We received a letter from current Parks Commissioner Joseph Peruzzi regarding yesterday’s election, and the work preceding it. We thought we should share it with our readers. Here it is:
The August 2nd Primary was a true acid test for the heart and soul of Oakland Township. Fortunately, residents in our community came through with flying colors as demonstrated by their rejection of those who resorted to name calling, harassment and misleading statements over the past four years.
This column has reported in detail much of the controversial behavior on the part of some at township board meetings and Parks and Recreation meetings. Such reporting, supported in detail by the very words and actions on video of these perpetrators, had to be a monumental task for the creators of this column. Perseverance was the order of the day and township residents are better for it.
But as the saying goes “many hands make for light work,” such was the case in this election. Many hands did come forward to help in this election. Some came in the form of successful candidates standing for re-election. Other newcomers stepped up of their own accord to run for office in what obviously was going to be a hotly contested debate that pulled no punches when it came to name calling, vilification, disinformation, etc.
Other residents served behind the scenes to lend their support through funding and volunteering their time and talent that helped greatly to turn the tide in this township.
And of course, Oakland Township residents who voted in the primary must receive the greatest share of thanks for coming to the polls to support candidates for our Board of Trustees and Parks and Recreation Commission, and to help save our Parks Millage.
With that said now is the time for Oakland Township to once again begin the process of moving forward in serving the needs of residents and not the individual needs of certain politicians and political wannabes. It is time to work on consensus and not confrontation. It is time to truly recognize and appreciate the special characteristics of this beautiful township.
We are the stewards of this community—at least for a short while—and it is all our responsibility to preserve it the best we can for future generations. That is the best legacy we can pass on to our children and grandchildren.
Congratulations to those candidates who have been chosen to lead our community for the next four years. And congratulations to our residents who made that leadership possible.
Joseph Peruzzi
Parks Commmissioner
Well said Joe!
Richard Michalski
Oakland Township Watchers 
It is my hope that all of the newly successful candidates, remember the rules of being a fiduciary, and insure open transparency in the use of funds, The approvals of budgets, and the use of specific line items, or the off ledger spending on external consultants, legal and financial advisers, has to be made in open session and approved as such. This would go a long way to get some sensible discussion between competing factions, We do not need to have a very beautiful and successful township put at risk, by unwise growth plans. So do well and be sure to put the township first. Good luck to all of you.
Thanks also to Joe Peruzzi, Colleen Barkham, Dave Mackley and most especially Alice Tomboulian whose tireless commitment to the natural beauty of Oakland Township created our park system and kept improving it all these years. Their legacy has been passed to the new commissioners who have great models to follow. Thank you to the whole community of effort that restored our township yesterday. The future looks much brighter this morning!