After Announcing Retirement, Davis Ready For New Adventures

Ever since he was first convinced to run for the office of Township Clerk of Howell back in 1979, Bruce Davis has seen a lot of changes in the township. At 61, Davis has decided to see what else life has to offer him beyond the walls of Town Hall.

Originally elected to a three year term, Davis said the law was changed not long after winning the job as a republican. After being appointed by the council at that time the rest as they say is history and so, as he says was his political affiliation. In more than three decades, Davis said he has learned a lot about the job and the township. They are lessons that he keeps with him every day. "The biggest thing is you have to be impartial, you have to be neutral in this position," he said. "The fact that I was a republican ended when I got elected."

Over the course of his term Davis said he has been invited to any number of events from fundraisers to parties and other social activities, but has put his job in front of his personal life and beliefs. "I simply adopted the philosophy that I either go to everything, or I got to nothing. I chose to go to nothing." While he could have gone to those events, Davis said it is not a decision he has any regrets about. "I think that has served me well, that philosophy, because it kept me out of the political line of fire for the most part."

As the clerk, Davis said he was glad to be able to stay above the fray, but that was not always the case as he also played the role of Township Administrator and manager on several occasions. "When I was the administrator or the manager you get involved in subject matters that some people feel very passionate about," he said. "People are going to take shots at you, but pretty much as clerk, I've been left alone."

While he has sat in the same office in Town Hall as the clerk, Davis said the work he does could not have been done as well without the help of the other dedicated employees he has had in his department. "I've been blessed with a superb staff," he said. "I couldn't have done the job, certainly not been manager and the clerk (without them)," he added.

Because of his seven different stints wearing both hats, Davis said he is the longest serving administrator and manager in the township's history. And by the time his tenure is done, he will also be the longest serving clerk since 1801. "It's a sense of accomplishment," he said. "I like to feel that I've made a difference here. I know I've helped scores of people over the years and it feels good."

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

That help can take on a variety of forms from helping get citizens in contact with other departments to helping them work through getting an inspection on a home to any number of licenses or several other duties of his department. "Even when I couldn't help them 100 percent, maybe it was 50 percent, the people were so appreciative because they saw the effort in trying to do something for them," he noted.   

In addition to his work with the township residents, Davis said one of his proudest accomplishments has been helping Howell to get involved in the sister cities program. That included a special exchange back in the late 1980's when Davis helped coordinate the arrival of a contingent of delegates from Taiwan to the town. "It was very official and very well done and I was at the forefront of helping to organize that," he said.

With a committee of 30 to 40 people, Davis said it was successful from start to finish. "It was really beautiful, it lasted a week and I thought I'd fall flat on my face when they finally left to go home," he said with a laugh. "It was a lot of fun and I felt very proud about all that."

Davis said he is also proud of a program that he has helped to run alongside the Howell school system. Student Government Day has given some of the younger residents of the town the chance to see how the township is run and gives them a chance to take part in that in an interactive way. "That's a lot of fun. I enjoy that," he said. "I like the give and take and being instructive and informative to them because when they get here they really don't have a clue."

Student Government Day is a special treat for middle school students, which was not even an option when Davis first took office as the township did not have any middle schools and all of the elementary schools were K-8. "We have an excellent school system," he said. "It's highly rated and that's why people move here, or one of the major reasons people move here because the school system is so good."

At a Board of Education meeting earlier this year, Davis was recognized Davis for putting together such a successful event. That has been one of several times he has been honored for his efforts. As he prepares for his departure one of the few items remaining on his wall is a plaque that an earlier council gave him. 

And when his retirement was announced at last week's council meeting, Mayor Robert Walsh paid tribute to him as well. "He has been instrumental in helping governing bodies for many many years," he said. "Personally he has been a great aide to me in understanding the ins and outs of government and different things that needed to be done to help serve the people of Howell. I will miss him."

EARLY HISTORY:

When he first started the job Davis said Route 9 was just a one lane highway in each direction and the township had just 25,065 residents. He has seen the highway expanded and the population more than doubled in that time. During one his stints as manager, Davis said he helped to bring in more development along the highway which he said was good for the town. "It was virtually nothing to speak of on Route 9. You had Aldridge Plaza and Howell Plaza across the street from it," he said. "Other than that there was no commercial development to speak of."

One of the areas he helped to develop include the area were the Lowe's is down by Kent Road. "It was a very exciting time," he said of watching the road build up to provide not only more tax dollars for the township but also businesses for the residents of the area to frequent.

Davis said that he, like all people are not perfect, but he believes he acted in the best interest of the town with all the decisions he made in whatever role he was fulfilling for the residents of the town. "I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason and I do believe in destiny and things unfold as a bigger plan than the ones we make as people," he said. "I don't know if I could point to any one thing and say I would do something different."

He also said he could not have guessed those 30 years ago that he would still be in the same job now. "I just didn't know because this was a whole new animal for me," he said. One of the best pieces of advice he got from his predecessor was that it would take him at least five years to feel comfortable in knowing what he was doing. Having passed that six times over, Davis said there is a definite comfort level in the job.

There are times that he admits the job can be particularly trying, including election night when he plays a pivotal role in the events that transpire and helping to draw new election districts in the township. "It's all very interesting work."  Helping him through that work was a collection of green books on his emptying office book shelves that have all the statutes of the state. "They make life very difficult to find what you're looking for, but I've gotten pretty good at it and I can find almost anything that I'm looking for now. But I've had 32 years of practice."

THE FUTURE:

The years of experience and practice are two things he hopes to have imparted to his successor, current Deputy Clerk Penny Wollman. "She's going to make a great clerk," he said. The two have worked together in a variety of capacities for 30 years both in her current position and even when she started as a part time employee during her high school days. "She's going to do a terrific job. She's extremely knowledgable, great with the public, very detail oriented and task oriented."

It is her institutional knowledge and her ability to work with the residents of the town that Davis said will serve Wollman best when she starts her new job. For her part, Wollman said she will not soon forget the knowledge Davis has provided her. "Bruce's guidance over the years has been invaluable," she said. "He has been my mentor for the past 30 years, but also my friend."

As the town considers moving the municipal offices to the Global Complex on Route 9, Davis said he wanted to leave the office he came into all those years ago. "It seemed fitting to end the journey here and let the new chapter begin with the new clerk," he said. "It just seems like I've been in the same building, in the same office for 32 years. I don't need to move." If he were not prepared to retire though, Davis said he would have gladly stayed on through the possible transition if it was to go through.

MOVING ON: 

As he prepares for his retirement, Davis said he will take with him a lifetime of memories when he walks out the door for the last time. "It's always going to be a major part of my life having been a part of Howell's history," he said. "I'm honored to have had the opportunity to be a part of it."

Once December rolls around Davis said he and his wife Sharon will probably do some traveling and just enjoy the time off. "We may look for some part time work when we finally get bored, but initially we both agreed we don't want to do anything," he said. Part of that not doing anything involves both indoor and outdoor activities. 

Davis said he enjoys watching movies, notably such blockbusters as Pearl Harbor, the Star Trek series and the Harry Potter movies. He also hopes to be more active in his hobby of birdwatching by building houses for the flying feathered friends that he has been feeding on his property for several years to come and visit. 

With less than five months left on the job, Davis said he is looking forward to serving the town during the time he has remaining and then handing the job off to Wollman. "It will be seamless. I'm just going to fade into the sunset and walk out the door. She's going to take over the chair and that's it. There's not going to be any disruption of service."

When he does walk out the door for the last time, Davis said he will do so without any second guessing or second thoughts. "It just feels right. The whole thing feels right and it has worked out well so far. It'll be bitter sweet when I walk out the door for the last day, but I'll get past that as will everybody else."

Asked what he hopes to be remembered for, Davis said, "being fair and reasonable and forthright and impartial." He added, "I think I did a good job. Like I said in my letter to the council, that ultimately will be for others to judge."