FeedsRecall of 4 township officials enters final weeks
Residents packed into the meeting room at Van Buren Township and the gavel got plenty of use.
It was one of two township trustee meetings that will take place before the Feb. 23 election when voters will decide whether to recall Supervisor Paul White, Clerk Leon Wright and trustees Al Ostrowski and Denise Partridge. Those favoring both sides of the issue were on hand, some carrying ‘no recall’ signs or the words ‘vote no’ taped to their shirts, others wearing shirts spelling out their support for the recall.
Catcalls were prevalent from the audience and at times applause drowned out speakers at the podium, who were being called out of order by Supervisor Paul White because they questioned decisions made in the past or the political motives of the board members.
It was a light agenda, but the meeting didn’t wrap up until after 10:30, in part because of the raucous nature of the public debate.
“All I see is a board that is not working,” said a frustrated resident, Catherine Hammons. “You’re not respecting the citizens and you’re not respecting each other. I don’t see how you get any work done.”
A year of difficulties
Residents had been critical of the decisions made by White and the three other board members, who were all voted into office in 2008 amidst an election cycle that saw sweeping change at every level of government.
“There are so many issues,” said Bob Thorne, a long-time resident of the township who has been a vocal critic of policy decisions during the past year. Thorne and a group of residents formed a recall committee last June and have since transformed it into Citizens for a Better Community (CBC), which is promoting the recall effort.
The recall effort got truly under way after June, sparked by a decision to fire the former director of public safety, Jerry Champagne. Champagne, who had never had a black mark on his resume throughout his career in the military and law enforcement, was abruptly fired at the end of May because of alleged insubordination and an inability to reduce police overtime. Champagne refuted those charges-helped along by testimony from township employees-at a hearing regarding his request for reinstatement, but the four members of the board voted against returning him to his position despite the evidence presented.
Meanwhile, White tried to have a replacement for Champagne on staff the week after the director was fired. White had requested and scheduled a special meeting days later, but it was cancelled because the attempt didn’t follow township procedures. The candidate, retired Detroit Police Sgt. Carl McClanahan, was offered the job before and above anyone else. He was eventually appointed by the board on a 4-3 vote-with Treasurer Sharry Budd and trustees Phil Hart and Jeff Jahr voting against it-and his contract was implemented in December.
The appointment, and the way it was carried out, sparked several lawsuits against the township, including one filed by Champagne which is currently being negotiated. Several Van Buren Township command officers-some of whom had more experience than McClanahan-also filed suit, citing reverse discrimination because Ostrowski made public comments in open meetings in which he admitted that McClanahan was appointed in part to fulfill campaign promises and in part because he was African American. McClanahan contributed to the campaign funds of both White and Wright, although it was only $25 and $100, respectively.
The appointment is the reason listed on the official recall ballot, although White, Wright and Partridge defended it as acting on recommendation from the township attorney.
“I have the right to bring forth appointments,” White said at the meeting Tuesday night. “It was done in a proper and lawful manner.”
The township attorney had advised the board that White had the ability to make the appointment, but recommended the board not do it, citing the pending lawsuits.
Other issues followed.
Wright was accused of spending taxpayer dollars to upgrade his rooms at training seminars and taking his family along on some township-paid trips. Wright has since repaid those expenditures.
The budget was another issue. It was approved on a 4-3 vote even though there wasn’t enough funding for the interim public safety director. Those funds were eventually allocated-from a fund balance set aside to help the township in the revenue-challenged future. The budget also eliminated events like the annual fireworks celebration and marshmallow drop, reduced the amount of funding available for training police and fire personnel and increased expenses for training for White and Wright.
“You continue to enjoy the perks of your offices while residents are missing out on events they enjoy,” resident Eric Feldkamp told the board.
Throughout the year, White has exercised sporadic control of board meetings, gaveling down those who question decisions while allowing others to speak more frequently and at greater length.
“I’ll never understand what his logic is,” said Thorne. “Why not change your behavior if there is a recall hanging over you-even if it’s temporary. (White) has refused to do even that.”
*Support dwindling *
Robert Queener said members of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 236 were encouraged when Partridge was elected. They hoped they would get even treatment from Partridge, a former township employee and union president, herself.
“It’s not worked out that way,” said Queener, who is president of the union that represents about 31 employees in Van Buren Township. “She’s forgotten where she’s come from.”
The union sent her a letter this week, denouncing their support of her, he said. It was based on actions such as her recent refusal to shake hands with employees who were honored at a board of trustees meeting for their service milestones for the township and the overall atmosphere at township hall, where grievances have become prevalent.
“We’ve filed more grievances this past year than I can even find reference to,” said Queener, a township employee of about five years. He’s the animal control officer. He said the atmosphere at township hall is worse than it was under the previous administration, too.
“It’s like night and day,” he said. “We didn’t always see eye-to-eye with the (former Supervisor Cindy) King administration, but this is a big difference.”
What happens next?
Voters will be asked to decide the issue on Feb. 23. A ‘Yes’ vote on the ballot indicates that the official should be recalled from office, while a ‘No’ vote means they should keep their post. Wright announced Tuesday night that Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett has appointed Kathy Kline, deputy clerk in Van Buren Township, to oversee the election because Wright’s name is on the ballot.
“I’ll be taking a back seat in the election,” said Wright.
In the event that all four members are recalled, state election law calls for the Wayne County Election Commission to appoint one member to serve as a temporary trustee to give the board a quorum with which they can conduct business. That appointee has one task: to work with the board to appoint his or her successor.
“Those four would then name or appoint the other three board members,” said Chief Probate Court Judge Milton Mack, who serves as an elections commissioner for Wayne County. “That’s my understanding of the law.”
The appointed officials would serve until the next regularly scheduled election, which would be open to anyone who wants to file to run for the offices, according to spokespersons from the Michigan Secretary of State office.
Reaction mixed as vote nears
Thorne said he thinks the absentee votes are mixed as they start to trickle in, three weeks before the election date.
Members of the committee have sent Freedom of Information Act requests to find out who has requested absentee ballots in order to provide them with information about the issues associated with the recall.
“The key to winning any election is getting your people out to the polls,” he said. “We think we have a plan to do that.”
Judging from the reaction of residents at the recent board meetings, opinions are mixed on whether the recall should take place.
Larry Fix, who ran against White for the office of supervisor in 2008, has long been a vocal critic of White’s management style.
“Why don’t you start governing like it’s 2010, not 1955,” he asked White Monday night.
“It’s a complete cloud of confusion,” another resident stated as he walked away from the podium, unsure of why he wasn’t allowed to speak. “It’s unfortunate that we have this leadership.”
“I have waited more than seven months for you to show me you have some integrity,” said resident Steve Farr in a letter read to the board by his wife. “Instead, you have shown me the opposite-not to mention the lack of respect.”
Others said they support the four officials and were weary of the tactics they said members of the recall committee used.
“I’m tired of all the misinformation going around the township,” said Sandra Croswell.
“Things are starting to mesh together,” said resident Dave Grubb. “(They’re) making decisions that are based on what’s best for the community, not like what happened before-where it was based on what was good for their friends.”
“The majority of the people of Van Buren Township voted them in to do their jobs,” said resident Ron Yurchak. “They’re doing that job. The majority of people want (them) to continue doing that job.”
