Township trustees took a mulligan regarding their new township hall.
Results were the same – Independence Township Board voted to approve purchase of the Waldon Center Drive building near Sashabaw Road.
?(Township attorney Steve) Joppich has given an opinion for the legal department for the township that we didn’t violate the open meetings act and I’ll accept that,” said Trustee Dan Kelly. ‘I thought it was a good idea to put the matter back on the agenda for an open meeting, for public comment.?
Neil Wallace, township resident and presumptive trustee, disagreed with Jopich’s take on the law.
“The public still isn’t going to know what was presented to you, what you discussed and what was debated and that’s unfortunate,? Wallace said. ‘And they still will not have an opportunity to have input, having seen that presentation and seen your debate.?
Wallace, who let out an outburst towards the board at the close of the Oct. 7 meeting, offered an apology.
‘It was a mistake at the end of the last meeting to let my passion and sense of injustice lead me to make one more comment, unfortunately responded in kind when the supervisor tried to shut me up,? he said. ‘I know he doesn’t want to hear the truth from me and it was a mistake I regret and I apologize to the community.?
To ‘conform to the spirit? of the Open Meetings Act, the board should have a thorough discussion and presentation of what was presented in closed session, and also new information.
‘If you do it any different than that, then the use of the closed session will have irrevocably worked its black magic on this community,? said Wallace.
Resident David Jeffery said the ‘board has the opportunity to remedy a significant gross injustice that’s been placed the shoulders of the people of the township.?
Jeffery believes the process was flawed and illegal because the ‘deal was done? when the board came out of closed session.
‘I happen to be one who will be first in line to support a new township hall when the process and the timing of such prove to be prudent. Right now you’ve missed it on the process, in my view,? he said.
“I urge you, please correct the process, the error that you’ve done and I say that with all sincerity, honesty, openness with only frustration because the anger is gone, but the frustration still remains, please fix what you broke.?
Joette Kunse, 41-year resident, said an issue not discussed is reductions in Oakland County funding to municipalities.
‘Are we making enough money where we can give up a million dollars? What will that have to do with a new township hall? Will we have to lay off people,” asked Kunse. ‘Eventually you’re going to have to come back to us, whether you buy the township hall or you don’t because you’re probably using all of your budget right now.?
Resident Richard Glenn said he learned the importance of letting people ‘make a contribution? and ‘take ownership? of a decision while working as an engineer.
‘I want to remind you that all of us here who are very angry from the last meeting, still feel the process, if it doesn’t change, has violated our trust. One way to recover that is put in place the principle I am talking about,” said Glenn.
‘You don’t have to agree with what we say, but if you don’t give us a chance to have a say on the most mundane as well as the most important issues of your decision, we’re not going to own it. We’re not going to trust you.?
Kelly agreed with Glenn.
‘In that sense, we did make a mistake on Sept. 16, or at least I made a mistake,? said Kelly. ‘I don’t speak for the board.?
Trustee Dan Travis reiterated his belief, ‘if it’s a good deal now, it will be a good deal then (for the new board)? and to let the public have a say in the process.
‘No smoke and mirrors, absolute transparency, make the public understand, deal with them straight forwardly and vote your conscious,? said Travis. ‘Vote this thing down for now and let them get involved by the end of the project and reestablish your trust quotient.?
The board voted 6-1 to acquire the property, transfer money from water and sewer fund to general fund, and approve up to $800,000 out of the general fund to retrofit and remodel the new township hall.
Travis voted no on all three motions.