DEPARTING COMMISSIONERS: Board honors fellow commissioners for years of service

The Oakland County Board of Commissioners honored the service of departing Commissioners John A. Scott (second from left) and Robert Gosselin (far right) on Thursday, Dec. 8, during the Board’s last meeting of the year held in the Oakland County Board of Commissioners’ Auditorium in Pontiac.  On hand to thank the commissioners for their years of service were Board Vice Chairman Michael Spisz (far left) and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson (second from right).

– Photo by John Meiu

 

The Oakland County Board of Commissioners honored the service of departing Commissioners Robert Gosselin and John A. Scott on Thursday, Dec. 8, during the Board’s last meeting of the year. The meeting was held in the Oakland County Board of Commissioners’ Auditorium in Pontiac. Gosselin and Scott will be leaving the Board at the end of the current term on December 31st.

Commissioner Robert Gosselin was elected to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners in November 2006 and began serving his two-year term in January 2007.  He is a Republican representing portions of the cities of Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills, and Troy located in District #11.

Gosselin currently serves as the Board of Commissioners’ Planning & Building Committee’s vice chairperson, as a member of the General Government Committee and serves as the chairperson of the Oakland County Coordinating Zoning Committee.

During his 10-years of service, as an Oakland County commissioner, Gosselin worked with his colleagues to build on Oakland County’s long record of fiscal responsibility.  He has been a strong advocate for reducing the cost of government, maintaining Oakland County’s excellent AAA- Bond Rating and supporting long- term balanced budgets.

Gosselin worked successfully with Oakland County Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard to create the Operation Medicine Cabinet effort in Oakland County.

In 2014, Gosselin led a bipartisan study group of the Board of Commissioners tasked with gathering information about the Detroit Water and Sewer Department’s finances. The study group looked at the effect of a regional authority on water and sewer rates and obtained feedback from county residents as a result of a series special town hall meetings hosted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. Gosselin worked closely with the county administration and regional leaders to advocate for transparency and fairness for rate payers during the creation of the Great Lakes Water Authority.

Before joining the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, he served as a Troy City Council member from 1993 to 1997 and was a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002 and 2005 to 2006. While in the House, he chaired the Labor Relations Training and Safety Committee. During his legislative career, Gosselin sponsored legislation that secured $2 million for the Rails-to-Trails–Clinton River Trail, led a successful effort to block state funded jet aircraft for state elected officials and advocated for legislation that would end sales tax on gasoline purchases over  $1.20 per gallon.

Commissioner John A. Scott began serving his two-year term on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners in January 2003, following his election in November 2002. He is a Republican who represents the City of Keego Harbor, the City of Orchard Lake Village, the City of Sylvan Lake, and portions of Waterford Township, and West Bloomfield Township located in District #5.

Scott currently serves as the Personnel Appeal Board chairperson and as a member of the Board of Commissioners’ Planning & Building Committee, Public Services Committee, Coordinating Zoning Committee and the Parks and Recreation Commission. Scott served in many other leadership capacities during his tenure on the Board, including: as a member of the General Government and Finance Committees. He was chairman of the Human Resources Committee, chairperson of the Airport Committee, and chairperson of the Sanitary Code Appeal Board.

As chairperson of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) from 2012-2013, Scott was a leading voice for local governments in the region.

Scott has been a strong voice for fiscal responsibility and transparency during his service. He led efforts on the Board of Commissioners to object to the use of taxpayers funds for excessive compensation increases and bonuses for executives at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Scott was one of two veterans currently serving on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. He honorably served his nation as a United States Navy Cryptotech Petty Officer during the Vietnam War from 1970 to 1971. 

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