VBT Trustee Paul White protests purchase of coats for township board

“I don’t want residents to buy me a winter coat,” Trustee Paul White said during Monday’s work/study session of the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees.
“The coats cost $85 each,” Trustee White said. “It’s an OK coat, but it did not come before us as a purchase. We had emails asking our size and were asked to come in and try it on.
“It’s an improper expense and you’re trying to get away with it by calling it a ‘uniform,’” he said to Supervisor Kevin McNamara who ordered the coats.
“When it gets out taxpayers are going to say, ‘I’m buying Paul White a winter coat with tax dollars.’ I don’t want residents to buy me a winter coat.”
White said he planned to write a check to cover the cost of the coat, but Supervisor McNamara told clerks in the township not to accept a check from Paul White.
“I said, do not give Paul White a receipt for that jacket,” McNamara said.
McNamara read from a prepared statement, which said each year he purchases one article of clothing. Last year it was shirts and, “You had no problem with that,” he said to White.
McNamara said White had emails about the coat and there were no objections by White or anyone else. He said White called twice.
“We ordered them on your request. We got your size. You tried it on and then we embroidered them. Once we had them done, then you complained.
“You’re doing this solely so … You set this board up for a Belleville Independent article,” McNamara said.
“Last year you went out to Which Wich? and bought sandwiches for the board,” White said.
McNamara said the Michigan Township Association said that was all right.
White said he didn’t care what the MTA said and the board members can buy their own lunches. He asked McNamara why he is calling a “coat” a “uniform?”
“I won’t talk to you about this,” McNamara said.
White said he could take it to the regular board meeting the next night, which is cablecast.
“I do not expect taxpayers to buy me a piece of personal clothing,” White said.
On another concern, White wanted to talk about the Winter Fest parade the previous Saturday.
“You required everyone go and you did not go yourself,” White said, adding McNamara told him a police car would be available for him to ride in. He said the fire truck was fully occupied and a fire truck was not acceptable to jump in and out of to give candy away.
McNamara said he didn’t take part in the parade because he gets sick, for long periods, apparently referring to the cold, rainy weather.
White said he was told there were three police cars there and he couldn’t find them, so he called dispatch and they didn’t know. [Later, White said police officers told him the three police cars were parked along W. Columbia Ave. because they couldn’t get into the parade setup area through that entry point. The entry point is off South Street, behind the school.] “I have 900 pieces of candy to eat,” White said, noting that he went home when there was no vehicle for him to use in the parade.
McNamara said he called the parade officials earlier Monday. He said he sent in the parade application for fire, police, and elected officials. At 5 p.m. before the parade, there were just two floats there, with VBT Public Safety and Belleville. At 5:30 p.m., everybody came and it was “mad pandemonium.”
“They are very sorry they split us up,” McNamara said.
“I was there at 5:10 p.m. and there were no police cars,” White said.
“Despite our differences, I don’t like it when a trustee gets left out,” McNamara said.
Trustee Sherry Frazier said the board is not working together.
“It’s unfortunate you were missed,” said Trustee Reggie Miller. “I don’t think it was on purpose.”
White said Fire Marshal Dave McInally said, “I don’t have room. I’m full.”
“I don’t think you’re to blame here,” Trustee Miller said to McNamara. “Let’s go back to the coats… It does serve a public purpose. You called us and we had ample input … It is a uniform … all of us in the same coat.”
“It’s improper to spend our residents’ tax money on things like this,” White insisted.
“I didn’t want one,” Trustee Frazier said of the coat.
“I didn’t either,” said Clerk Leon Wright, noting he didn’t participate in the parade and he hasn’t worn the coat yet. “It’s on the coat rack. I have multiple coats.
“We all agreed by not saying no,” Clerk Wright said. “If you pay for it, it’s like we’re wrong … You’re talking about perception of the coat.”
“The moral of the story is we should discuss these things before we make purchases for the board,” Frazier said. “We did not discuss the purchase of a coat at the board table…”
“Next year, I’ll be purchasing shirts,” McNamara said.
“You’ve got a coat,” Miller said to White.
“We should never accept tax money for personal clothing,” White said and the meeting adjourned.