I sat down with Brian Bertka, a longtime Farmington Hills, Michigan resident, for a recent episode of I Can See Clearly Now to talk through a series of municipal events that unfolded quietly during the holiday season but raised important questions about transparency in local government.
Brian has lived in Farmington Hills for roughly forty years and has closely followed city affairs during that time. Our conversation focused on a special City Council meeting that was scheduled with limited explanation, postponed shortly thereafter, and followed by the cancellation of the city’s annual goal setting meeting without a publicly stated reason. While each of these actions may be permissible on its own, taken together they prompted concern about how information was being shared.
When I asked Brian for his initial reaction, he framed the issue in terms of public trust rather than politics or personalities.
“When I first learned of it, I got very concerned because I think the biggest issue here is transparency.”
Brian Bertka
Throughout our discussion, Brian emphasized that transparency is not simply a procedural ideal. In his view, it is a practical obligation owed to residents who rely on clear communication from their local government.
“This is our government, and we deserve the transparency for the government to provide all the information to us.”
Brian Bertka
One element that stood out in our conversation was the uneven flow of information. According to what we discussed, notice of the special meeting was not distributed uniformly to all council members. Brian described this as especially concerning given the potential subject matter and the timing of the meeting.
“The fact that an email went out to only a couple of the council members, and not all, is the first red flag.”
Brian Bertka
We also explored why these questions extend beyond meeting schedules and calendars. Farmington Hills operates under a council manager form of government, where the city manager oversees daily operations across multiple departments. Any disruption at that level, Brian noted, can create uncertainty well beyond City Hall.
“This is a significant change to our city.”
Brian Bertka
Brian acknowledged that City Council has the legal authority to meet privately on personnel matters. His concern centered on what follows those discussions, particularly when decisions may affect administrative continuity and long term planning.
This episode of I Can See Clearly Now is part of an ongoing effort to provide Farmington Hills, Michigan residents with clear context on municipal governance and public process, especially in moments when communication is limited or unclear. By examining how decisions are communicated, not just what decisions are made, the series aims to help residents better understand how their local government functions.
