| Author | Message | ||
| William AkbarX |
Well Well another surprise special meeting.After attending this meeting (Oct28,2004)I had the chance to meet our Highland Park new appointed City Administrator.However this person does not replace our Mayor we elected,and knowing this appointee's administrative background,HE is not here to replace our honorable Mayor Titus McClary.Hopefully our Mayor and Mr Parks will be able to re-establish Highland Park as a city once again.To bring our city back alive again is not about race or about where a person come from it's about moving forward.If it's such a big thing about outsiders coming into our city,why was sec 7-20 of our city charter changed a few administrations ago,which allowed people from the outside of Highland Park to come into our city to work,and then go back to where ever they live? Let's take a reality check and review the city situation as it really is,and ask yourself what can be done to help make things better.Instead of moaning & groining all the time. | ||
| Darwin Parks
|
Hello, everyone! I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone at the October 28, 2004, City Council meeting who welcomed me to the Highland Park community as your new City Administrator. Your kind words and efforts to help me become familiar with Highland Park are very much appreciated. I will be officially starting as City Administrator on Monday, November 29. A little bit about myself...I have 14 years of experience in municipal government as a City Manager. Most recently, I have served as City Manager and chief administrative officer for the City of Richmond in Macomb County for the past 6-1/2 years. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services with a concentration in Public Administration and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. I was born in Avon Township, Michigan (now the City of Rochester Hills), to my parents, Roger McClary and Marion Parks, and I grew up in Oxford. I come from a large family with 7 sisters and 3 brothers. I am 38 years old and am married under Canadian law to my same-sex partner of 9 years, James. We have an 11-year-old son, Shane, who is in the fifth grade and loves playing video games and riding his bike (sounds like almost any kid, huh?). The Lord and my family are very, very important to me. I am a person who is upfront and honest and will always be straight with you on what is happening in your city government, and I appreciate the same honesty and forthrightness from those with whom I come into contact. If, for some reason, I cannot talk publicly about a matter, I will explain to you why I cannot discuss the matter. I love people, and I believe strongly that celebrating and embracing human diversity and individual uniqueness and promoting and protecting human rights is what makes a strong community. I believe very strongly that the rule of law applies equally to city officials and citizens, and I insist that city staff adhere to high ethical standards in their positions of public trust. City staff and citizens can expect the same from me. I believe in democratic local government in which elected officials make policy decisions and city administration impartially carries out the policy decisions of the elected officials, and I believe that one of the primary roles of government is to promote social equity. I believe in open government that is responsive to the needs and desires of its citizens. Highland Park is currently in severe financial distress and is under the financial control of the State of Michigan under Act 72. However, I am very confident that, with hard work and dedication by all, we will be successful in eventually stabilizing the fiscal condition and restoring full local control. That is one of my top priorities as your City Administrator. I am so excited about the opportunity to serve as your City Administrator and to work closely with Honorable Mayor McClary, City Council, city staff, the good citizens of Highland Park, and the Highland Park business community. I truly believe that Highland Park is destined for better times ahead, and I am proud to be able to be even a small part of a great team of people who are dedicated to providing the highest quality public services for our citizens as cost effectively as possible. My promise to you is that I will work tirelessly to be an effective, responsive, and accessible City Administrator, and I look forward to getting to know all of you! Please feel free to post any questions you may have for me on this web page, and I would be most happy to do my best to answer your questions. Darwin Parks | ||
| Jennifer B. McConico |
Congratulations Mr. Parks, My husband and I look forward to meeting with you and discussing how we can all work together to move Highland Park forward. I am a life long highland parker, with a true love for the city. Jennifer B. McConico & State Representative Bill McConico | ||
| Patrick McClelland
|
As a current member of the H.P Police and Fire Association Executive Board and as a 30 year veteran of the department I can certainly say I have seen it all in Highland Park.I wish you nothing but success in your efforts to rebuild this once great city.If their is anything I can do to assist you in my capacity please feel free to call upon me | ||
| William AkbarX |
Welcome Mr Parks to Highland Park.Highland Park is in the need of a turn around,and I support anything that's positive that will help my City.As you know in Politics there will be some ups and downs so welcome to the club.There is people who is nothing but talk once they get in office,and Darwin I know you can handle them.In the upcoming year I hope to be able to share some of the community concerns with you,and with the help of our current City administration things will work out for the best interest of the community. |
