Sumpter treasurer warns fire chief his job is in jeopardy

Sumpter Township Public Safety Director/Police Chief Eric Luke announced at the township’s regular board meeting on July 10 that Fire Chief Joseph Januszyk had been an employee of the fire department for 41 years.
The audience broke out in applause.
Treasurer Peggy Morgan, who had served as the board’s liaison to the fire and police departments in the past, invited Chief Januszyk to tell his story at the fire department.
Chief Januszyk said his dad and brother-in-law were fire fighters, plus a bunch of cousins. He said, fresh out of high school when he turned 18, he joined the fire department and he’s been serving since then.
He said he took a little time off, but then got right back into it. He has been chief since 2012.
Treasurer Morgan said that his last contract was only for a year and at his six-month evaluation, Supervisor John Morgan and Trustee Don LaPorte, current board liaison to the department, gave Januszyk an excellent report.
Treasurer Morgan made a motion to extend Januszyk’s contract to November 2020, the end of this present board’s tenure, the way all the other contracts are written.
“This is a personnel matter,” said Supervisor Morgan. “It’s totally inappropriate to discuss this in public. I’m the supervisor.”
“I am asking for a motion for extension of his contract. He has done an excellent job,” Treasurer Morgan said, noting Januszyk had a full-time job when he first took on the chief’s job. “You sent him to chief’s school and he’s taken on the responsibility.
“I do know what’s going to happen and it’s a sad, sad thing,” she continued. “He’s done everything he was asked to do.”
“I do my best,” Chief Januszyk said.
“I have made a motion to extend his contract to November 2020, the end of this board,” Treasurer Morgan said.
Her motion was supported by Trustee Sheena Barnes.
“I’d like to have a little bit notice on this,” said township attorney Rob Young. “I have no problem with Joe Januszyk. He’s an at-will employee. I don’t commit to memory all contracts.”
Treasurer Morgan said since Januszyk has been chief he got one raise of $1,000 and he gets $25 per call. She said the fire fighters are taking online training that used to be free, but now the township is paying for online training.
“This board and the supervisor himself praised you,” Treasurer Morgan said to Chief Januszyk.
“Unfortunately, because one board member got upset with you…” Treasurer Morgan said, obviously referring to Trustee Don LaPorte, who is also a fire fighter and was written up by the chief for an infraction. Trustee LaPorte was absent from the July 10, meeting.
She said if the fire department “goes in another direction” that would mean Chief Januszyk’s job.
“My thing is to change duties, raise his pay,” said Clerk Esther Hurst, referring to his contract. She said it’s not fair to him to just extend the present contract. “We need to talk to him.”
“Never, ever, have I been here for the money,” Chief Januszyk said. “I do it for them.” He said he raised his family in the community and he knows many of the individuals.
Trustee Matthew Oddy suggested changing the motion to “consider” extending the contract and others seemed supportive. Treasurer Morgan withdrew her previous motion.
Trustee Oddy made a new motion, seconded by Clerk Hurst to take under consideration extending Chief Januszyk’s contract and bring the proposed contract back to the board after discussion, possibly at the next meeting.
The motion passed unanimously.
During the open-floor part of the meeting, an irritated Public Safety Director/Chief Luke got up to say in his 24 years of police work, jibes have been thrown his way. He said he has nothing against Chief Januszyk, but when Treasurer Morgan said the fire department is upside down now, “In my world, training is a good thing. We’re having the first open house ever, as long as I’ve been here, at the fire department.
“I work very hard in the public safety position. There are disgruntled people and I will win those people over, too, if they follow me. I don’t know why you said that,” he concluded.
Trustee Morgan said she would talk to Chief Luke about it later.
Luke was recently named public safety director, with a $12,000 raise, and put in charge of the fire department and Chief Januszyk, in addition to the police department.
Treasurer Morgan’s mention of the online classes referred to the free online fire training classes the fire fighters used to take when Januszyk was in charge, compared to Luke’s online fire fighter training that the township now pays for.
There was a roomful of fire fighters in dress uniform present to witness an accident victim, Tabitha Hardy, and her family addressing the board, thanking the fire fighters for cutting her from wreckage a year ago, saving her life.
But, before the discussion on Chief Januszyk began, the fire fighters all quickly left together to answer a fire tone-out.
In other business at the July 10 meeting, the board:
• Approved sending out to auction the 2001 Ford E-350 Super Van for the Senior Center;
• Approved sending alternate delegate Human Resources Director Michelle Bellingham and delegate Finance Director Scott Holtz, to the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan (MERS) 72nd annual conference on Oct. 4-5 in Grand Rapids a cost not to exceed $1,500, which was budgeted for this year. Holtz said this conference is a useful tool in learning new legislation that is coming for employers, as well as gathering information for soon-to-be retirees about their pensions;
• Passed Resolution 2018-11 approving the Senior Alliance 2019 Annual Implementation Plan for Aging Services;
• Approved on a 5-1 vote the emergency recommendation of Water and Sewer Superintendent Ken Kunka to award the bid for three air-conditioning units and three furnaces in the township hall to Barry’s HVAC Service in the amount of $18,718, one of three price quotes. Trustee Sheena Barnes voted no and Trustee Don LaPorte was absent. Holtz said the three ACs broke down and are not repairable and the three furnaces are 15 years old. He said he will research having the township’s mechanical system inspected yearly to avoid future issues. Money for the work will be transferred from the Landfill Royalty Fund;
• Heard Treasurer Peggy Morgan object to approving the secretary’s report of the June 26 meeting, since in those minutes, Trustee Oddy had added more than 127 words to the secretary’s official report of the June 12 minutes, concerning the disagreement between him and Treasurer Morgan on the procedure Oddy used to buy township property by sealed bid. Treasurer Morgan said what he added was not true. Supervisor Morgan said he would leave it up to Clerk Hurst whether the extra words should be added and, after consideration, Clerk Hurst said, “I believe it should be added”;
• Was advised an Open House will be held at the Fire Hall from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 21;
• Heard Clerk Hurst announce that on Friday, June 29, before the May 8 school election, Sumpter Township was targeted for a Wayne County audit. She said the audit found all election laws were abided by; and
• Heard Trustee Sheena Barnes say that she asked Sam Cumberledge to come to tape the board meetings since Deputy Supervisor Karen Armatis said the township’s cable station will not be available until after the August election. “I will pay him out of my township salary so we have it on record.” Supervisor Morgan said he wants everyone to know that Cumberledge’s recording of the township meetings “has nothing at all to do with the township.” Trustee Oddy said the township’s system is recording, but it’s the player that isn’t working. “We don’t have the player.”