Sumpter Township supervisor recuses self from hiring committee

At the June 11 regular meeting of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees, Supervisor Tim Bowman explained that he recused himself from the board-approved committee to interview candidates for the full-time Department of Public Works position because his son-in-law was a candidate.
Township attorney Rob Young said there were interviews earlier that day for the DPW position and Supervisor Bowman recused himself. Deputy Treasurer Erica Campbell sat in for the supervisor for the interviews.
Attorney Young said the interview committee was officially appointed by a vote of the township board, so Campbell’s replacement for Bowman needs to be officially passed by the board.
Treasurer Bart Patterson said the township manager asked her to come into the interviews to fill the vacant spot.
Young said even though the interviews are over, the board needs to make the change official.
The item was added to the agenda and the board unanimously accepted Bowman’s recusal from the interview committee and the replacement by Campbell.
At the May 14 meeting, the board was asked to approve a committee to interview candidates for the full-time DPW position, which is under the AFSCME union. Treasurer Patterson asked if they could get the names of committee members before they voted.
He was told by Township Manager Tony Burdick that the members would be Trustee Don LaPorte, DPW Director John Danci, Finance Director Scott Holtz, and Deputy Clerk Karen Armatis, and he would need one more. Supervisor Bowman volunteered to be on the committee. Then that committee of five was voted in.
In other action at the 35-minute meeting on June 11, the board:
• Heard Trustee Matthew Oddy question why the board no longer has workshop sessions. He said residents come specifically to ask questions at the workshops and they are no longer able to do so as the regular meeting goes forward without audience participation on each agenda item. Trustee Oddy said the board should vote on not having workshops to make it official, but he is in favor of continuing the workshops. Supervisor Bowman said he never liked the workshops and they will deal with it at the next board meeting;
• Heard Theresa Patton announce her candidacy for 34th District Court judge in the upcoming election. She gave her background and said she would stay after the meeting to talk with anyone who had questions;
• Heard Mary Ban ask when the doors at the community center are going to be redone. She said earlier that day a women with a walker was having difficulty getting in the door. An automatic door that works would be appreciated. Ban said the front door at township hall also is a challenge. Burdick said a person who specializes in such doors was at the township earlier that day and he will propose a temporary resolution. He said a call for bids is out and will be opened June 21. Ban also said she really misses the workshops;
• Heard attorney Young report the the blight enforcement officers are out and have issued a lot of violations. He said most are the result of complaints and he invited residents to contact them with blight complaints. He also noted bills are moving forward to establish stormwater utility districts. He said Sumpter has issues during storms, so he will keep them informed;
• Heard Trustee Tim Rush say Sumpter dodged another bullet the previous week when it didn’t get any of the tornadoes that hit the region. He said the township is storm ready and he and Police Chief Luke are watching the radar;
• Heard Burdick report he left a message from AFSCME about taking July 5 at its floating holiday. He said it will be on the next township board agenda for a decision;
• Heard Patterson say that the fire millage is on the Aug. 6 ballot for up to 2 mills and they need to get more information out to the residents;
• Approved a motion unanimously to reject all bids received for the floating dock framework and deckway, without explanation;
• Approved the annual employee cookout from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on June 28;
• Approved the new employment agreement with Fire Chief Richard Brown as of June 24;
• Approved volunteers to use ARPA funds to remove fencing at Banotai Park. Burdick said this was just the deteriorated wooden, split-rail fence around the playscape. Expenses will be approved by the board of trustees;
• Approved CWA to conduct a building department audit at a cost not to exceed $7,000;
• Approved renewing the CWA retainer with monthly fees effective Sept. 1 for 2024 and rates effective each Jan. 1 for 2025, 2026, and 2027; and
• Approved the motion of Bowman to table to the next board meeting the $56,400 bid on the concrete recycling pad by Diversified Excavating paid with ARPA funds to find out exactly what they would do for that amount. Oddy said they need more information since it is $20,000 more than budgeted. Burdick explained that he needs to know the exact costs of various projects before the ARPA spending can be adjusted. “We don’t know what we don’t know yet,” he said.
Clerk Esther Hurst and Trustee Peggy Morgan were absent and excused from the meeting.