At the Farmington City Council meeting that was videotaped but may never be aired, resident Ken Ciara raised a good point in public comment, one that deserves consideration as we receive the results of a shared services/merger study due in 2008.
The company retained by Oakland County to conduct the study is Plante Moran, a nation-wide consulting firm with a mile-long list of awards and honors, both for the company and individuals employed there. Take a look at the company’s Web site, you’ll learn their core values and find a list of principles that have no doubt propelled Plante Moran into the position as the nation’s 11th largest certified public accounting and business advisory firm. These are people who have been trusted by private firms and public entities for decades.
This kind of business is built on reputation. The proof of the company’s high ethical standards lies in its success.
Still, one has to wonder: Was Plante Moran really the best company to hire to study the possible merger of two cities who are both PM clients?
The question here isn’t reality, it’s perception. This study may well be the most controversial in city history, and the results will no doubt be closely scrutinized by residents. Mightn’t it have been better to have hire a firm with no ties to either city?
Ken acknowledged that he was bringing his concern public late in the game, but he did bring it up earlier to city officials. It probably wouldn’t have stopped the hiring process. But it does seem worth noting.
–Joni Hubred-Golden
Michigan Woman Blogger
In government and politics, as it is in marketing – perception is everything. More thought should have been given to this time-honored maxim during the selection process, and explanation offered as to the final pick, if only to show residents and voters that their officials, elected and otherwise take seriously how the public perceives them, and that they are willing to go the “extra mile” to prove it.
The reason that Plante & Moran was chosen was the fact that they know both cities’ fianances very well, and have a intimate knowledge of how our cities work. They work closely with personnel from both cities and departments to do the audits and to prepare their reports. This gives them the ability to see what works, and what each city’s strengths and weaknesses are. To bring in another firm would have been more expensive and time consuming, due to the time needed to have them examine all facets of each city and really to start from scratch. This means it would have cost the county more, and maybe would have limited or even prevented the study from happening in the first place. I was in support of Plante & Moran because they have been working with each city for so many years. They also have to be objective– that is what is required of them to be able to perform their audits of our books and to find issues or problems. So I don’t think this is an issue, I believe that this actually helps lend more credence to the entire process.
Randy Bruce
Council Member
Farmington Hills