real examples: how stability helped attract Nissan's $45 million crash test facility, why our police department ranks as one of the safest in the nation, and how creative solutions like brine pre-treatment saved taxpayers money while cutting salt usage by 60%. Ken also addresses something that's been bothering me - if City Manager Gary Machin received a positive performance evaluation and a raise back in March, why the sudden push to terminate him just weeks after an election where management changes weren't even mentioned? The disconnect is troubling. When businesses are deciding whether to invest millions here, when your property values depend on the commercial-residential tax split, and when department heads are questioning their job security, government instability isn't just a political inside-baseball issue. It affects every resident's quality of life and financial bottom line.

Eugene Greenstein: Why Firing the City Manager Without Cause Creates Organizational Chaos

In this second conversation with Eugene Greenstein, we dig into what happens after the coup attempt - the lasting damage to city governance. Eugene doesn't sugarcoat it: "We've destroyed the working relationships in council. It's gone beyond a decision on a city manager." Drawing on his experience managing major organizational transitions in the auto industry, Eugene explains why bringing in an outsider as city manager creates "jump ball" chaos - employees who spent years building relationships and reputations suddenly face uncertainty about whether they're next on the chopping block. He makes a critical point about process: if Gary Machin wasn't meeting goals, council members would know because their constituents would be calling. "This is the fourth week in a row the garbage hasn't been collected" - those complaints would reach every council member. But that's not happening. Eugene also addresses the practicalities nobody's talking about: Who becomes interim city manager? How long will a national search take? What happens to major decisions facing the city - like the senior center renovation that needs careful financial analysis? When you break trust at the top through secret meetings and exclusionary tactics, you can't suddenly come together to make wise decisions on complex issues. Eugene's assessment of Mayor Rich is blunt: "I have no reason to believe Theresa knows how to manage her way out of a paper bag. She's a lawyer." Running a law firm isn't running a city. We elected council members to hire a city manager who meets their goals - not to become managers themselves. Eugene's final warning: this chaos makes it impossible for council to do the hard work our city needs.

Discussing Government Transparency and Trust with Former Farmington Hills Mayor Ken Massey

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Ken Massey, former mayor and council member of Farmington Hills with over 20 years of public service experience. Ken brings both his political background and academic expertise from Wayne State University to help us understand what's really at stake when government operates in the shadows. We dissect what happened with that hastily-called December meeting - why excluding council members and hiding the agenda violates not just the Open Meetings Act's spirit, but the fundamental trust required for effective governance. Ken explains how Farmington Hills' council-manager form of government is supposed to work, why nonpartisan cooperation is essential at the local level, and what happens when that breaks down. He also addresses a critical point: if the city council can't work together with mutual respect, how do you attract quality professionals to serve as city manager with seven bosses who don't trust each other? This conversation goes beyond procedural complaints - it's about preserving the well-functioning government that's given Farmington Hills its strong reputation for decades. Ken stepped away from political life after serving his community, but like Cincinnatus, he still cares deeply about what happens here.