Former Van Buren Township Supervisor Paul White, now a trustee, said he was shocked to learn that the box lunches he was told Supervisor Kevin McNamara bought were actually paid for with a township credit card. The taxpayers paid the $70 or $80 to Which Wich.
The box lunches were provided for the township board members to eat at the hour lunch break during the second day of budget hearings last week.
At Tuesday’s regular meeting, Trustee White said he was sure that was unlawful “and every single person on this board makes enough to buy their own lunch. It’s our duty to be responsible for the taxpayers’ dollars.”
The part that really got him, he said, is that at the end of the second day there were two lunches left over. Since he doesn’t like to waste food, he took the two extra lunches home and he and his wife ate them for dinner. When he found out the taxpayers bought the food, he announced he would pay the total for all the lunches out of his own pocket.
Other board members said it was considered legal to buy lunches with taxpayer funds if board members are kept working for an extensive period of time. But White said they had an hour break and there are many places up and down Belleville Road to buy lunch and they shouldn’t use tax dollars of their residents. White is a bean counter when it comes to tax dollars and we applaud his efforts.
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7 Comments
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Every little bit counts so the board should meet to change their policy on this. White should suggest that they all pitch in for pizza & pop. White is correct to try to change some of the wastefulness.
Thank You for your comment and suggestion. We must spend our tax dollars responsibily.
White is correct taxpayers should not pay for the boards lunches as any employer can tell you they give the employees the time to take a break.
Thank-you Mr. White for looking out for the “taxpayer” thank you.
Thank You Ms. Lindermann for your comment. Working hard to spend our tax dollars appropriately is our first objective. Value for residents money is a pop priority.
In the professional sector, if it is a working lunch, than it is acceptable for the lunches to be paid for. But if a break is taken for lunch, then you should not expect them for free.
The taxpayers should not be responsible to pay for lunches unless it’s an incentive for them to work over their lunch period.
Fired Up, very true !! The Elected Officials actually left the meeting room for lunch. Government expenditures should always lawful and under the following :
What governmental function does this promote?
What public benefit and policy is this furthering?
My understanding is if we work EXTENDED HOURS BEYOND OUR REGULAR WORK DAY, such as a Firefighter working OT and a Govt employee working past a regular shift, then a govt agency can provide a meal lawfully. During Budget Meeting, our work hours were 8:45 to 4:30, with a one hour lunch break. Now, Coffee and muffins were provided before the meeting. This is lawful as the public was also allowed to consume the snacks. Fired UP, Thank You for your comment. Trustee White
There is a huge difference in working in abusiness and government. Managers VS Politicians. I have experienced both.
Here is a link for our interested residents.
https://www.michigantownships.org/members/media/topics/media/lawful_expenditures_april_2013_mtn.pdf
Paul