Sumpter Twp. won’t pay before getting answers on audio/video system

The Sumpter Township Board of Trustees voted unanimously at its regular meeting April 9 to have the vendor for its new audio/visual system, Elon, come talk about all the problems before they pay him.
Discussion on the system started with former Treasurer Peggy Morgan’s comments at the end of the work/study session.
“Two weeks ago the board meeting was not live or televised,” said Morgan. “With this high-tech, quality system we have, why isn’t it being shown?”
Trustee Tim Rush, who took over responsibility for the system after it started having problems, said he was told the next day that the meeting wasn’t shown.
“It was a glitch,” Trustee Rush said. “Stuff happens.”
“The last board meeting wasn’t shown,” Morgan said, adding she was told she couldn’t get a DVD of the meeting, but Police Chief Eric Luke could download the meeting from the surveillance tape.
“The video recorder is not compatible with the system,” Rush said.
“And, tonight we have no sound,” she said of the sound system in the board room.
Rush said that was because the amplifier blew up. It’s no good, he said. He said the meeting, however, is being recorded with sound, but is not being cablecast live. He said the meeting is being played four times a day for four weeks.
“Why didn’t you ask these questions when you voted for this system?” Rush asked of Morgan.
Morgan replied that the system was first supposed to be $30,000 and then it came back as $62,000.
“If I was sitting on this board, I’d be pissed,” she said. “He never came to give the board an explanation.
“How pathetically sad,” Morgan said.
Trustee Matthew Oddy said the board asked them to come before the board and answer questions before the township paid, or to write a letter.
“I’m just one board member, but that’s what I requested,” Trustee Oddy said.
“At a bare minimum that’s what he should do,” Trustee Don LaPorte said.
“One of you should make a motion that he should not be paid,” Morgan said.
“As committee chairman, until the committee signs off on it, there’s not going to be any check written,” Rush said.
“Will you make a motion?” Morgan asked and Rush replied, “No problem.”
Oddy also said he had no problem with that and Trustee LaPorte added, “No problem.”
Treasurer Ken Bednark said maybe the board should get some concessions on this.
Oddy said he would make the motion during the meeting to have the vendor come in to explain before getting a check.
Morgan also commented on Deputy Clerk Dawn Hadyniak’s seat back in the corner, behind the board and against the wall. She said when Hadyniak was gone and Deputy Supervisor Karen Armatis took minutes at the budget hearing, Armatis sat up front at the board table.
“Now Dawn is back there and I can hardly see her,” Morgan said. “It looks like she’s sitting in the naughty chair.”
Clerk Esther Hurst said Deputy Hadyniak chose to sit there and it’s easier for Armatis to sit at the board table to get the motions.
At the regular meeting, the board:
• Heard Armatis introduce Jeff Lomanic, Jr., his father Jeff, Sr., two helpers and a daughter. Armatis said they made the new board table which has been installed. Supervisor John Morgan said, “We think you did a great job.” Trustee Rush said there is a lot of room for his legs now. Lomanic, Jr. thanked his father for doing the design. “He helped a lot,” Lomanic, Jr. said, and the audience applauded;
• Heard Ken Kunka, head of the water and sewer department, give a report on how the water bills are determined and what happens when residents become delinquent. Supervisor Morgan said the auditors tell the township to keep the delinquency rate down. When Trustee Oddy asked what other options besides payment plans do the township residents have to avoid shutoffs, Kunka said they don’t have any listed in their office now. Oddy said he would like to see a list of options for people who are facing shutoffs, such as other programs to help. Kunka said there have been about 10 shutoffs in the last six months. “Can I ask about his report?” asked Peggy Morgan, and Supervisor Morgan said, “No. We can’t do that”;
• Heard Public Safety Director/Police Chief Eric Luke give his monthly report and advised residents to keep their houses and garages locked since when the weather breaks there is an uptick in property crime. When asked about numbers to call for suicide prevention, Chief Luke said he’s had it posted on the website for five weeks. He said in the last three to four weeks, Sumpter has had two to three suicides. He said he has asked people to share the help lines on social media. “Maybe someone will feel moved to call when they see the number,” Luke said;
• Heard Fire Chief Januszyk report the previous evening there was a small brush fire that started when the flames got out of a burn pit. He asked residents not to burn. “You turn your back and it gets out of control,” he said. When asked if they used their new Gator for the fire, Luke said the township doesn’t have its trailer yet because there was a fire in Texas. They have made arrangements to use a DPW trailer until the new one comes in, he said;
• Heard Treasurer Ken Bednark announce that the township now has paperless water billing and forms to fill out are at the treasurer’s office. He said people can get their bill via email instead of a paper bill in the mail. He said he will see if they can post a form on the internet to fill out. He said it will expedite getting your bill and save a stamp. Treasurer Bednark also announced that they have contracted with a firm to install a night deposit window of bank quality. He said there will be a locked bin on the inside, so things dropped in the slot can no longer fall into the office on the floor behind a machine. He said he is looking into the details of taking partial tax payments and is shopping banks to get the best deal for the township. Also, once they get their bank, they will be looking at taking tax bills by credit card;
• Heard township attorney Rob Young report that the Nationwide pension problem is still a bit challenging and Nationwide is not returning emails and calls. He said there is a tentative conference call scheduled for the next day with its attorney. He also said Ray Parker of Hennessey Engineers is ready to go out for proposals not to exceed $300,000 to fix up the hexagon building across the road to turn it into a media center. Now that the work has been turned over to Sumpter Township, it will be “a lot cheaper than the district library” proposals. He said now the district library can focus on its big library building in Belleville. He also reported on the meetings scheduled to work out details of the funding problem between 34th District Court municipalities and City of Romulus; and
• Approved a full-time office assistant position within the clerk’s office. The hiring committee will consist of Michelle Bellingham, Chief Luke, Ken Kunka, and Clerk Hurst.