Sumpter Township board meeting turns rowdy as election nears

There was arguing and shouting and gavel-hammering and even the township supervisor directing the police chief to remove from the meeting a trustee sitting at the board table.
This was the regular May 22 meeting of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees. The regular meetings are usually around a half-hour long. This regular meeting was two-hours long.
This is the beginning of the election season for the August primary and 15 people are running for three offices.
Disputes started when Treasurer Peggy Morgan asked the board to approve a change in future agendas that would put a place for the financial director to comment on whether expenditures are in the budget or not.
“He’ll say he’s reviewed the expenditure and say it’s in the budget or not,” Treasurer Morgan explained.
She thanked Clerk Esther Hurst for putting a place for him on the requests for agenda items, but she wanted him to have a place on the agenda so the public would know if items were in the budget or not.
She made a motion to have Financial Director Scott Holtz on the agenda and that was seconded by Trustee Sheena Barnes. The motion failed on a 5-2 vote with no votes from Supervisor Morgan, Clerk Hurst, and Trustees LaPorte, Oddy, and Swinson.
Then that night’s proposed agenda was approved.
“Why can’t the treasurer ask a question about finances?” asked Andre Watson. “It’s not open to the public. What could it hurt? What’s wrong if it’s expressed again?”
Trustee Matthew Oddy said if the financial director was on the agenda that would mean he would have to be here. He said the director is approving by signing off on the agenda item in the board packet.
Watson said he didn’t understand why they are not allowed to tell the public something it doesn’t know.
Township attorney Rob Young said the budgetary matters start and end with the supervisor. Young said the financial director is hired by the township for recommendations.
Watson said he was surprised that so much energy was put into keeping the public from knowing something.
“The financial director has no authority,” Young insisted. He said the board could have him write a report. Young said, “We have a very working budget … updated regularly.”
“This is about the citizens,” Watson said, “and we’re asking for information. I don’t know why the attorney is getting so worked up about it.”
Trustee Don LaPorte said the residents aren’t getting slighted about that at all. He questioned whether Holtz would be present to answer questions.
Watson suggested they let Treasurer Morgan struggle with the information if the financial director isn’t present.
“When you go at her … this much energy exerted against this?” Watson said.
“Nothing is hidden,” Trustee LaPorte insisted.
Treasurer Morgan said LaPorte is saying that if the financial director comes to every meeting, but he could have said it another way.
Trustee Matthew Oddy joined the fray, accusing Treasurer Morgan of saying no when LaPorte asked if she wanted the financial director to come to the meeting.
“Do I want the director here?” Treasurer Morgan asked. “That was not a suggestion.”
Mary Herring suggested that when you have items on expenditures, Supervisor John Morgan could say, “It is in the budget. Could say it’s safe. It’s OK. Just a simple statement. No big deal.”
Supervisor Morgan said he could do that and urged the public not to criticize the procedure.
“We have to go on with the meeting,” Supervisor Morgan said. “We can’t spend all night on this issue.”
After the business items were completed, Trustee Sheena Barnes asked if the Comcast cablecast of the township meetings is back up and running. She said if people don’t read the Independent they wouldn’t know what’s going on in their township.
Deputy Supervisor Karen Armatis said the new system wouldn’t be up for some time to come.
Trustee Barnes said she went to Lansing on May 17 to address complaints about power outages in Sumpter. She said she set up an email address for those who have suffered from power outages. She wants residents to email their complaints, saying how many days they were without power and list their losses, including food, when DTE or Consumer Power failed to provide power.
“Flood me with complaints,” she urged.
Her email is [email protected] .
Treasurer Morgan asked why mail dated May 10 was just being given to her on May 22.
Supervisor Morgan said a representative from the organization came out and talked to him and his deputy. They want to set up here in Sumpter Township and originally were scheduled to come and meet with the board, Supervisor Morgan said. They will be at the next meeting, Supervisor Morgan said.
Trustee Barnes said she talked to Mrs. Miller with the SOS Program which she wants to bring to Sumpter Township. She said she would call Trustee Barnes as soon as she sent the letter to Sumpter. Trustee Barnes said she got a message on May 11 saying Miller left literature at the township and Barnes didn’t get it until that evening’s meeting.
“Hopefully, we can bring this service to Sumpter Township,” Barnes said, adding she was told Mary Herring supported it.
Deputy Supervisor Armatis said the information was given to all the board members at the same time, not one at a time. She said they have to consider charging rent and if a room is vacant at the community center.
“She brought this May 10 and I’m just getting it?” Barnes asked.
“She brought it to the supervisor’s office,” Deputy Armatis replied.
“I got it today, the 22nd,” Barnes said. “I just want to receive my mail…
“This is a one-sided board. The wind don’t blow the same way,” she stormed.
“It should have been stamped by the clerk as received and put in my box,” she said.
When open-floor comments started, Tim Rush said he could have helped the township a lot with its MMFLA decision. He said he is a security consultant.
“We tried to secure these facilities,” he said referring to marijuana sites. “Now we won’t touch them with a 10-foot pole.” He said Ken Bednark’s report to the committee was excellent. He thanked the board members who voted to opt out.
Trustee Barnes asked him to give her the places he had secured, but Rush said he couldn’t give out the addresses of private businesses but he could give her the names of police chiefs in those communities.
Trustee Barnes said she was chairman of one of the committees on the MMFLA study group. She said she was inspired to become a medical marijuana grower by Supervisor John Morgan after she amputated a part of her thumb. She said Morgan told her it was a way to earn income.
“I’m done biting my tongue,” Barnes said. “I’m done keeping my mouth shut. I’m speaking the truth. If Mr. Morgan says I’m lying …” She urged him to prove it.
“I took the brow-beating and was ostracized, like I’m the one who invented marijuana,” she said of her treatment for supporting the new MMFLA law.
Ken Bednark then sprang to his feet in the audience.
“I’m tired of you and her blasting me,” he said referring to Trustee Barnes and Treasurer Morgan. “I represented the community… The township acted on it.”
“My voice is all I have for the people,” Barnes said. “My vote is worth nothing.”
“Take that woman out of here!” Supervisor Morgan said to Police Chief Eric Luke.
Barnes stood at her place at the board table and said she would leave, but she would be back because she’s an official member of the board.
“This board is corrupt,” Barnes said. “You got people buying property. It’s corrupt.” She referred to Trustee Oddy’s purchase of a tax reverted parcel under a company name.
She sat back down and the meeting continued.
Changing the subject, Mary Ban got up to thank two police officers who came to help her when she thought her husband was missing. He had gone to visit a friend in Maybee and left his cell phone under the seat in his truck.
She complimented the board for passing the resolution on the change to the 48111 postal service. She said she had been to Van Buren Township, which instigated the change, many, many times and made many phone calls to them.
“We have not been respected as citizens,” she said.
Ban also referred to the 160-page report on the Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado shared with her by attorney Young. She said children from 0-5 years old were hurt by edible marijuana and crime is up 2000%, “off the charts.”
She said children and young people are “so impacted.” Ban said she has called the governor’s office and state representatives and senators to warn them about recreational marijuana.
She said someone has to tell the legislature to read and educate themselves “instead of sitting around like a bunch of dumbbells.” She said the Colorado Rocky Mountain High report is available at www.RMHIDTA.org .
Trustee Oddy then said, “I want to say I am offended a board member is accusing us of being corrupt … This is not a one-sided board.”
“We both agree to disagree,” Barnes replied.
When Jay Bardell got up to speak, Supervisor Morgan accused him of disrupting the meeting all night.
Bardell said a certain department employee uses a township vehicle to go to a second job. He said the man works at Ace Hardware and he has pictures. Supervisor Morgan said to bring them in to him.
Treasurer Morgan said if he sees the water truck at Ace Hardware it could be because the township buys some of its things at the hardware.
“He’s got a red vest on and working behind the counter at Ace Hardware and the township truck is parked outside,” Bardell said.
Lydia Graber maneuvered her motorized chair to the lectern and asked for help to get the microphone. Trustee Oddy left the board table and handed her the microphone.
Graber apologized for speaking with Bardell during the meeting.
“I shouldn’t have talked,” she said, asking, “Shouldn’t the same rule apply to your employees?” She pointed back to Deputy Armatis and others in the back of the room.
She asked if there is anywhere to get oxygen during a power outage. She said their generator ceased during the last outage which lasted three days and she had to go to the hospital. Trustee LaPorte said in the past the fire department has been able to leave a container of oxygen in an emergency.
Graber thanked the township for finally putting in the ADA accessible door. “Only took two years,” she said of her prodding.
Now she would like the township to comply with the ADA on counter height. She said ADA went into effect in 1990.
“For 25 bucks you could lower one of the counters,” she said.
“I’m in favor of medical marijuana,” Graber said. “A lot of my friends use it for their conditions. I’m considering it myself. How many have died from over use of marijuana? she asked.
Adrian Slaughter got up to ask Supervisor Morgan and attorney Young about the 12 properties put up for sealed bid by the township. She asked if the sale was limited to township residents, if elected officials could participate in the bidding, and how long the newly purchased property needed to be held before being sold again on the open market. She also said she didn’t see a for-sale sign on the parcel that was behind her property.
Young replied that the bidding was open to everybody without restriction, it’s legal for elected officials to bid, and once the bid is awarded there is no restriction on the further sale of the property. He also said all the parcels for sale were identified with signs.
Deputy Supervisor Armatis said, “Every single property had a sign,” suggesting some may have been stolen. She said she put every sign up herself.
“I’m not here to argue with you,” Slaughter said, adding there was no sign on the property behind her. She asked what to do about identifying property in the future and Supervisor Morgan said to call his office to talk to him or his deputy. Slaughter said if she calls his office she wants to talk to him and he said she can talk to him.
Graber called out, “We’re getting yelled at when they won’t shut up,” after Armatis came forward several times when Slaughter was voicing her concerns.
Slaughter also asked about the property holding the old motel and whether it was purchased recently to be made into residences for homeless vets. Supervisor Morgan said that had been a plan in the past but it fell through.
Trustee Oddy said a good site to use is Wayne County’s Plat map which is available on line. He said you can see everything in Sumpter Township and all the parcels.
Sharon Pokerwinski said, on behalf of Parks and Recreation, they see there are 15 people running for office and they don’t want Sumpter Fest to be a political fest.
She also said for 12 years she has been doing insurance for Sumpter Fest and paying $2,000 a year. This year it has been determined that is not necessary and they will be able to save $2,000. She said, “$2,000 for 12 years is terrible.”
Toni Clark said she wasn’t there to argue, but wanted to correct an error in the Independent. She said she is running for clerk, not trustee.
Clark also said she wrote a resolution to honor Atomic Veterans and the state accepted it for one year. They are now working to get it permanent in the state and also nationally.
A man who did not identify himself told the board of his problem with parking his camper on the vacant property he bought three years ago and plans to build on. This was discussed at length.
In other business at the May 22 meeting, the board:
• Although it was not on the agenda, unanimously approved a draft resolution on changes at the post office, as presented by township attorney Rob Young as part of his attorney’s report. The board approved it separate from approving the rest of Young’s report;
• Approved hiring CRG Electric to install a new electric panel/additional circuits into the Fire Station 1 generator at a cost of $2,570. Chief Eric Luke said he had reached out to five area electricians / companies for a quote and CRG was the only company to fulfill the request. Chief Luke said currently the generator is only wired to power 20% of the fire hall, “which obviously creates a huge issue should our area experience a power outage during which fire personnel activity is required within the building…” A note from the township Financial Director Scott Holtz said this is not budgeted;
• Approved purchase of ten pagers for the Fire Department from Herkimer Radio Service at a cost of $3,655 to replace current pagers that are 20 years old. There are six more to replace. Herkimer’s price quote was the lowest of four;
• Approved the resignations of probationary fire fighters Brad Hollister and Kobe Gary;
• Removed from the agenda, without comment, the retirement of Maryann Watson from the fire department after 20 years of service, with regrets. Watson had written on April 30: “It is with great regret and personal conflict that I tender my retirement as a Sumpter Township fire fighter effective on May 1, 2018. My desire was to serve the community to a full 20 years. But the current climate in the township fire department makes this decision a little easier and has ultimately solidified my decision to tender this letter. I thank the Township Board for all the support you have given me in all my work in the community. I will continue serving the township, just not in a firefighter role.” When the Independent asked why the item was not on the agenda, Clerk Hurst said Watson decided not to resign;
• Approved hiring Joseph Henry Hogan as a full-time police officer, contingent upon him successfully passing a physical in addition to psychological and drug testing;
• Approved the closure of Sumpter Road from Judd Road to Dunn Road on May 26 from 11:30 a.m. until the end of the parade for the Sumpter Country Fest parade;
• Heard Treasurer Peggy Morgan report that they are working to get a ATM at the township; and
• Heard Trustee Oddy report that the planning commission is working on a Capital Improvement Plan that looks forward six years and is a supplement to the Master Plan, which is yet to be completed. The Capital Improvement Plan, which Sumpter doesn’t have, is required by state law.