On October 8, 2009, more than 50 people attended the first meeting of the group interested in recalling Township Supervisor Dave Wagner, Citizens Against Independence Township Waste (CAITW). Given the two filled parking lots and an overflow crowd, we intend to find a much larger facility for our next meeting. Township residents who attended were very vocal concerning the mismanagement of Independence Township by Mr. Wagner and why he needs to be recalled.
As CAITW Treasurer, I was asked to respond to Mr. Wagner’s recent comments about our efforts in The Clarkston News.
1) Mr. Wagner complained by releasing a township memo dated Dec. 31, 2008 FROM him authorizing a series of car allowance increases (including his from $600 monthly to $700 per month) this somehow ‘terribly troubled? the employee the memo was addressed TO.
Why? Nobody from CAITW has EVER accused anyone other than Mr. Wagner of mismanagement of township funds during these very difficult economic times.
Who are these mysterious ‘people? Mr. Wagner claims are ‘presuming she (the employee to whom the memo was directed) may have possibly done something wrong?? Not one, I repeat, NOT ONE person has ever contacted me implicating the employee who was named in the memo from Mr. Wagner authorizing the car allowance increase for himself and a select group (which does NOT include the ‘troubled? employee). This is an obvious smoke screen intended to divert focus from his self-serving actions.
2) Mr. Wager says the car allowance memo ‘was inaccurate? because he, Mr. Curt Carson (township treasurer) and Ms. Shelagh VanderVeen (township clerk) ‘decided against receiving the $100 increase in their car allowances.? The statement in our flyers is that Mr. Wagner ‘approved? the increases. The memo from Mr. Wagner ? with Mr. Wagner’s initials ? confirms the accuracy of that statement. Only Ms. VanderVeen rejected the increase immediately. By Mr. Carson’s and Mr. Wagner’s own admissions, they have ‘repaid the extra amounts taken out.?
How can you ‘repay? something you ‘decided against receiving?? Did guilt set in once the memo was made public? Plus we now understand some Board members question if Mr. Wagner still receives the higher $700 per month allowance.
3) Concerning fees (estimated at $20,000) to architects for blueprints for a new sheriff’s substation (estimated cost $800,000) which has NEVER been submitted for Township voter or BOARD approval, King David states, ‘The supervisor’s office has every right to hire an architect as long as it’s within his budget and under a certain dollar amount.?
Is this HIS money or does this belong to financially pressed taxpayers, many of whom feel the current sheriff’s substation at the relatively new fire station is completely adequate? Does Mr. Wagner want to establish a substation next to the also not-approved-by-voters new Township Hall because, like Roman Emperors, he feels he needs a palace guard nearby to protect him from angry voters?
Our flyers state Mr. Wagner paid for architects for a non-voter-approved building. He agrees.
4) Mr. Wagner, claims he ‘has been cleared of any illegality? concerning the ‘secret bonus payments to employees.? Our flyers say nothing about payments being ‘illegal.?
We state in our flyers payments were ‘secret? because they were concealed from the Board and given to the same employee who received a $600 per month car allowance from Mr. Wagner which was $100 more per month than the amount approved for elected officials, Ms. VanderVeen and Mr. Carson. Again, Mr. Wagner does not dispute our statement the payments were ‘secret.?
5) Mr. Wagner indicated ‘there was no concealing a water and sewer fund deficit.? Plante & Moran, issued a report dated 10/29/2008 addressed ONLY to: ‘Supervisor Dave Wagner, Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen (and) Finance Director Susan Hendricks.?
The report states: ‘The model appears to demonstrate the current rate is inadequate to maintain fiscal sustainability of the Water Fund. With no rate increase, by mid 2010 the level of working capital will be below levels targeted by management. By mid 2011 the fund will run out of cash and need significant loans to continue to meet cash requirements of operation.?
The report goes on to say there is a problem even without the loans for the Township Hall, clearly taking more than $2 million from the Water and Sewer Funds compounded the problem. The report indicates if the loans are made, the needed rate increases would be higher. Since this report was not shared with other Board members, we have no way of knowing if Board votes approving the new Township Hall would have changed to reduce the amount of the needed rate increases or to delay the need for ‘significant loans? to continue operations. Other than getting approval for the new Hall, what was to be gained by not releasing the report?
6) Finally, Mr. Wagner says our statement ‘takes the cake? concerning a possible ‘trash hauling monopoly.? The exact comment in the flyer was, ‘Is a trash hauling monopoly Wagner’s next goal??
There is a question there.
Any of the several hundred people who attended the ‘Trash Meeting? at the Clarkston Junior High School on Aug. 27 heard repeated mention of Mr. Wagner and other Township officials considering ‘single hauler? trash collection. The flyer asks if such a solo (also known as a monopoly) operation might be considered in the future by Mr. Wagner. A valid question.
Based on comments of many residents who have joined our efforts to recall Mr. Wagner, we are proceeding as planned. A petition drive is forthcoming. Despite lies to the contrary, we intend to piggyback the recall vote on one of the two upcoming elections in 2010 to avoid any cost to already hard-pressed Township taxpayers. It is a shame Mr. Wagner was not as concerned about saving the Township money.
Henry S. Woloson is a resident of Independence Township.