The new human resource director’s $87,000 salary, minus 10 cents, is too much for Trustee Mark Petterson.
‘That’s quite a considerable amount, much more than our fire chief. I am absolutely disgusted that we have hired somebody at this price,? said Petterson, one of two who voted against the contract. ‘In today’s economy, we went and hired somebody to do the elected officials’ jobs. The public did not vote for this. I think we’re making a very, very big mistake.?
Carol Gabris’s contract was approved, 5-2, at the July 21 board meeting.
Trustee Neil Wallace said the amount being paid to Gabris as an independent contractor is ‘significantly less? than the amount originally budgeted because Gabris is not receiving benefits, which the fire chief and other department heads receive from the township.
‘I believe the public is very well served and only hope we can carve out of the budget for future years a sufficient amount of money to be able to continue to have a professional like this in that role,? Wallace said.
Trustee Larry Rosso said Gabris is an ‘outstanding investment.? Much of her role will cover negotiations, formally handled by the township attorney, which was ‘quite expensive.?
‘I think we can avoid many of the pitfalls we’ve had before with employee suits and such matters,? he said. ‘I think the cost benefit will be outstanding in our favor and I welcome Mrs. Gabris to our township and I give her my full support.?
Trustee David Lohmeier said getting Gabris is a ‘fantastic deal over 12 months.?
‘I’m hopeful that we can look back at these 12 months from now and make an educated determination and see the savings and that we really realized and that we’ve got the money to go forward,? Lohmeier said. ‘Even if we don’t, it’s worth the 12 months to get our ship in order.?
Treasurer Curt Carson was also excited for the new HR director.
‘It’s fantastic to have a resource that understands union contracts, and the negotiation of those things and really can assist us in the tough road we’re going to have over certainly this year, but provided we can come up in the budget with the funds to carry on position, it will help us through these rough times,? he said.
Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen said she and Gabris met with several township departments and union members and they embraced Gabris ‘with open arms.?
‘They were just so thrilled to finally have someone who they could go to on a regular basis that they could share their problems with,? VanderVeen said.
Wagner, who voted ‘no? along with Petterson, said he wasn’t willing to give over some his supervisor duties to the HR director despite the fact that the majority of the board approved it. According to the Michigan Township’s Association, it can only be done ‘if the supervisor consents in writing to a reduction of duties??
‘Even in being supportive of the HR department, which is working out well, I was not going to relinquish additional duties to that position,? he said. ‘I talked with our new HR director and explained to her exactly my reasoning because it was a little bit of a shock to her too, and she understood it and she is willing to assist me in any way, shape, or form.?
However, Gabris said she will perform the duties specifically outlined in her contract and approved by the board.
Petterson said if residents aren’t mad, they should be.
“I’m not there to coexist, I’m there to do what’s right for the public and they (other board members) are not doing what’s right for the public,? he said. “Those other board members that are there are exactly what is wrong with our township today.”
Most HR duties fall on the clerk’s office, Petterson pointed out. In last year’s election, VanderVeen campaigned with a slate to make elected officials part-time, with professional township manager.
“When is she going to give up half her pay? It’s quite obvious she’s not going to,” he said. “The people should be absolutely furious and demanding someone (an elected official) goes part-time or resigns.?