By Susan Bromley
Staff Writer
Ortonville- Village Manager Ed Coy will handle all emergency-type situations in the village for the next 60 days, especially in regards to snow removal.
This was the motion village councilmembers unanimously passed at their Feb. 9 meeting, amidst controversy about why the village is using non-local sources for clearing roads and sidewalks.
‘Why do we go outside our own village to hire someone?? asked Kaz Mamon, one of several local contractors to attend the meeting.
The village council is currently without a Department of Public Works staff after terminating Bill Prince on Jan. 29 and Kevin Booms on Feb. 2. Grievances have been filed with Teamsters Local 214, which represents DPW employees.
On the weekend following Prince’s termination, and while Booms was on administrative leave, Hi-Hill Lawn Service of Lake Orion provided snow removal in the village. Coy also contacted several other companies that he said will provide service when needed.
‘This happened Friday, the call was made Saturday,? said Council President Ken Quisenberry. ‘It wasn’t a local, cheapest thing, it was an emergency thing.?
During Monday’s meeting, Quisenberry said the council would not be doing anything permanent at this time and could not award a contract for services.
‘Decisions will be made when the time is right,? he said. ‘It could be a few weeks or months. We can’t award a contract with the union in place… Ed Coy has the authority to act in the village’s best interest. He should make decisions until we decide on a more permanent basis.?
Coy said he plans to contact local companies for emergency situations, mainly for snowfall and pothole repair, but also anything considered a public safety issue. He has no priority list for companies.
‘It will be based on cost and the ability to get work done in a timely manner,? Coy said.
The current DPW union contract expires June 30. Grievance procedures regarding the recent terminations could take several weeks to resolve. Teamsters Local 214 Business Representative Les Barrett said if the issue goes to arbitration, it might be as long as a year before a decision is reached.