Environmental Commission chairman faults VBT leadership

David Brownlee, chairman of the Van Buren Township Environmental Commission, said the commission’s recent treatment by VBT leadership is like “a left and a right” to the jaw.
“I find this a little bit disheartening,” Brownlee said at the Nov. 16 commission meeting.
Actually, the commission did not formally meet because of a lack of quorum. Two members of the commission had resigned months ago, but VBT Supervisor Linda Combs has not replaced them and all the present members have to be present to meet. Trustee Jeff Jahr, the board’s appointee as liaison to the commission was not present and did not run for reelection.
But not having a quorum did not keep the commission from having an hour and a half discussion on several issues.
The most xx of the issues is the commission being ignored by township leadership when environmental issues are at stake – such as the proposed lakeshore ordinance and the proposed fifth amendment to the landfill host agreement with Waste Management.
Brownlee, who has been on the commission for 30 years, said the commission was involved in the first draft of the Lakeshore Ordinance, but after a public hearing it had to go back to the drawing board.
“A few months ago, I asked Matt how the ordinance is doing and he said they’re done and it’s going to the planning commission,” Brownlee said, referring to Matthew Best, deputy director of planning and economic development.
“I think the Environmental Commission should have been involved with this before the planning commission,” Brownlee said, noting that the Environmental Commission is just a recommending body, but it has experience to share.
“We’re getting this tonight as a courtesy,” Brownlee said, referring to the presence of Ron Akers, director of planning and economic development, who was present to review the proposed Lakeshore ordinance with commission members.
“Once it came out of committee, it should have come to us. We are the Lake Committee,” Brownlee said, referring to the time, years back, when he was on the Lake Committee and it was transformed into the Environmental Commission.
And then the Environmental Commission was not informed of the two and a half years of negotiating on the landfill agreement and not notified of the public meeting to discuss it. He said commission members found out about it by accident.
“I was involved in the original host agreement,” Brownlee said.
“Once again, no involvement of this commission … No plans to include this commission,” Brownlee said.
“We have no knowledge whatsoever on this,” he said. “I’m bothered by this … Why are we here? Is it just because it’s politically correct?”
He said he asked VBT Supervisor Combs why the commission wasn’t involved and she told him is was “basically an economic package.”
“I took offense,” he said, adding he didn’t want to argue with her at the meeting.
“Do we have a disturbing trend here?” Brownlee asked.
After Brownlee stated that the commission’s treatment by the township was like two blows in a fight, Commissioner Anthony Gibson said he could add a third.
Gibson said a postcard recently was received by him saying EQ was making minor changes to its operating permits.
“What are those minor changes to a hazardous waste landfill?” he asked. He noted he was involved when it was a private landfill and turned into a toxic waste landfill. He said he sued and protested and that’s why he’s on the Environmental Commission.
“I’m pointing at the leadership,” Brownlee said. “We’re not in the ‘right to know’ category.
“I’m really puzzled with the relationship of leadership with this commission. We don’t make policy. We study and make recommendations,” he said.
He emphasized that he was not pointing at Director Akers and Deputy Director Best in these comments because the two are “the best thing that’s happened here.”
“When environmental matters come up, we will be sure to alert you,” Akers said.
“I see a big disconnect with the leadership,” Brownlee said. “We should have had Waste Management come before us with a presentation.”
Brownlee said Supervisor Combs told him, “Oh, we were going to tell you.”
“Oh really?” he said he thought. “When was that going to be?”
“It’s almost like a pattern,” Brownlee said.
Gibson recalled when Waste Management opened its south cell a few years ago, a representative of Woodland Meadows came to the commission and commissioners asked him what about the golf course. Gibson recalls he said they had no intention of removing the golf course. Now they do.
Brownlee said he recalls when the landfill was being sited, he and others put on boots and went out and walked the land, hoping to sight an eagle or an endangered species so they could stop the landfill.
Brownlee said with the new administration taking over, he hopes they will reinstate this commission as part of the process – not after the process.
In other discussion at the Nov. 16 non-meeting, those present:
• Discussed the proposed additions to the Coal Tar Ordinance that includes fines up to $10,000 for violation. “Now you know it’s more than a slap on the hand,” Brownlee said, adding it will be voted on at a regular meeting and then sent on to the township attorney and then the township board’s work/study session. “We think this is an issue that will eventually go away,” he said, noting those putting on sealants will stop using coal tar. He said he is surprised that State Rep. Kristy Pagan of Canton hasn’t been able to get Canton to pass an ordinance, since she is trying for statewide legislation. That bill is locked up in committee, he said;
• Heard a presentation on the Lakeshore Management proposal by Akers. Commissioners then asked questions and offered recommendations; and
• Heard Belleville High School student Randall Robinson say he was going to give a Tech Talk on environmental matters in this area in his class at New Tech. Members gave him suggestions and planned to send him information by email.