To our Valued Van Buren Township Residents:
This letter is to announce my candidacy for the office of Van Buren Township Trustee. Living in the area 55 years and being a VBT homeowner since 1966 has been beneficial to me.
Serving as VBT Supervisor from 2008 to 2012 will be valuable experience if elected as a Trustee. This knowledge will serve in making decisions favorable to our residents.
The General Budget will be a priority in establishing efficiency with effectiveness in township hall. During my term as Supervisor, the 2012 Budget was audited at $12.6 million dollars, the lowest in many years, and the last two years the General Fund was increased $1.2 million.
The management experience in my prior employment was valuable. Managing the budget on a daily basis and getting the directors on board was huge, considering the Visteon Bond payment we will face in 2019.
Budget management begins on Jan. 1 and constant oversight is appropriate. Township employment was reduced by 16+ employees, mostly by attrition. Longevity pay was grandfathered, and stopping a 30-day payout (about $15,000 each time) to salaried employees leaving township employment was instrumental in saving future dollars in the budget.
Accomplishments included an agreement with EQ Hazardous Landfill for dumping fees, a first with EQ and VBT. The 6-mill Water and Sewer Millage was not put before the voters, and allowed to expire, saving our residents millions of dollars. An 800 MHZ radio system was installed in our Public Safety Dept.
Businesses coming to VBT included Auto Zone, Belle Tire and a Menards Store which is soon to be built. Having several months’ discussion with Menard proved successful.
A very important agreement was signed by Visteon and Van Buren Township on Jan 25, 2010, obligating Visteon to pay the shortfall between tax revenues on the Visteon property and making payments on the Visteon Bond. My position is adamant. Visteon MUST pay the shortfall, after it is determined, per the signed agreement.
Quality appointments to commissions and committees was a priority, not a political decision. This must happen to create responsible government to benefit our residents. Most committee and commission meetings were taped and televised during my term in office.
My training included earning two certificates from Texas A&M Engineering Extension Dept. of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Services Workshop for All Hazard Preparedness. This is valuable training with two airports, two interstate highways and a dam impoundment in our township.
Michigan Township Association (MTA) training included classes in Building a Better Budget, Supervisor’s Guide to Township Government, Policy Matters-Administer Policies to Manage the Township, Township Law 101, Supervisor Development, Financial Strategies, Negotiating Contracts, Planning and Zoning, and Parliamentary Procedures. Also included was an extended Supervisor Spring Educational Conference.
Other duties were Executive Committee Down River Sewer System, Vice Chair Downriver Utility Wastewater Authority, Grant Compliance Committee for SEMCOG, Member of Conference of Western Wayne (CWW), Aerotropolis (Vantage Port), Michigan Association of Township Supervisors, and Michigan Township Association.
My commitment to Van Buren Township residents will be: intense Fiscal Responsibility, Honesty, Integrity, Unity, Leadership and a maximum effort supporting our residents.
Working for our Residents.
Candidate for Van Buren Township Trustee
Paul D. White
Mr. White has my vote, he has a proven record of fiscal responsibility and dedication to the duties. Too bad he isn’t running for supervisor. Nevertheless he will devote himself to his community as Trustee just as he did when he was Supervisor.
You are right about needing a new board. But can you really say you know White? Have you worked for him, have you not agreed with his views? If you have, you would really find out the true Mr. White. He is a very vindictive evil person. His believes are if the employees are afraid of him then he will get more work out of them. He hired Directors to go after people that did not agree with his views or were against him in anyway. He is very argumentative. In the last say eight years all there has been is a board that does not get along, a board that argues like two year old children. It has been an embarrassment to Van Buren Township. There are so many thing I would believe that you do not know about his time as Supervisor. Did you know that Developers did not want to deal with him? He went to Lansing with a Director when Granholm was in office, and made a fool of himself by pushing his way to be next to her, then when he opens his mouth because he didn’t know what he talking about he made it worse. People did not want to be associated with him.
Do you remember the lawsuits? You cannot call someone fiscal responsible when you cost the township money by being so arrogant that you think that you can do as you please without any consequences. We learn this as a child. Did you know that a person was caught stealing while he was in office This person would find out information for him and go back and tell him. So when this person was caught, White did not have charges pressed against the person and did not fire this person. Instead White let this person retire with full benefits. This person stole from the township for many years and was rewarded by giving this person money. Meaning, the money that the township contributes to employee’s retirement and health insurance.
The Township needs a new board, not someone that was a disgrace, an embarrassment to the Township as Supervisor to come back as a Trustee.
Interesting Alice. While I didn’t think Paul did a superb job as Supervisor. He was better than King and obviously, my left toe would be better than Combs. It’s not saying much that anyone is better than her. I liked that Paul rid the township of the corrupt PS director but also didn’t like that he became a grumpy politician. However, to his credit he had a bunch of police wives and failed recall attempt employees (Hart, Budd, etc) to deal with. The police wives were the worst ever, instead of worrying about actual township issues, they were worried about their gravy train derailing.
We will never get away from the corruption in politics, especially small towns like this one but at least we as voters can say we tried. I agree with the majority that it’s time for a change.
Alice Alice
Your use of vindictive and evil are very inappropriate and not a part of my personality. Working with employees to change work habits and job performance is a part of management. Employees were not afraid but understood changes were being made. Arriving to work on time, appropriate dress code, performing the necessary requirement of the position, and being courteous to our residents were the basic expectations. Also, not using social media while on the job, which several residents complained about and a decision was made to not allow access to FaceBook and other sites not necessary to perform their jobs. An open door policy as Supervisor was available to all employees.
Directors are presented by the Supervisor to the entire Board of Trustees for approval and salary. A Supervisor cannot hire a Director without Board approval. No Directors were hired to “go after employees” as you stated. Supervisors cannot spend money without Board approval.
Developers were all treated courteously but were not given special perks and understood any development would need to benefit our residents. I worked long and hard to encourage Menard’s to consider building in VBT.
I do not recall meeting Gov. Granholm in Lansing. We did meet at Metro Airport at the signing of the Aerotropolis Agreement. We also met at the GE announcement about GE coming to VBT and the ribbon cutting at the Grace Lake Campus when GE came to VBT. There were no personal conversations at either meeting, but there are group photos with both of us in the photo. As Supervisor, I did speak before the MEDC Commission in Lansing about a business coming to VBT. I did have a good conversation with current Governor Snyder and his Chief of Staff Dennis Muchmore at the GE Board Meeting at Greenfield Village in 2010.
Lawsuits are a part of government, and VBT deductibles are $75k per incident. Paid once. The lawsuits by the four police officers not being offered the Public Safety Director position each cost $25k. Settlement before trial saved money on Attorney costs.
Yes, a person was allowed to retire in place of being terminated for petty theft. Hourly AFSCME employees DO NOT receive a pension, but have an employee 401-k retirement plan. They do receive life time health care insurance, as all VBT employees do after meeting retirement qualifications.
It is sad you do not mention any accomplishments during my term as Supervisor. My average work week was about 60+ hours per week, with total dedication to the position. My refusal to put a 6 mil renewal of the Water and Sewer Millage on the ballot when it expired in 2010, saving our residents millions of dollars from their pocket book and allowing this money to be spent during a serious downturn in our economy. Managing and reducing the 2012 General Budget expenditures to $12.6 million dollars, the lowest expenditures in many years, this during the greatest recession since the Great Depression in 1929. Including freezing Elected Officials salaries from 2010 to 2012. The elimination of 16+ full time positions in township hall by attrition and retirements, asking professional residents to serve on commissions, and keeping politics out of the commissions, All a part of many positive actions to benefit our residents.
Your choice to attempt to degrade my honestly and integrity by writing untrue statements and remaining anonymous invalidates your comments.
First I would like to say; I would not expect anything different then what your response was.
I see that you are still unable to have a truthful intelligent conversation.
As far as the way the employees were treated, you know that you told the directors in one of your director meetings the comment I stated. If you want to deny that is your prerogative. I cannot stop you from not telling the truth. I can only state what I know to be the truth.
Facts:
Two Directors left because you wanted them to go after the hourly employees. Yes two new directors were hired and approved by the board as required. But that did not stop you from calling them into the Supervisors office daily to demanding them to harass certain hourly employees this was told to me by one of the two directors.
Not for being tardy, dress code or job performance or social media. It was because those employees did not agree with anything you said or did.
Open Door policy who are you kidding? You put a lock on the door so everyone had to be buzzed in.
Regarding the Developers it was not a matter of requesting perks; it was a matter of not being able to deal with you what so ever. Menard’s was pulling out because of you.
Yes lawsuits are an ongoing issue. But when the supervisor fires a Director for cause, knowing there isn’t one, instead of just firing him like you could have you brought that on yourself. So you think just because the insurance paid for it, it’s okay?
The lawsuit with the police you brought that one on as well, you told Al Ostrowski that you were hiring a black director, whether he was qualified or not. You know there is a recording of that so try to deny that one.
I personally would not call ten years of stealing supplies petty theft, it was most like thousands of dollars in supplies, that this person used for their own business and made money off of the loss from the township.
You are right technically the employees retirement is not called a pension it is called retirement (John Hancock). Which the township contributes 12% for a 40 hour work week for each employee. If the employee was fired they would not receive this money they only receive the money that they contributed themselves.
As far as putting qualified residents on commissions or committees, I would have to beg to differ with that. I am not saying all of them where bad but a few where very unprofessional.
With eliminating jobs, the residents except good service, which is provided due to the lack of significant help.
Putting 60 hour week does not mean that you did an awesome job, it just means you choose to be in the building watching harassing the employees for more hours than necessary. I am speaking the truth if you choice to call attempts to degrade your integrity or honesty, that would not be my issue. My concern is for the Township. You involved in the township in anyway will not help improve the horrible reputation that you brought there to begin with.
My comments are valid, calling me anonymous my name is Alice which it states at the beginning of my comments which I am also entitled to.
THE TOWNSHIP NEEDS A WHOLE NEW BOARD
Alice,
Most of your comment is simply UNTRUE.
Paul Wlhite
The response posted under the Glenda Hall entry should be under the Alice entry.
He made a mistake due to getting Bad advice from I believe the Township attorney. That could happen to any of us. Van Buren Township needs a Reputable Attorney. The Visteon three need to go.
Paul White will make a better Trustee. He was great with the budget and kept an eye on the fuzzy math and cronyism coming from the Treasurer’s Office.
Ms. Madigan, Thank You for your comment. A major responsibility is how the township spends residents tax dollars. Fiscal responsibility was a top priority for me.
We need to get rid of the Racist Board Members. One of them call the African American citizens in Van Buren Twp Porch Monkeys.
Paul White’s knowledge and experience with the budget would allow him to serve his community as a very dedicated trustee. He was a dedicated supervisor with an ability to place the residents at the forefront of all decisions. If for no other reason he deserves a vote of confidence for the years he spent standing his ground with sherry bud. The comments from “Alice” should be disregarded as it’s obvious she’s from the cancerous clique.
I am tired of hearing “cancerous clique”. We know these people band together, but let your vote do the talking. “nancy knows” doesn’t even live in VBT.