MORALE : Entry # 88
Morale Issue or Concern
Mandatory OT
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
Getting ordered in every one of my off weekends due to Rodeo’s, carnivals, air shows, fireworks, etc.. Its becoming too much as you cannot plan anything during the summer. I understand details are a part of police work, but management takes away our whole summer!!
How can your issue be solved by management?
Stop mandating the OT for the rodeo/carnivals. If no one signs up let them find their own security for the event. Also everyone gets ordered for the air show, and not everyone is needed. See who signs up and maybe allow MSP to assist with traffic… The fireworks detail is also absurd. All the command officers stand around the command post and socialize and only a few officers actually work and direct traffic. TOO much of an overkill OT is not an issue I guess when it benefits the top…
MORALE : Entry # 89
Morale Issue or Concern
Hats and Ties
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
for years now the men and women working patrol have not been happy with wearing hats and ties, it is uncomfortable cumbersome and tactically unsound. We have expressed our concerns but our leader who walks from his car to the station or from meeting to meeting thinks they look good. There is a time and place for a hat and tie and its not on routine patrol, but he doesn’t care what will make the men and women working under him happy. It is a pompous fool as a leader that can’t see or won’t listen to his people and care about their comfort and happiness at work. Maybe just maybe if people were happy and comfortable they may work harder and how much more tickets and revenue could be generated ??? we will never know
How can your issue be solved by management?
Absolutely !!!!!!
MORALE : Entry # 90
Morale Issue or Concern
Black out Days and special events
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
We are a changing workforce who are more concerned with quality of life issues, scheduling and time off. You should have learned that in leadership schools or Staff and Command. Forcing people to work events like the Mexican Rodeo, carnivals, or any other events that we are contracted for is getting old. If people want to work great if you cant get enough then let the people putting on the event manage it. Stop promising employees that want their weekends off.
MORALE : Entry # 90
The fireworks ! pick and number that you need and get people to sign up, the all hands on deck has to stop people do not want to be here when they are off. The Airshow, pick and number and have people sign up, get the County and State to help. Quality of life !!!, because you have no life outside of Van Buren Township doesn’t mean your employees feel the same, its not 1999
How can your issue be solved by management?
Absolutely
MORALE : Entry # 91
Morale Issue or Concern
forcing comp time or no overtime
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
we are sick of being asked to work for comp time, train for comp time when you have done nothing for free in your career. You could not even take the money they were offering you for your current position, you needed more but want us to take less. People don’t forget!!!! Oh you can go to that class if you take comp or it doesn’t cause over time, but we will order everyone to work the fireworks and air show that is unnecessary.
How can your issue be solved by management?
treat people how you want to be treated and how you treat yourself.
MORALE : Entry # 92
Morale Issue or Concern
relationship you have with your command
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
If you don’t think the way you treat some of your command officers effects morale in our unit your are wrong. We respect a few of the command officers you are attacking and treating unfairly. We work with these command officers day in and day out we follow there leadership because we truly respect them as leaders. The relationship you have is effecting us as well.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Yes, grown up and act professional
MORALE : Entry # 93
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
“It is what it is”. Has been a comment made by Director Laurain many times when he has been faced with department issues.
“It is what it is” is THE WORST phrase you can say if you to be a success, reach your goals or be RESPECTED leader. This type of disempowering phrase is resigning to defeat, and basically accepting mediocrity and sub-par employees.
“It is what it is” because YOU have done nothing to change it. “It is what it is” because you have no clue what is going on in the ranks, on the streets or in dispatch. You accept being uninformed. You use it as an excuse, “this is the first I have heard about it” is another one of your ‘catch phrases’. “It is what it is” because YOU are asking the wrong questions. Trusting the wrong people. “It is what it is” because you do not demand more of yourself or your employees.
How can your issue be solved by management?
How can this issue be solved? I am not sure it can be solved. Some people are leaders, some are followers. For years Dir Laurain was a follower. He followed Perkins, K Brooks, Smolen, Champagne, and yes, even Rosemary! Maybe he needs to step aside and let Deputy Dir Wright take the lead.
MORALE : Entry # 94
Morale Issue or Concern
none personally
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
I’m personally not affected by this, however if a command officer speaks negatively on department matters/positions amongst patrol officers, it could possibly affect patrol officers to think negatively of the department or specific matters as well.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Management should reflect professionalism and set a positive example amongst patrol officers, encouraging and praising hard work. Setting a positive example may also encourage patrol officers to want to be promoted in the future.
MORALE : Entry # 95
Morale Issue or Concern
Hats and Ties
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
I think there would be a large boost in morale if we got rid of the hats and ties. Officers want to be comfortable at work, and we all know that these uniform requirements are not comfortable. Hats and ties don’t change who we are or how we do our job. Every time 1 arrive to a call, or make a traffic stop, I find myself checking to make sure that my hat and tie is neat looking and on correctly, instead of paying attention to my surroundings or the occupants of a vehicle I have stopped. I think this is a major officer safety concern, and very uncomfortable. I’ve heard the director say that it commands respect, but I find that 1 get laughed at more and not taken seriously. I also heard that our director says it makes us more approachable, but found out that it makes us less approachable because it makes us look more official, and not approachable.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Get rid of of hats and ties and allow officers to go back to wearing turtle necks in the winter, and no hats in the summer. I do not mind wearing the issued winter cap, but not the ties, and not the hats in the summer. I think if the director got rid of the hats and ties requirement it would go along way with officers and show that he really does care about our concerns and comfort.
MORALE : Entry # 96
Morale Issue or Concern
Divide between Command and Officers
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
Why is it that command always seems to work against officers and never with us as a team? 2 out of our 3 lieutenants always seem to look for ways jam up officers for the smallest things, and when it comes to something they do that may raise questions, its ignored by our directors. I also think we all know and feel that our department directors turn their heads when 1 Lieutenant, who seems to have more authority than any other supervisor in the department, does whatever he wants, whenever he wants. This I believe shows an extreme lack of leadership within our agency and a lack of leading by example. Officers are reprimanded for much less than what this Lieutenant gets away with. He purposely violates department policy and nothing happens. There are all sorts of allegations against him and nothing ever gets looked into or investigated properly by the directors. It’s more or less “brushed under the rug”.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Our director always preaches the motto “One Department – One Team”, but seems to have no idea what this means. Maybe listening to officers concerns and not using those concerns against them would be a start. Also, do the right thing. Look into allegations against supervisors instead of turning your head like you don’t want to deal with it or you don’t care. Open lines of communication between command and officers, and quit trying to reprimand officers for the smallest things. Officers are less productive when they know that they are targets of command.
MORALE : Entry # 97
Morale Issue or Concern
Position Requirements
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
Why is it that a minimum requirement for an officer to be hired says that he must have at least an Associate Degree, yet our Director of Public Safety holds no degree’s himself? FBI School does not count. If he earned his position from experience alone, why was it that 1 of the requirements for the Deputy Director Position was that this person needed to have at least a Bachelor’s Degree? Why couldn’t this person also have 20+ years experience in Law Enforcement and command experience from another agency? Who writes these position requirements, and why does it seem as if they are tailored for certain individuals and not others?
MORALE : Entry # 97
How can your issue be solved by management?
Set fourth position requirements without changing them for certain people. This makes our agency look bad to not only the public, but to other local agencies as well.
MORALE : Entry # 98
Morale Issue or Concern
Competent and Incompetent Supervisors
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
The supervisors on the night shifts and Lieutenant Buckberry’s day shift, are very competent, empowering, motivating supervisors with great leadership abilities and skills. They work great as a team, and always offer their assistance when available. They have a strong scene presence and have no problems making decisions. So why is it that the supervisors on the other day shift are totally opposite? I’ve worked a few days shifts on that side and found them to be lazy.and unable to make scene or command decisions like a supervisor should properly do. When they do make decisions, it seems as if they have their own interpretation of the law instead of what the law actually is. They have virtually no leadership abilities, and seem to have no interest in being there in the first place. They are not motivating, seem incompetent, and seem to use scare tactics to motivate their officers. I never bid this side because of this.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Periodically evaluate your supervisors. Survey your officers to see which supervisors are effectively doing their job. Most shift supervisors are great, but some have no business being where they are today. A supervisor should be promoted to that position based on their potential leadership abilities and quality of work, not because they have “put in their time”. It seems that the less work one does, the more likely that person will get promoted.
MORALE : Entry # 99
Morale Issue or Concern
Uniform
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
I understand the importance of looking professional, but VBPD needs to stand out on not fit in. Looking like Canton PD and Livonia PD is not defining VBPD. Getting away from the hat, tie and polyester uniform would be a start to establishing VBPD own professional uniform standard.
How can your issue be solved by management?
I understand the importance of the hat and tie, but officers don’t enjoy wearing them. A compromise might be to wear the hat / tie for special details (fireworks, air show, redo, carnivals, parades, etc.)
Also, having a non-polyester uniform that wouldn’t need to be replace every six months and a uniform that provides more comfort to the officers would beneficial to management and officers. Management would save money by not needing to replace the uniforms as often and officer would be grateful for a more comfortable / professional uniform while preforming their duties.
MORALE : Entry # 99
I think a change in the uniform, getting away from hat / tie / polyester would sky rocket moral.
MORALE: Entry #100
Morale Issue or Concern
Hats & Ties
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
The hats and ties suck!!
How can your issue be solved by management?
Get rid of them and get a more functional and comfortable uniform to work in.
MORALE: Entry#101
Morale Issue or Concern
Yearly Department Meetings
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
We do not need to continue to have these mandatory department meetings where we sit and listen to the Director of Public Safety tell all of us about all of his own personal accomplishments over previous year. I always thought these meetings were to inform public safety personnel what the direction of the department is, and what we as a team can look forward too. Instead, we have sit and listen to the Director toot his own horn and pat himself on the back like he did something. We all make contributions to the community on a daily basis, but none of us feel the need to brag about it like the Director does.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Cancel the meetings, or make them not mandatory. Most of us are tired of hearing the same old story.
MORALE: Entry #102
Morale Issue or Concern
Major boost in Morale
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
There would be a major boost in morale, quality of work life, productivity, and consistency, if the Director finally retires or quits. This man cares about no one but himself. I often wonder if he really cares about anyone at all. There was a time when he would speak out and refuse to work for free, but now he expects us to all basically do the same thing by volunteering our time, or working for comp time. This man will also praise you one moment, then talk shit about you to someone else the minute you leave the room. He holds grudges, he’s a terrible leader, he has no idea how to talk to people, and its time for him to move on.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Director, you have had many accomplishments throughout your career that you should be proud of, but the last few years that you have been the Director have been difficult to say the least. Your ideas are out-dated, and your management and leadership skills show us that you are completely disconnected from what actually happens on the road.
MORALE: Entry #103
Morale Issue or Concern
Uniform
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
Hats and ties. What is the practicality of having to wear hats and ties for “normal routine” road patrol. Decisions like this are made by management that is so far removed from the everyday duties of an officer working road patrol at any level. There is no benefit of wearing hats and ties. Wearing a hat and a tie is not what makes an officer professional.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Talk to members of the department. See what people think about issues and how they feel. The “I’ll show them” attitude by management needs to stop. There are issues such as hats and ties that are small that would have a drastic effect on department members attitudes that do not effect the professionalism of the department or how the department would operate.
MORALE: Entry#104
Morale Issue or Concern
policy/procedure
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
As of recently there have been new policies/procedures created for specific areas. In most of the cases they have been created by management/command after a minor issue so that next time officers can be disciplined. Instead of talking with an officer about minor issues it seems that it is always managements goal to try and discipline an officer. Not only is the issue that management only seems concerned with disciplining an officer, when these policies are created some of them are created by certain command officers that lack the true knowledge on the issue and general competence to do so and then a week later the policy has to be taken back by management because of this.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Stop allowing incompetent command officers to create policy.
MORALE: Entry#105
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
The double standard that management has created and allowed to continue between patrol and command. When a patrol officer is found to be in violation of a department policy/procedure they are met with discipline, but when it is a command officer violating policy/procedures or even laws management seems to look the other way and not deal with the issue. Management claims that command officers are allegedly held to a higher standard but that seems to be just talk. There is hardly ever any action.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Hold everyone to the standards that they should be and quit ignoring what is going on.
MORALE: Entry #106
Morale Issue or Concern
Double Standard
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
Why is it when an officer does something wrong or makes a mistake, the officer is investigated, reprimanded, sometimes suspended, and ridiculed by command. But when a supervisor does something similar, and in some cases even worse, the Director of Public Safety does noting about it. The one person who is responsible for this fails to take action let alone even investigate any allegations against the supervisor.
How can your issue be solved by management?
The double standard we have needs to stop. Officers get reprimanded for the most ridiculous things, yet we have a command officer who continuously fails to follow policy and allegedly falsifies time cards, and no one ever even questions it. Our current Director needs to go.
MORALE: Entry #107
Morale Issue or Concern
South Canton PD
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
Van Buren Twp PD is the laughing stock of most local police agencies under our current Public Safety Director. We are considered followers, instead of leaders. Our Public Safety Director doesn’t do anything unless Canton PD does it. If Canton PD implements something new, then we implement it. If they make a policy change, we make the same policy change. Why don’t we get new patches for our uniforms that say South Canton PD?
How can your issue be solved by management?
Quit trying to make us look like another agency and start to be leader. Quit piggy backing off of every move Canton PD makes.
MORALE: Entry #108
Morale Issue or Concern
Uniform Requirements
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
Here’s and idea. Take some notes from Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office. The Sheriff in Washtenaw went to a new uniform from the Brown’s they used to wear to a new, lightweight, breathable, and comfortable uniform. The uniform is durable, and lasts longer which saves the department dollars in their uniform budget. The deputies love the uniform, because its comfortable, breathable, and not constricting. Deputies says that the Sheriff made the uniform change after listening to his staff over concerns about comfort and durability. The sheriff made the change and the deputies love it. That little change in uniform showed that the Sheriff cares about his deputies comfort while at work knowing that they would continue to provide a high level of service no matter what they wore while on duty. Ultimately, morale and productivity was boosted over night.
How can your issue be solved by management?
This isn’t 1980 anymore. The times when police officers looked like the milk man are over. Let us be comfortable and start listening to us.
MORALE: Entry #109
Morale Issue or Concern
Poor Leadership
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
It’s time for you to move on or retire Director. You alone have turned this agency into one that no one wants to be associated with. Fortunately, most of the Officers, Sergeants, and 1 of the lieutenants, have continuously stuck together and worked together as a team, while the 2 other lieutenants and you have done noting but continuously attempt to drive this agency into the ground. None of us are respected by the community because of you, and it will be a miracle if the public safety millage passes this year. Step aside and allow the Deputy Director take the lead. In the short time that he has been here, we have all seen how much he genuinely cares for his staff, unlike you.
How can your issue be solved by management?
The Director needs to retire
MORALE: Entry#110
Morale Issue or Concern
Overtime Pay Options
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
Quit asking your staff to take comp time when they attend training, or work overtime details. You would have never done this before you went to a salary position. You yourself would have demanded overtime pay or would have not worked the detail or trained. If you have a detail or training that needs to be filled, allow for officers to take the time any way they choose, or don’t ask anyone to do it.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Quit asking people to do things for comp time.
MORALE : Entry # 111
Morale Issue or Concern
consistency
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
There are so many reasons morale is low. The main problem is lack of consistency. Every supervisor runs their shift differently. Even the supervisors on each shift operate differently. We are always getting memos and updated policies but they don’t really do anything because they are not really followed. (Only when it is convenient for management) There are also so many “clicks” so many people are afraid to stick up for themselves because they are afraid of getting on the “target list” of “one of the good old boys”. So that makes everyone out for themselves and that is when the backstabbing begins.
I also believe no one here feels they are allowed to have a say in how they work. Allow us to bring suggestions without it getting thrown back in our faces or swept under the rug. Some suggestions are implemented and someone else takes the credit. A little acknowledgement goes a long way (through the year, not just one day a year) Some people work better by getting out and talking to citizens, and some work better by being under “strict management” There is no need to blanket discipline or new policies that are going to affect a few. Every time there is a new policy that is all I hear is people complaining about the “blanket memo/discipline”.
Everyone always talks about the “stats” and their numbers in the point system. I understand that is in place to hold a standard for those who are less motivated, but it makes everyone feel “punished”
We are also treated like we are stupid a lot of the time. We are told flat out lies just to pacify us. Does management think we are that stupid to not see what they are doing? All we ask is to be treated like we are a member of this organization rather than a child and command staff is our parent.
How can your issue be solved by management?
I mostly explained in my possible solutions above.
Basically we need more leadership and guidance. Allow us to think for ourselves and have a say in things going on. If you want us to be “one department one team” we have to be on the same team, not playing against ourselves.
Give us tasks to complete to make the department better. Set goals to be reached, projects to be done. In time we will better our department and everyone will feel better about helping making it a good place to work again.
MORALE: Entry #112
Morale Issue or Concern
Mexican Rodeos
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
There are a few Officers and Sergeants that don’t mind soaking up overtime for these Mexican rodeos, but don’t force people to work them. Lt. Flora says that we work them because we are expected to provide the service to our community, yet not 1 single person from our community attends these events. So who exactly are we providing this service too? It’s definitely not our community. In fact most of the surrounding community constantly complains about these events due to the noise and rowdiness of attendees.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Tell the fairgrounds to hire security.
MORALE: Entry #113
Morale Issue or Concern
Black Friday Walmart Detail
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
Why do we continue to ask officers who are off for Thanksgiving to come in and work security for Walmart on the evening of Thanksgiving? Can’t they hire their own security? We in law enforcement already work through numerous holidays, family functions, and weekends where we spend a lot of time away from our families and children, and now we are being asked to work security for a large chain on the night of Thanksgiving. Where does it end?
How can your issue be solved by management?
Ask officers if they want to work it. If no one wants it, tell Walmart we cannot provide any man power and that they need their own security.
MORALE: Entry #114
Morale Issue or Concern
Hats and ties
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
No one wants to wear these hats and ties. If you want morale improved you will allow personnel to not wear them anymore. Productivity, and overall work enjoyment will greatly improve if you get rid of these ridiculous uniform requirements. Happy employees do great work and go above and beyond the call of duty. Unhappy employees don’t care, and only do what is expected of them.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Get rid of the hats
MORALE: Entry #115
Morale Issue or Concern
Accountability, Double Standard, Competency
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
Accountability:
There is a consistent lack of accountability that starts with the Director of Public Safety. Each employee from patrol to the top of command staff is held to a different set of rules and level of accountability at Van Buren Township. This is a direct result of the lack of leadership and micro-management of the Director’s Office. From the documented inept ability of a certain Detective, who has to this day still remained in the position of Detective, with no discipline after the documented incident of failing to interview a suspect in an armed robbery incident and expressing the inability to do so? No accountability. The documented and publicly known act (s) of Lieutenant Flora in being paid for time in which he was not at his designated location as a fire fighter, taking his children to school while on duty, and abusing the “system”. This behavior has been allowed and signed off on (payroll) by the Director of Public Safety. This behavior has been overlooked for years, and until recently “pressed’ by public scrutiny, the Director of Public Safety has done nothing to stop or curtail this activity. Again, no accountability for certain individuals.
COMPETENCY:
It is apparent through observation and conveyance of information through nearly every member of the Command Staff at Van Buren Township that they have little confidence in Director Laurain’s ability to support this organization. It is also apparent that Director Laurain is unable to foster team work and accountability within the public safety department. It is known that Director Laurain does not consider the idea’s and corrective action of his Sergeant’s and routinely bypasses the Sergeants for feedback on a given shift, organizational ideology, and support which leaves some of the Sergeant’s only able to state “It’s out of my hands” or the cliche ‘It is what it is”. These few known examples show the lack of confidence and faith from an organizational stand point that Director Laurain has in his command staff and the rhetorical feeling that the command staff and VBPOA has in him.
DOUBLE STANDARD/LACK OF CONSISTENCY:
The “good old boy system” is, and has been, in effect at Van Buren Township, which relates directly to ascension and promotion opportunities within the organization, not on a system of merit which takes into account ones experience, ability, and education. It is also common knowledge that elective positions and special assignments are only posted for opening to satisfy the Collective Bargaining Agreement and that Director Laurain appoints the position (s) to his liking. Again, merit, experience, ability, and education are given little consideration in these circumstances. Opportunities are not available to all employees, commonly referred to as being “blacklisted”, which is to say that at Van Buren Township, if you do not strictly adhere to one’s goal (Director Laurain) or path as they see fit, then future endeavors are and will not be available to the employee in the future. This ideology completely negates the moniker of “One Department, One Team”.
IDEAOLOGY:
The current ideology at Van Buren Township appears to be only the idea of one (Director Laurain) and not the organization. Director Laurain’s “rule with an iron fist” approach to Management and leading a group of individuals as team, with the idea of achieving the “goal”, has fell on deaf ears within the organization. It is well known throughout history that dictatorships do not work. The Director of Public Safety does not foster an environment conducive to team work and trust. Morale at this department is at an all-time low as we do not receive support, encouragement, and good faith to do our jobs from the Director of Public Safety.
While the leadership of each department of the organization is in the position to make final decisions regarding their department, there must be free and open interdepartmental discussion and consideration of everyone’s ideas and opinions. These internal discussions must not be considered an invasion of turf. Organizations that consistently perform at the highest levels are able to come together and be unified across the organization-staff and management. When everyone is on the same page, trust develops and the organization can grow and succeed together. Unfortunately, there has been a long standing departure from this culture at Van Buren Township.
“The key to a successful leader is to earn respect- not because of rank or position, but because you are a leader of character.”
“Attitude reflects leadership”
How can your issue be solved by management?
I do not have confidence in the Director’s Office that he want’s any type of change to occur at Van Buren Township other than the implementation of his own idea’s and to cement his legacy at Van Buren Township, giving little consideration to the idea’s and morale of the “Team”.
MORALE: Entry #116
Morale Issue or Concern
hats and ties
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
Uncomfortable to wear, and make us look sloppy. Hats in the summer make you sweat like crazy and hold heat to your head. Once soaked with sweat, they don’t dry out. Ties are uncomfortable as well. They fly around hitting vehicles when on traffic stops, getting full of salt and dirt. Tie bars get stuck on or removed by seat belts and most times someone has to point out that your tie bar is falling off or is gone.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Eliminate both requirements. No cost to do so and I feel it would be a great start getting our officers and director back on the same page.
MORALE: Entry #117
Morale Issue or Concern
uniform on detail events
Please describe the morale issue or concern.
Allow officers to wear the training polo uniform on detail events such as fireworks, mexican rodeos, airshow and the belleville square carnival. Wearing a class a uniform and walking around in dirt, mud, beer cans, animal feces, (rodeos) does not make much sense. These events are located in areas with little to no shade.
Most of these events are posted with sign up notifications in the squad room. Nobody wants to sign up to stand in the sun all afternoon wearing a class a uniform. Reward your people who give up another summer weekend away from their families to work these events.
How can your issue be solved by management?
Stated above. Allow the polo uniform for these events.
At Monday’s workstudy, I asked “Who gave the directive to Laurain for a 7 day lay-off notice, laying off 5-10 police officers, rescinding a job offer for a new police officer” Sharry Budd said, No one. No one from this Board gave the directive to the Director.
In my comment, I stated. Laurian should be terminated because he is causing severe discord among the police officers. The results of this survey prove it.
This survey is more of a gripe sheet than a real tool to improve the efficiency and the skills of those people who are employed in the Public Safety Department. I’m a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and during the Vietnam era I can tell you that none of us were ever completely happy and contented with the directions that our commanding officers passed down the “chain of command.” Regardless, the job got done to the best of our abilities and very few individuals failed to give their all for our nation. Respect is a two way street! What background does Ms. Madigan have that would qualify her for determining the parameters of leadership qualities for police and firefighters in Van Buren Township? She’s entitled to her opinion, but without any certification or educational achievement, and absolutely no experience, she isn’t credible!
So, CeJay is calling the Police Officers, “gripes”, and comparing our valued Officers to his Navy service. Also stating Madigan does not have knowledge of VBT happenings. Madigan has FOIA’d information and studied many different papers on issues concerning VBT. CeJay does not like having others express a different opinion than his own.
I had to stop reading Mr. Marshall ‘s comments when he started attacking them personally. Someone like him isn’t to be taken seriously. I’m a military vet as well, but I don’t use that to push my opinions. Semper Fi
Sorry you feel that way Mr. Brown, but apparently these words that were used to attack employees who are public servants didn’t need to be objective and fair, it’s ok to employ vicious and slanderous accusations just because the writer may disagree with someone’s opinion? Open your horizons and consider the other side of the debate you might learn something of the truth.
Apparently Mr. White has interpretive reading difficulty and I won’t embarrass him further.
Again, cj belittles others trying to make him look good.
This is too foolish to even respond to Mr. White.
cj has no response. First time ever. He is being exposed with the truth. Still want to piss on me to put the fire out, cj.
Most of the comments here are posted with accurate information. Marshall does not like what he is reading, so he tries to bully others into not posting comments. He states above, Madigan has no educational achievement or certification and is not credible. Madigan has much more experience in business and Marshall is simply trying to bully her into not posting. This is how Marshall operates, with directions from others. He is their mouth piece and frequently has breakfast with elected officials at Leo’s on Thursday mornings. His right. However, Marshall should go back to the sandbox and throw sand in little kids face. He tried to bully me while I was in office, and is simply pissed he could not achieve that goal. Take Marshall’s comments as they are, simply comments without any background to back his comments. Now, I am ready for a barrage of comments by Marshall because that is what he does. He should take the time to educate himself about VBT politics and issues facing our great residents. Bring it on cj. I have almost 40 years business experience, union experience, treating customers with respect and dignity, and listening to legitimate discussion, not the @#$%^&* you speak. I support our valued Public Safety Dept. employees with respect 100 %. Not elected officials who try to pull a “bait and switch” on the residents to cover their hinny on the Visteon Bond Payment.
Wow. Wow. Wow. How does this man still have a job as director he should be fired or at the very least demoted. This is a cry for help among the men and women for provide a service to our township.
Try not to judge the situation from just this blog, there are always two sides to every issue. Every Director has had significant problems to deal with and none have escaped ridicule from the “troops’ as well as the media. This comes with the territory and it happens often when municipalities are hard pressed for operating revenue. Make an appointment to discuss your concerns with the elected township officials and the appointed directors who can explain these topics in detail. Don’t believe everything you hear and take very little of what is written as the gospel.
At the current time, VBT is not hard pressed for revenue. The revenues from the two landfills are there to use, and should be used to keep our taxes low. More flufffrom someone who does not know how to perform as a manager, as he has never been in that position. Bring it on mouth piece for others.
I’m not judging the situation from a blog. I’m simply pointing out the results of an internal survey. It doesn’t get any closer to the source than that. I don’t need to make an appointment, the board are the ones that need to make an appointment with this director and let him go. It’s business, changes need to happen, but it’s the same old story.
No millage will pass now, that internal turmoil has surfaced and been exposed. Maybe you can discuss it with them when you go see them at Leo’s.
Mike, please feel free to have breakfast anytime at Leo’s you would be welcome to join with us and to share in our conversation, none of which pertains to township business. Mostly we discuss family achievements and catch up on the condition of folks who may be ill or who may have recently passed away. You might be surprised to learn that I don’t always agree with these fine individuals, but I try not be disrespectful in my approach. I tend to treat others as they treat me and my friends, but if it means standing up for their reputations and character you can bet I’ll do just that. 4 mills will not suffice to offset the debt we have incurred through no fault of our own. The police and firefighters expect to be properly compensated for their service to the community and once again 4 mills is insufficient for this purpose. Paul White is fully aware of the true General Fund Budget requirements, but he didn’t do anything to address the Visteon debt when he was in office and now he’ll try to place blame on everyone else to cover up for his lack of a financial business plan when he was supervisor. Of course the current Township Trustees tried to incorporate a seven year dedicated Public Safety Millage plan and that failed to pass. Now we need to start over, but will people actually care, and will they really accept the fact that many communities our size spend far greater than 4 mills just to provide for public safety services to their municipalities. It is said in life, “you should be careful of what you ask for, you just may get it!” Well our police and firefighters have to decide what it is they ask for because they won’t get it by opposing the tax revenue that provides for their livelihoods.
r/CeJay Marshall
Where is the survey for the fire chief? I am willing to bet it would be the same thing. Listen to your employees COMBS, WRIGHT, BUDD, HART, JAHR, MCCLANAHAN, MILLER. You have destroyed this township and your reputations. No hope for a political career after this.
Hart is staging for a 2016 run for Supervisor. Remember, Hart is a member of the Visteon 3. Hart was also a strong primary participant in the failed 2010 Recall attempt of 4 Elected Officials. Strike 1 on Visteon, Strike 2 on the Recall, Strike 3 on the current issues with the current Board. Only 2 current Officials should return. McClanahan and
?????????. Jus’ Sayin’…
If no one on the Board comes out publically to terminate Laurain, I can’t see voting for anyone individually. Also, to sit on the results for 6 months while he goes about publically embarrassing and threatening the department is deplorable.
I don’t think any of them showed any reason to be reelected. I have not heard one of then stand tall even against the others. Unfortunately, we elected then to work for US. They have failed miserably. Hart definitely will not get my vote and neither will the others.
Now, now Ms. Madigan, what qualifies you to be so outspoken and a public advocate for ruining professional careers of people who have long term employment tenure in this township? Have you a background in Human Resources that I’m not aware of? It seems to me that you could best be of help by continuing to be a source of providing specific breeds of dogs for people in need of their qualities. I promise never to question your professionalism as a dog breeder and if I ever need a “bitch” you may rest assured that I will consult you first! I’ve often heard that neutered males are more docile and easier to manipulate and leash train, is this correct?
CEJay, you crossed the line with your “bitch” comment. The manner is which you wrote the comment is disparaging and very inappropriate. Madigan has every right to her opinion as she is much more knowledgeable about VBT than you are. Knowledge is Power! Learn about issues before you comment.
That’s vile and shows your character well. Its no surprise the board has unleashed you cejay to be their spokesman. It’s too bad that most people find you repulsive, which is a bad thing for the elected officials! Another bad decision by Hart and Budd.
I don’t usually comment publicly on these forums but this one was a thorn in my side. I read all of the comments and agree with most. I do not agree that McClanahan should be ‘re-elected if she decides to run nor any other current member. I will admit I cast a vote for each of them to win their seat but now I regret that decision and I will not make the same mistake twice. New year, New slate , New township.
Thank you for voting, not too many people turned out recently for the P.S. millage proposal, but what the hey…new year, same old budget shortfall, and Visteon Bond maturity in 2019. Planning for a small increase in the Public Safety Budget now could have helped in the near future by freeing up funds to help pay down the debt that is coming due soon. This has been explained over and over again in the Independent, but apparently people only want to be assured that their taxes won’t increase soon. I believe that Paul White wanted to defeat the recent proposed Public Safety Department millage of 6.5 mills because he wants to make an issue of the Visteon indebtedness in the coming months. He always purported to want to address this issue when he was supervisor, but of course that didn’t happen, and now he speaks publicly against the current administration and their efforts to deter some of the damage that was done through his lack of negotiating skills during the Visteon bankruptcy proceedings: 9.8 million dollars of near worthless Visteon Bonds that were brokered for 5.8 million in actual funds to Van Buren Township….see Bloomberg Financials for the details.
I fully supported a 4 mill renewal of the PS Millage. Every one learned about the reason for the unneccesary 2.5 increase increase to cover the Visteon 3 hinny’s on the payment of the Visteon Bond. Bait and Switch!
Careful Mr. White, your political background is littered with embarrassing situations that you shouldn’t be proud of. Having lived here most of your life doesn’t excuse you from being scrutinized for your past indiscretions. You showed everyone your callous and foolish lack of leadership and incapabilities as the past township supervisor, and if you’re ready for another go-around step up to the plate. You spent four years turning this community upside down and destroying the unity and loyalty of the public servants who work everyday to make our quality of life better and safer. I have several looseleaf binders detailing your blunders and unprofessionalism as a public servant, and you still refuse to accept the fact that you weren’t qualified to lead this township. By the way, when General Fund expenditures exceed the property tax revenues of a municipality that is considered a deficit budget! How that shortfall is compensated for is called an amended or supplemented budget item, ie: Landfill Fund & Misc. Acct. Please no more magical math and % of percentages, you do understand that it’s unethical to deceive uninformed individuals…..ah, but isn’t that how you got elected in the first place?
CeJay. I consider my term to be very successful as a proficient, efficient and effective manager of our VBT. Many Directors were very happy to work with me to achieve goals. The General Fund was increase by $1.2 million dollars during my term, and dealing with the huge downturn in the economy. 16 positions were eliminated through attrition, saving millions of our tax dollars. You are very good at using slang such as ” embarrassing situations, scrutinized for your past indiscretions, unprofessionalism as a public servant” and other name calling. Do you remember writing me a letter stating, “if you were lieing in the street on fire, I would not pee on you to put the fire out. and then the next day, writing, ” I wish you were lieing in the street on fire, so I could pee on you “< I still have the letter. You present yourself as never being in a management position, so you know nothing about managing a group of skilled individuals. Learn to list and understand facts, not hearsay. Be truthful in all comments about issues, stop attacking others with whom you disagree, offer your opinion and be done with it. The Landfill money is there to be used in the General Fund, and the Board should use it, as has been done since 1995 or so.
I won’t waste anymore time responding to you Mr. White since you are incapable of holding a normal, truthful conversation. Apparently you suffer from a narcissistic complex and can’t decipher truth from fiction , just as long as you think you are always right you continue to spin your web!
My my, now take a time out fella…. surely you have more intelligent conversation than this tirade? This isn’t from Donald Trump right?
Cejay, you post many comments and you want everyone else to take a time out? This is a public forum for everyone. We will continue to post and not be intimidated by the likes of you.
I don’t know about anyone else but I am tired of the dirty politicians and directors in our township. It’s time to get action. Write to the governor and send these stories to our local news stations. We have to overturn the current elected board.
Let’s all take deep breath, relax and pledge to work together in the new year…Governor Snyder has his own difficulties right now with the lead poisoned water system in Flint and the difficulty of how he is going to dodge his own culpability in the matter…
Leon swept it under the rug. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Every single one of you elected officials, I am disgusted. It will be my mission to make sure everyone reads this and remembers this come election time. You can take your next millage proposal and shove it. Merry Christmas.
And Happy New Year to you too! Just wait until 2019 rolls around and see what Santa has in store for all of us taxpayers who keep believing that miracles do come true and police, firefighters and dispatchers don’t have anything to worry about…Thank you Paul White for all your wisdom and malarky on the subject!
Ole c-jay likes to belittle me, because he cannot “boss me around”. He wanted to have a meeting with me and I agreed. The meeting lasted about 90 seconds because he came on hard and fast and made a “demand” of me which I would not do. He stomped out of the office and began writing obnoxious letters to me on a weekly basis. Maybe I should post some of the letters here so everyone can see what goes on behind closed political doors. C-jay could not tolerate my “mental toughness”.
It is what it is, is what the board needs to be saying to him as they terminate him for not only being a crappy boss but being unethical and covering for guys for commit time card fraud
These are serious personal attacks of “conspiracy and corruption in office” of a public official, I hope you are’t serious because you might have to defend the statements if you should be challenged legally. Was there a cover-up, and if so, isn’t that something the township board should be made aware of? Just a thought…….
Are you threatening Kiwi Herb? The letters you wrote to me are much more personal attacks than his is. Double standard cj.
During my 40 years working for industry I participated in and reviewed the results of many employee satisfaction surveys. I have never seen any survey results this deplorable with respect to the interaction of a leader with his subordinates.
The other comments on this survey have hit most of the issues, disrespect, pompous attitude, dishonesty, ignoring serious issues, on and on it goes. The solution to the serious moral issues in the VBT public safety department seems simple and obvious.
I expect each and every VBT Board member to address this problem quickly and provide a permanent solution. If you fail to stand up and do so in a manner that the public can identify clearly as your personal action, I do not believe you stand any chance of re-election.
Mr. Johnson, I have the utmost respect for your opinion as a scholar and informed citizen, and generally I agree with your suppositions on topics of interest for residents in our community. However, I have spent 45 years as a collective bargained for employee, 43 years (CWA Union) with the largest communications company in the world, AT&T, and believe me no survey that was conducted ever reached the CEO’s desk for consideration. I hope you will allow me the benefit of doubt regarding the situation you have offered in relationship to your experiences as a salaried employee in the automotive industry? My deceased father-in-law was a committeeman for the UAW. My former spouse was Vice President of CWA local 4015 in Plymouth and Treasurer of CWA Local 4009 in Southfield. I was elected shop steward and Chief Union Steward in CWA Local 4015 and Local 4009 for 35 continuous years until I retired in 2011. My father was a retired Detroit Police Officer and former Army Air Corp hero of WWII. My brother and I were both in the U.S. Navy, prior to, and during the Vietnam War. I have never ever lied for anyone and certainly wouldn’t consider doing so at this stage of my life. However, I do understand the conflict of everyday employee/management relationships and believe me when I tell you that only part of the problem has been addressed by certain individuals in the Public Safety Department, and much of what has been aired publicly is better left behind closed doors. These issues can’t be resolved through public involvement and should be left to the discretion of the union representatives and their management counter-parts in frank discussions and with consideration for the costs involved as provided for in the General Fund Budget. Happy New Year and thank you for your past service to our township.
Doctor Carl Johnson has years of management experience overseeing a huge department of well educated employees. Do not ever present yourself as an equal to Dr. Johnson.
The survey was a waste of time and gave police officers false hope that business was going to change inside the PD. It hasn’t and it is probably worse today than it was when the survey was done. After the threat of layoffs, any respect that was left is now gone. you don’t threaten someones livelihood because you didn’t get your way Laurain. I agree with Carl that the board has little hope of reelection because they haven’t done anything to turn around the mess that they created.
The board did the responsible thing in proposing a 2.5 mill increase to the Public Safety Department Budget, however, that didn’t receive the support of the police and firefighters who were openly opposed to a millage increase. The coming years will be difficult for those public servants who have dedicated many years to providing VBT residents with their outstanding professionalism…..you simply can’t pay for a Public Safety Department on borrowed funding for decades without having to cut services. 2019 is looming over the township and the Visteon debt isn’t imaginary, it is surely going to make a 2.5 mill increase today look like a drop in the bucket unless something is done to address the magnitude of the 32 million dollars that we taxpayers must answer for. Placing blame and continuing to throw stones will not provide any solutions to our predicament.
cj, there is 11 million dollars in the LF Fund a nd General Fund Balance. Check the balance of the Visteon Bond again for an accurate figure.
Get a grip township board! Did you read the results of this survey? It’s a sure sign a change in management is needed. Instead you all choose to turn your back on a job you took an oath to do. Take a page from the Detroit lions, they fired a bunch of management and they started winning.
It isn’t the Trustee’s responsibility to make everyone happy, the sand box is full of malcontents and the best way to solve these issues is for everyone to man up and stop the nonsense that appears every week in the Independent through foolish comments and phony letters to the editor blaming people for obvious budgetary shortfalls. Follow the money, or lack there of. These are self inflicted wounds that could be resolved with honest dialog and some mature behavior from everyone. The taxpayers have spoken, and since the millage was defeated, and 4 mills won’t satisfy the needs of the Public Safety Department Budget requirements, cuts will need to be made somewhere in the immediate future. For you Public Safety Department employees who don’t live in Van Buren Township, and whose property taxes won’t be impacted by the Visteon bond issue, it would be in your best interest to convince your coworkers (who do vote in the community) to support a responsible Public Safety Millage that actually does address the shortfall in the budget.
cj, 4 mills will satisfy the needs of our VBT Public Safety, but not the Visteon Bond too. The 2.5 mill increase was to create a “Visteon Bond payment Segregated Fund”.Per the Supervisor.
Contradictions all aboard. Do you even read what you type Marshall?
It seems like the officials are just giving us the finger. Let our voices be heard when it comes time for election. And Mr. Hart you should save your time and just bow out now.
Woogie, is that Star Wars nomenclature for “I don’t have anything pertinent to offer in the way of intelligent conversation?” You can do better than this I’m sure. Try real hard to better state your position and summarize your discontent with real, substantial information and material to support your argument.
cj, read and re-read your above comment about 100 times and then follow your own advice. Come in out in left field and play ball with all of us. Or, better yet, take me on and leave everyone else be. Be knowledgeable about what you write.
It looks like Laurain is responsible for the scare tactic by threatening layoffs as revenge against the police officers and fire fighters for not supporting the recent millage proposal. It’s easy to see now why many are calling for his resignation…but why hasn’t the board demanded his resignation? Knowing what type of director our police officers and fire fighters have to work with they need our moral support now more than ever. Thanks to Diane Madigan for shedding light on this issue so that we as residents have a better understanding of what the working atmosphere is like under this director. Mr. Hart used to be a member of the public safety committee that was disbanded, it might have helped the issue had this committee been allowed to continue. Hart was the board rep. on this committee but he didn’t seem too anxious to keep it going.
Director Laurain, or anyone else in authority for the township who may have notified the POLC that layoffs “could be imminent,” considering the recent decision by township voters to turn down the proposed 6.5 mill Public Safety Department millage, should not be faulted for providing the POLC union officers with notice of possible pending manpower adjustments and changes to staffing for the fire station duty crews. Perhaps it was premature at the moment, but nothing tells me that anything other than cuts to the number of employee in the Public Safety Department will actually address the troubling situation coming in 2019. This is not a ruse, 32 million dollars isn’t a laughing matter, and though some people in the community want to make light of the situation, something must be done to prepare for the inevitable. Just because the POLC union president didn’t want his family’s property taxes to increase is no reason that police and firefighters should not be warned of the consequences! Now Paul White is asking everyone to wait until 2019 is upon us before making any necessary changes, contrary to his past concerns about what lies ahead for the “poor senior citizens” (I’m 68 myself) of the community who will undoubtedly face even greater tax increases at that time.
What is so darn hard to understand? It’s pretty clear to anyone who bothers to look up the facts: the Visteon bankruptcy and the Van Buren Township bond obligation is fully explained on the internet. Try the Bloomberg Financials web site for detailed current information. By the way, the 7 cent Visteon stock that was delisted from the NYSE prior to the bankruptcy is now back up to $100.00 a share. This just after Visteon recently purchased Johnson Controls and is now the world’s largest multi-billion dollar automotive parts supplier. Makes me wish I had bought some interest in the company back then! Did anyone see this coming? Neither did the state and local representatives who worked so diligently to bring Visteon to our community only to see the company self-destruct and take us down with their bankruptcy filing. A crystal ball couldn’t have predicted this happening and neither could our trustees!
Don’t take my word for it… look it up please, I get tired of being called out for merely telling the truth. Honestly, this is not a fantasy and I don’t use fictitious numbers to explain the actual situation…it’s in black and white for anyone to research and you don’t need a Harvard Law Degree to understand the urgency.
cj, a Director does not have a right to issue a lay off notice. This is a responsibility of the Supervisor to present to the full Board for approval, The Supervisor is responsible for the budget management, after approval of the Board. Do you recall Ypsi Twp turned down Visteon in their twp. And, yes, a downturn in the economy happens every 15-20 years. You should know this as you stated you are a Senior Citizen.
This low morale in the public safety department at VBT all comes back to the fact that the chief continues to be part of the “good old boy” system & clique that still exists today at VBT, his wife was very active in the failed recall and so was he. The director continues to rely on the old way of doing things and does not want to change and improve. The “old way” is not going to work in today’s world. Our brave men and women that serve us as fire fighters and police officers deserve better. They belong to no clique, have no political agendas and just want professional leadership.
I agree and this goes for the board and fire chief as well. They all need to go, clean house! It will weed out the corruption. Why would Leon Wright lie about the directive for lay off notices and why would he keep the survey from the other board members? It sounds shady to me. Wonder what else would be uncovered if an independent party did an Australian? Hmmm
I agree with an audit. When Sharry Budd was asked why a $99,000 insurance rebate was put in Misc. revenue. She said it was a wash, money comes in and out? Phil Hart got defensive saying, this is the way it’s always been done. Insurance rebates should be returned to the General Fund and not used as a Treasurer’s slush fund. Why doesn’t this make sense to the Board? Secret stashes give the perception of wrong doing.
The recall worked by the way, it was just delayed by a couple of years. Is it the union you refer to when you write, “they belong to no clique”? Fire fighters and police officers deserve exactly what their POLC Union leadership provides through the collective bargaining agreement; which is a binding contract that outlines what is and is not permissible in the employment rules between the township and the employees. Maybe the union membership should study the bargaining agreement more thoroughly and question the interpretation and the intent of the particular clauses they have issue with. My father was a retired cop from Detroit and he was inclined to believe that unions had no place in public service sectors, much the same as Ronald Reagan felt about Air Traffic Controllers whom he fired randomly and without reservations. However, my father did encourage me to join the Retail Clerk’s International Union back in 1965 as a stock boy/cashier at the Chatham Supermarket…. in Old Redford at that time. I learned to greater appreciate unions each and every time I received annual raises and increased benefits that no longer exist in the work place today! I chose not to continue my FAA certification as an Air Traffic Controller when I was discharged from active duty Naval service in 1971, since I would have had to take a major salary cut from the income I was making previously from my prior employment with AT&T. And it’s a good thing I did because Reagan would have fired me along with the hundreds of other loyal employees that just wanted the public to be safe. This is why I don’t fly today. My father used to have to work midnights one month, afternoons the next, and days following that schedule, all for barely enough to raise three boys and provide for his spouse in the prime of their lives. Being a cop meant more than just a job to my dad, it was a furtherance of his dedication to serve the people of his community just as he did during the war in the Japanese held Pacific Theatre. I’ve always defended our police and firefighters from the criticism of a few individuals in our community, but sometimes I had to admit that things weren’t always as they were portrayed by some of these officers. Now I have to withhold most of my comments because people like Ms. Diane Madigan have “switched mounts in the middle of the stream,” so to speak. The same with Paul White, but a leopard can’t change its’ spots no matter how hard it tries.
cj, again you tryto “demonize” others to prove your uneducated comments. I must tell you, I grew up with a large picture of John L. Lewis on our living room wall. For many years. So, do not try to blow smoke when is not applicable. Again, spread your little ring of friends to a larger group to achieve additiona knowledge about issues.
Australian should be audit. Spell check
From what I gather, after reading many of these comments, most of you have not worked in the private sector where the rules of employment are clearly spelled out and defined in a Code of Business Conduct booklet. Apparently the majority of the respondents believe that they should have a say in the “events scheduling” and the designated work assignments that are required for public safety? I can only respond that this isn’t how it works in corporate America, and since when doesn’t the final responsibility for determining the needs of the community supersede time off for police and firefighters? I know this sounds cold people, but corporations today aren’t in the business of making people happy and neither are managers in civil service positions. If all things were equal and fair VBT taxpayers would be paying triple what they are now. We’re barely able to provide services that are required let alone provide for additional manpower during summer months. 5 mills total for the operation of a township this size is unheard of, and it doesn’t pay for the police and firefighters and dispatchers that are currently employed. Ignorance is bliss they say, but distortions and fabricated information is unacceptable, just an excuse to ridicule the people who have the responsibility for keeping our community safely functioning year to year. Hats and ties, well now that is really an important issue for officers who command respect by the uniform they wear. If one looks the part they will certainly act the part…have some personal pride! In the private sector the question every day is, “what have you done today to exceed the corporation’s expectations?” It doesn’t matter at all what was accomplished in the past, and there’s any number of people standing in line to replace disgruntled employees. Usually, June, July and August are blacked out months for vacations and most union contracts provide for forced overtime during high volume weeks with needs of the service taking priority over personal time off. Do we possibly need more personnel? Apparently not since the recent 6.5 mills millage proposal was defeated and the POLC membership couldn’t see the need to address the shortfall in the Public Safety Department Budget. Sheep are herded, people are given opportunities to fail or succeed…..time will tell!
The above post has too many conflicting statements to comment on. I worked in a retail union shop 40 years and find many of the above statements to not be actual based on my experience. Commenters should have an open mind about situations and accept what others post. OK, Cotton Bowl time. Go Sparty!
Thank you Paul White for confirming the reason for the election result that removed you from public office. I won’t resort to calling you names or defiling your character, but you should avoid making boastful challenges and threatening or demeaning comments about other residents in this community with posturing that you may not be able to back up.
cj—no threats. You understand character defamation and the results of such. Slander too. You also understand I will not be bullied by you. Learn manners and express your opinion and accept other folks opinion. The current problems at VBT would not exist if I were in office. You cannot accept that. I can back up any statement made, with fact and figures. VBT has about $11 million in fund balances in the General Fund and the Landfill Fund combined. Per the 2016 Proposed General Budget. Have you ever built a budget? Have you managed a department of $5M plus? Have you been personally responsible for a professional work force with 12 or more employees? I have, with success with the help of employees. Learn how to treat people who have a different opinion than you with respect. Form YOUR OWN opinions and do not look to others. Wishing You and your family a very Happy New Year!
CJ has a difficult time admitting that the recall failed on all levels at the polls. He’s also having a difficult time accepting that the recent millage proposal failed. He wants to pretend that the recall was “delayed” because Combs won the 2012 election. What has the township gained with this new supervisor? Do you think the residents believe we are better off with this current supervisor? or should I say the “delayed” recall? It wasn’t election day it was “delayed recall day”!!! Be careful Mr. White, CJ does not like to be proven wrong.
Cejay are you hired by the township to try and change the minds of people whom have formed an opinion based on facts and events that have transpired in recent years? What makes you so certain that everyone posting is wrong, along with the officers who took this survey? Seems like the majority has the same opinion and you don’t like that.
Ms. Styles, please research the Independent Newspaper, Bloomberg Financials, The Wall Street Journal, Wikipedia, and any number of internet sites that will provide you with information regarding the Visteon Bankruptcy and the consequences for Van Buren Township property taxpayers. Nearly everyone in Michigan welcomed Visteon to our region including Governor Granholm and every other business entity that stood to benefit from the promised 800 jobs that were to be provided… but never materialized. Paul White will try to place blame on the Township Trustees of that period, however, at that time it was considered a coup of sorts in managing to bring this project, with an estimated 1.5 million dollars in annual taxes, to Van Buren Township. Today Visteon is a multi-billion dollar successful business and the largest automobile parts supplier in the world, but of course this was all made possible with the bankruptcy that you and I are now straddled with. As for the police and firefighters, these fine people decided not to support an increase to the current 4 mills for Public Safety. There is substantial unrest in the department that was partially caused by the current POLC union leadership that had difficulty negotiating a collective bargaining agreement with the Township Board. Director Greg Laurain is part of that management team and his responsibility demands that he control his budget with the available funds provided by the General Fund. And since that cannot happen without either cutting the labor force, or wages and benefits, something else must happen. Once again the Land Fill Fund will be used to supplement the General Fund for Public Safety, as has been the policy for two decades now. So when it comes time for the Visteon Bonds to reach maturity (2019), and nothing has been put aside to help defray the burden to property owners, the piper will have to be paid! Please feel free to research this for yourself or you may wish to make an appointment with the Township Treasurer to confirm these details. Then again you may simply rely on Paul White to work his magical math in trying to explain his version of the truth? r/CeJay Marshall
Let me preface by stating I am in NO WAY related to CeJay above, we happen to have the same surname but very different opinions. I would venture to assume we have a different personality as well, because personally degrading people for having an opinion is not my style.
Having said that, I find it interesting in one of the comments from the survey that the Director of Public Safety does not have a secondary education outside of high school. Not even an Associates degree. Not that this doesn’t make him qualified based solely on experience but from the sounds of the survey, a formal education could have helped tremendously. Business Ethics from my viewpoint probably the most, followed by Human Resources.
Hopefully, in the coming years the Township will hold this position to a higher standard and require expertise and education. I believe our township residents will do the same as we decide who to elect for seats on the board.
Who in the world is this CeJay Marshall person? A real name or fake? To me it sounds like Besson or Laurain drunk at the keyboard, defending in defendable actions and stealing from the tax payers. Go ahead CJ and get on your high horse and call me names, belittle, state inaccurate facts, everyone knows you are just a mouth piece for dishonest people, your opinion does not get any credibility here. If you think for one second that posting this bs on here make people believe you, you are so very wrong. I know for a fact that Besson teaches on Twp time, that he spends way too much township money on personal items. I know he is a liar. I know Laurain is manipulative, owes favors and doesn’t play fair. This will get me called names by CJ, which is fine, don’t have facts to back up your stance CJ, so just throw stones and detract from the real fraud at hand. If you think people don’t see through that you are so wrong. And I actually have less respect for the board and DPS since you started posting (there wasn’t much to start with but still less) as you are so them behind fake names.
I can agree with you on everything you said. I happen to work p/t in the township. You can probably guess what I do and you can also guess that CJ doesn’t have the full story. You can also know that the survey about Laurain is accurate and the board for some reason is letting him run rampant and destroy whats left of a . Mostly Budd and Wright. They are defending the job of Besson also and I’m at a loss why. Letting this guy work a second job during Van Buren time is ludacris and there is not a benefit to the township in no way. His wife would probably tell you different because only 1 car is in the driveway at a time but he has had as many as 3 fire vehicles to use at his disposal. Township pays for gas and insurance, remember. We also pay for him to drive those of his choosing to go to his second job at Schoolcraft College. Yet, the board will excuse it because Combs said it was ok. It’s not a one time thing, its weekly and sometimes more than weekly.
I bet you would all be amazed at how much he spent to deck out his “police” charger to make it a “fire” charger. Wait, why does he need a charger? Chase bad guys?
The whole darn board and Public Safety directors need to be wiped clean. Election time is not soon enough and lots of people moving out of the township.
Sorry to highjack the POLC Survey Comments but VBT Employee gave an opportunity to report on a question I asked at the Dec. 14 workstudy, “How does the township benefit from the decision to allow The Fire Chief to teach one day a week at Schoolcraft College. You have a signed Personal Service’s Agreement that says: The employee’s normal work schedule is from 8am to 5pm and the Secondary Employment Policy states: This employment will in no way conflict with work hours required for township employment.
Sharry Budd said I can tell you the supervisor signed off on it. Adding, I can tell you how I feel about it, I think it’s a good thing for our department that he runs a ship that they are willing to let him teach someplace else. “It’s prestigious for the department for him to be requested to teach that class”.
You know who’s requesting him to teach don’t you? Jerry Champagne, Dean of Public Safety Programs at Schoolcraft…..enough said.
I can tell you that Sharry just doesn’t want to be embarrassed but she should be because Besson and laurain take advantage of her, she is just not sharp enough to catch on. Her cover that this is a prestigious invitation is silly. Prestigious to who and what? I’m tired of the excuses and lies from upper management. They wonder why morale is so low. Many employees leaving for other opportunities because this township is going down the tubes. yes Gerry Champagne is hooking up Dan with his other job.
Still trying to figure out how she thinks the fire department is a tight ship? She wouldn’t know a tight ship if it bit her in the nose.
CJ Marshall is a real name. He does live in the township.
John, you write with intelligence and I can agree with much of what you have commented on….makes very good sense. Don’t stop now, go to Bloomberg Financials on the internet and read up on the Visteon Bond debacle that Paul White did nothing about in his 4 years as township supervisor. If you own a home in this community you might be interested in what the consequences will be in 2019. The current Public Safety Department Budget is 7.9 million dollars and less than half of that is provided for by property tax revenues. It would take 8.5 mills to fully fund the current Public Safety Department Budget and that doesn’t account for the needed replacement of fire engine pumpers and a ladder truck in the fire department. The Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA) is now the Grace Lake District, previously Visteon property. The property taxes collected from this parcel of land doesn’t come close to repaying the debt that the township is facing when the original Visteon Bonds reach maturity in 2019. This is why the township board decided to ask for 6.5 mills for P.S. for the next seven years; so that the savings from the General Fund and the Land Fill Fund could be used to help defray the interest on the bonds that may accumulate a debt of up to 50 million dollars at maturity. There’s plenty of information available regarding this whole scenario including Wikipedia and The Wall Street Journal. Thank you for sharing your opinion and I hope you will continue to have an open mind.
Jokers? My name is my name, and you could find me at nearly every township board meeting over the past 7 years. I volunteered to work with many other concerned citizens and business community leaders on past and present Public Safety Millage efforts. Never have I seen Paul White do anything to promote the millage effort though he will certainly claim otherwise. I can only guess why you don’t identify yourself, but that’s ok, it’s your prerogative. You should read the Independent more thoroughly because the Editor, Ms. Rosemary Otzman, has had a significant number of articles printed fully explaining the whole issue of the millage proposal, and not once did anyone call the articles lies. There are those who have their own agenda, and who may well oppose the concept of higher taxes, but never did anyone accuse Supervisor Combs or the Township Trustees of lying. If you can produce any lies, with anything I have written, I’ll be glad to rescind my words with my sincerest apologies. Now that wasn’t so bad was it! I’d be happy to share a conversation with you at Tim Horton’s some afternoon, but please don’t take that as an implied threat…I’ll even buy!
There’s that cancerous clique again, it re-surfaces each time Diane gives background information.
She doesn’t really think the fire department runs a tight ship, she just says that so that the public will think it is so. She’s sharp enough to know when she is being taken advantage of she just doesn’t care at this point. Her hiding behind the scenes is catching up with her, she’s tired and hasn’t voiced an opinion for many years…she doesn’t have the strength to step up so it’s time to step down.
Again, cj states I did nothing during my term as VBT Supervisor.
9th of September, 2009, I signed a Host Community Agreement with Wayne Disposal Inc, EQ (the hazardous waste landfill) requiring Wayne Disposal to make payments to VBT based on gate yards received by Wayne Disposal. EQ. The 2016 General Budget shows a projected $530,000 revenue for VBT from EQ
January 25th, 2010, An agreement with Visteon allowing a VBT Claim in Bankruptcy Court where as Visteon would allow a VBT claim of $9,831,427 in stock, which later was put up for bid and VBT received 58% of the claim, VBT LDFA Special Revenue Fund received just under $5.8 Million. Most of this award was used to pay down the Bond.
In October 2012, I presented the Clark Hill Attorney Firm for approval of the Board to pursue VBT interests in the Visteon debacle. The firm was approved with Attorney Kashef as our Attorney. There were many meetings between VBT and Visteon in pursuit of our VBT goals.
When I took office in November 2008, the Audited General Budget was $14,386,669. I left office in November 2012, the 2012 General Budget Audited was $12,620,576. A reduction and savings of $1,766,093 dollars. The General Fund Balance was increased during this time by $1.2 million dollars. The two links below will take you to the proper pages to view the above mention figures. The Special Revenue will take you to the LDFA Fund and the Landfill Fund. The EQ Tipping Fund will be found on the General Budget PDF listed in the Revenue section.
The General Fund Balance will be listed with the General Fund Budget. The Budget for 2016 is projected to be $14.335,752.
http://www.vanburen-mi.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Special-Revenue-2016-4.pdf
http://www.vanburen-mi.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/General-Fund-2016-4.pdf
Marshall declares I did nothing during my term. Here are some of my duties. Member DDA, Member LDGA, Primary for MMRMA (our insurance provider), SEMCOG, Grant Compliance Committee, Aerotropolis Board , DownRiver Sewer Authority Vice Chair, Downriver Wastewater Utility Authority Executive Board, MTA Member, CWW Member, among many other duties.
I took 4 personal days off during my term. I was usually the first person in the building in the morning and the last to leave. I visited our VBT Parks often. I also was at many PD Roll calls, usually on weekends and holidays. These are at 6AM. I was in our Fire Stations also very early many times. Several Directors remarked on my dedication to the Supervisor position. My motto, “Leading by example”.
I paid for use of the township vehicle for driving to and from home. At the IRS rate.
Marshall can make any statement he chooses, but he should have facts to back up his statements , instead of making general negative comments. Now, cj, tell us what good deeds you have done for our VB residents. You simply try to tarnish others to please your VB Elected friends. What commission or committees are you on? What areas of VBT have you volunteered to work with? Yes, the Visteon Bond payments will be a huge issue in 2019, but VBT Elected Officials should use our Public Safety Dept to create a “Designated Visteon Bond Segretated Fund ” via a PS Millage to pay the bonds. Be upfront, honest and truthful with integrity to face the issue.
The township resident is having a hard time accepting that the recall failed and the recent millage proposal failed (he was a member and spokesperson for the millage committee) but continues to be critical of the highly respected union representative and community advocate. What he will never accept is that Mr. White devoted many hours to the job duties of township supervisor and his budget preparation was done with truthfulness, transparency and integrity. The only reason this resident attended all those board meetings was it gave him the opportunity to ridicule and belittle the supervisor. Many believe that prior to board meetings he was fed half- truths and false information to use against Mr. White. How was this helpful to our residents? He is now oddly silent about our current supervisor and the type of job she is doing for our township. When he has good reason to be concerned about our township he is silent.
In spite of the time and effort spent by an elected official at township hall to see Mr. White fail, he rose above all the hurdles and roadblocks and somehow got things done.
This resident is receiving no direction from the elected official at township hall to belittle and ridicule the current supervisor so he is silent about her job performance.
Gene LeRoy, thank you for your comment. This is very factual and informative to our residents. Your comments are correct about cj and elected officials. I enjoyed the position and used 4 personal days during my term. 4 days in 4 years. 2 were for family sickness and 2 were for vacation. Any doubts about this, ask anyone working in the Super’s Office. Yes, there were those who worked to see me fail, but were unsuccessful. VBT Politics are very nasty and back-stabbing. I refused to play that game. I tried to save thousands of dollars in various ways, but personal politics was in the way. Again, Thank You to Gene Leroy!