In last week’s editorial, we wrote that with the $12,000 raise for being promoted to public safety director, the former police chief Eric Luke now has a base salary of $120,000, with perks on top of that.
Director Luke said a correction is needed. He said, “With the raise for the new position my base pay is now $99,500, not $120,000. Last year’s figure, which is what you used as your starting figure to come up with the $120,000 assumption, included payouts and one-time retro I was due based on the settlement of longtime expired contracts of those below me.”
The Independent depended on the figure given to it by the township under a Freedom of Information Act Request as Luke’s 2017 base pay: $108,095.98, with additional cost to the township of $46,181.42 for benefits which include FICA and may include health care, dental, life insurance and pension.
We thought since it was submitted to us as his base pay, it was his base pay.
Clerk Wright going to Norfolk
We’ve been informed that Van Buren Township Clerk Leon Wright is not going to the International Institute of Municipal Clerks’ conference in Newport Beach, VA, as we reported on page three of our March 8 paper. The conference actually is in Norfolk. Deputy Clerk Joanne Montgomery said she is not attending that conference as reported and it was never a consideration.
Also, a trustee was quoted as saying Wright’s trip to Montreal in 2017 cost the township well over $2,500. Wright said it actually was $1,271.58, including airfare and hotel stay.
We regret printing the misinformation.
Rosemary Otzman, editor
Lived in the Township for so many years and still enjoy reading about the area – we lived on Sunrise Lane and I remember so many happy events with the entire Van Buren community! My three sons graduated from Belleville High School – Eric lives in Missouri, Tim in Europe and Kris in Okinawa – a global family!