Eric W. Lupher, Director of Local Affairs for the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, spoke May 7 to the Rotary Club of Grosse Pointe on the history of government consolidations and, in particular, the pros and cons of consolidating the five Grosse Pointe municipalities.

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Numerous present and past Grosse Pointe municipal officials turned out Monday, May 7, to hear Eric W. Lupher, Director of Local Affairs for the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, second from left, speak about the CRC’s research into Grosse Pointe consolidation, including a study as early as 1958. He said consolidating the Pointe governments would not produce significant savings. However, he said, collaborations between the cities and public safety departments may provide economies of scale that could save money. Lupher said he would “not” recommend reducing the number of public safety officers in the Pointes, nor would he recommend a single public safety department since larger police departments tend to grow in middle management.

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Officials with Lupher at the Rotary meeting were, from left, Grosse Pointe Mayor Dale Scrace, (Lupher), Grosse Pointe Farms Councilman and Rotarian Lev Wood, Grosse Pointe City Manager Pete Dame, retired Grosse Pointe Farms City Manager Rich Solak and former Grosse Pointer Park Councilwoman and Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotarian Valerie Moran.