GROWING PAINS

Word has it that Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chair Dave Woodward (and staff) are working overtime up at 1200 Telegraph Road, Oakland County headquarters, at the chair’s behest in order to push lots of new initiatives after decades of Republican board dominance. As one unnamed commissioner alleges, the new Democratic chair is cracking the whip, leaving some staff short-handed and overworked. The change is part of a transformation Woodward announced after being elected chair by the new Democrat-majority board (11-10) in January to move from a rubber-stamp on executive decisions from county executive L. Brooks Patterson to an independent entity. Meanwhile, buzz from inside the hive is that worker bees are adjusting to the changes with pride as the board attempts to take a bit of the sting out by authorizing new positions.