Troy

County executive defends Troy city manager against mayor’s accusations

By Terry Oparka
C & G Staff Writer

Troy Mayor Janice Daniels’ comments about Troy City Manager John Szerlag prompted the top county official to defend the city manager.

Breaking with what he described as his longstanding policy of not getting involved in local issues, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson defended Szerlag from the “personal assault” on his character he said Daniels made in a paper about the Troy transit center.

In a Feb. 7 letter to the Troy mayor and City Council, Patterson said that Daniels’ position paper, which she read at the Jan. 9 council meeting, compelled him to respond to defend Szerlag.

Daniels’ position paper maintained that information disseminated by city management was politically one-sided in support of the transit center project, city staff had failed to keep the full council informed on the matter, and she had no confidence in Szerlag’s ability to continue to perform his duties.

Szerlag responded in writing to Daniels paper, which he said contained a number of “non-facts.” Daniels’ position paper and Szerlag’s response are available through the Troy City Clerk’s office, and more information about them is available at www.candgnews.com.

In Patterson’s letter, he said that “a dispute between two individuals does not render one of them suddenly incompetent to perform their duties.”

Patterson wrote that in almost 20 years as county executive, he’s worked with many city managers in Oakland County’s 61 communities, “and John stands out as simply one of the best.” Patterson said Szerlag is “knowledgeable, trustworthy, responsive and enjoys an excellent reputation not only within my administration, but within his peer group.”

Patterson said his staff has called upon Szerlag for advice from time to time on a number of issues.

“John Szerlag has my full support as outstanding city manager,” he wrote.

“I have a great deal of respect for L. Brooks Patterson,” Daniels said in an email response to the Troy Times. “He has been involved in government and politics for a very long time. I am new at this.

“Mr. Patterson and I had a brief but very cordial and delightful conversation yesterday (Feb. 14),” she said. “We are both looking forward to meeting one day this month so we can discuss my perspective and I can get his insight on the issues.”
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Terry Oparka at toparka@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1054.