This is going to be a very interesting four years in Van Buren Township.
At Tuesday’s regular meeting, the new VBT board of trustees voted 5-2 (Frazier and Miller against) to approve the 2016 amended budget and 4-3 to approve the proposed 2017 budget.
New Trustees Sherry Frazier and Paul White, plus reelected Trustee Reggie Miller were the dissenters on the 2017 budget.
Trustee Frazier opposed the $3,500 raise for Clerk Wright who wanted “parity” with Treasurer Budd. He had worked eight years and Budd 25 years. Their longevity pay (before longevity was cancelled) was rolled into their salaries a few years back and the 3% raises are on top of that.
Frazier was critical of all the salaries adjusted upward beyond the 3%. And, she questioned where the 3% for all salaried personnel came from with the Visteon bond costs pending and unfunded health care liability.
Trustee Miller was concerned about the raises above the 3% given to the planning and economic director and his deputy as unfair to other hard-working employees.
Trustee White, former VBT supervisor, voted no on the new budget because it is $4.875 million over revenue and is balanced by using all the landfill tipping fees for the year plus $617,970 from the fund balance.
The meeting was boisterous, but Supervisor McNamara kept it in order. Hold on to your hats. There’s more to come.
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3 Comments
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During the budget item Trustee Frazier was speaking for many residents with concerns about the spending. Her request to the current treasurer bud about speaking up was met with an answer that totally lacked transparency “come into my office and I’ll show you what we’ve got.” She acted as though the trustee shouldn’t bring it up at a board meeting.
I do not have high expectations for the new Supervisor, because he has already flip flopped. I do have high hopes for the new trustees and I really am glad to see they are questioned almighty Budd. We need this in the township and finally I think we have it.
Yes, we finally have it with the trustees. The almighty one thinks she is not answerable to the residents which is why she glared at the trustee for putting her in a position where she had to speak.