Brandon Twp.- Unemployment compensation paid to two terminated deputy treasurers, and attorney and auditing fees regarding policy disputes between elected officials has cost the township more than $24,000 in the past three years, according to invoices obtained by The Citizen from the township offices.
In November 2003, Treasurer Linda Owen fired Diana Reckwald, who had served as deputy treasurer for 12 years. The termination led to the township footing the bill for $8,073 in unemployment compensation to Reckwald.
Two years later, Owen fired Deputy Treasurer Teresa Karsney, resulting in $8,243.30 in unemployment compensation the township was responsible for.
Additionally, since 2004, Owen has sought counsel on terminating deputies or on the deputy position three times, for $924 in township attorney fees. Supervisor Ron Lapp also incurred an attorney bill for $462 regarding Owen’s termination of Karsney, and two more bills totalling $803 regarding opinions on her unemployment.
‘We had to cut $8,000 for fireworks and cut $5,500 from Brandon Groveland Youth Assistance this year and $3,000 last year,? notes Clerk Jeannie McCreery. ‘We could have served the community in a better way.?
Owen says that both times she terminated her deputies, she was told she could let them go with no obligation to the township. It was unclear at press time whether Terri Darnall, who resigned as deputy treasurer March 6, saying the stress had become unbearable, will apply for unemployment benefits.
Squabbles pitting Owen against McCreery and Lapp over bill paying procedures and township mail policies, also proved costly, to the tune of $5,547.25, with Owen incurring $4,269.75 of that amount; Lapp, $836.00 and McCreery $441.50.
Last year, Owen opened a separate township post office box after McCreery changed the lock on the post office box after finding township mail had been tampered with. As the clerk, McCreery’s statutory duties include collection of the mail and in a letter to Owen dated Jan. 5, 2006, attorney Stuart Cooney noted, ?…I must conclude that the clerk is within her authority to control access to township mail.?
While he noted he could find no law prohibiting a separate P.O. Box for tax payments only, Cooney said he believed such a tax-only P.O. Box must be approved by the board.
By a 3-2 vote on Nov. 6, the board approved only one post office box, to be accessed by the clerk only.
Owen insists she has the right to have her own post office box and says Cooney said she could have one.
In 2005, the board voted 5-2 to amend language to a check policy, following a long dispute between Owen and McCreery over where viewing of invoices should take place. The amended language clarifies that the board is responsible collectively for payment of bills. Owen voted against amending the language, while McCreery voted for it.
Lapp says opinions from the attorney are sometimes necessary to protect the interest of the public, for example, with new laws regarding zoning or the Freedom of Information Act. Other issues needing review by the attorney are land deals and lawsuits.
However, he said, ‘We get offtrack when someone wants something and doesn’t get it and wants an opinion. It’s not an efficient expenditure. If the attorney tells you no and you keep doing it, why did you get an opinion??
Lapp adds that Owen has initiated disputes that McCreery has been forced to consult the township attorney on in order to defend herself.
‘This has to stop,? he said. ‘When does it get to the point when we can spend more time working on stuff for the public instead of whatever the treasurer wants??
McCreery wonders where the common sense is, calling Owen’s actions ‘frustrating.?
‘It’s as if she has no concern for the money she is spending,? McCreery said. ‘My concern is, is the township money spent wisely? I don’t feel it is. It’s a constant pattern of waste.?
Owen says the expenses incurred have a benefit to citizens? ‘to make sure procedures are done properly.?