Good luck to manager

Now that the job of Howell township manager is his on a permanent basis, we wish Bruce Davis well and hope that once the honeymoon is over, there won’t be a return to Howell politics past.

In the words of Councilman Fritz Kirchhof, "Howell had gotten a reputation for revolving doors when it came to managers."

Indeed, Davis, who has been Howell’s municipal clerk for almost 24 years, is the seventh person to fill the position of manager since Howell changed its form of government in 1994.

Mayor Timothy J. Konopka has characterized Davis as "articulate, intelligent and an effective manager." Of Davis’ performance of the duties of manager over the past year, the mayor said that had been a "test" and that Davis "passed it with flying colors."

Davis’ interim tenure in the position over the past year has been remarkable in that it has seemingly been a year of welcome civility and functionality in the Howell municipal work-a-day world and its attendant politics.

Council members come and go — such are the vicissitudes of politics. However, the township manager will, expectedly, be there after those who appointed him are not.

To paraphrase Konopka, it appears the Township Council members may have found their "treasure" in Davis.

Let us hope for the community’s sake that future administrations will continue to rely on Davis for his "experience, expertise and what he brings to the table," to quote Konopka.

Konopka, Kirchhof and Councilman George Pettignano have said Davis has been effective because he is a good delegator who has a great support group and that there is nobody who knows the town better than he. Davis, they say, brings experience and knows the town’s major players.

In pronouncing the township now in "good shape," Konopka noted that previous administrations relied on Davis.

Here’s to hoping things stay that way and that Davis continues to "truly enjoy" what he is doing and will be allowed to, in his words, "continue to do what I do — just do my job."