Dear Editor,
I was surprised to see that salary reductions for Brandon Township’s elected officials were rescinded at the April 6 Township Board meeting. If you remember, the Supervisor and Treasurer agreed to take ‘voluntary? reductions in their salaries to save taxpayers some money. I thought it was a good idea, as good leaders lead by example. I also found Jeannie McCreery’s open and honest comments about why she chose not to voluntarily take a salary reduction a refreshing change from what we usually get from elected officials.
Apparently, Supervisor Kathy Thurman asked the township attorney if the board could reduce the salary of elected officials. Thurman received the answer she sought, which was ‘no.? Indeed, Michigan Compiled Law Section 41.95(7) reads, ‘The salary of an elected township official shall not be decreased during the official’s term of office.? This, however, means only that the board cannot reduce the salary of an elected position after the individual has taken office. It does NOT prevent an elected official from voluntarily taking a salary reduction during his or her term of office, as the official salary for the position would remain intact. Furthermore, nothing prevents elected officials from writing checks back to Brandon Township for two percent of their annual salary. If township employees must endure cuts, so too should our elected officials.
Clearly, if Thurman were serious about saving taxpayer dollars, she would have voted NO on the motion to rescind her salary reduction, as Treasurer Beltramo did for his.
Effective leadership requires honor, ethics and character; qualities that Kathy Thurman clearly lacks.
Ronald Lapp
Brandon Township