Health & Fitness
Negative Public Comments Are Reason For Transparency Fail In Plymouth Twp.
Plymouth Township Clerk Nancy Conzelman is refusing to reflect public comments in the official minutes of Township Board meetings. If she won't do her job, I will, and here they are.
As I shared the other day, Plymouth Township Clerk, Nancy Conzelman has taken the drastic step of refusing to reflect public comments directed to the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees in the official minutes of the Board of Trustees meetings. I have checked with the City of Northville, Northville Township, Canton Township, Huron Township, the City of Plymouth, and the City of Livonia on this issue. They all reflect the public comments in their official minutes.
I have personally asked a couple of the Clerks if they knew whether it was a legal obligation to do so, and neither of them knew for sure, because they figured it would never be a question. They were of the opinion that you just do that for the sake of transparency, and were very surprised that anyone would think it proper not to reflect public comments in the official minutes of a municipality. Quite frankly, they were stunned that any municipality would take such a step.
I am appalled that the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees is willing to allow this to stand, and so now, I will take it upon myself to do the job of the Plymouth Township Clerk until she figures out how to fulfill the duties of her office. So at this time, I will reflect the public comments from Plymouth Township citizens that were made at the April 15th Plymouth Township Board of Trustees meeting.
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Don Soenen: Suggested adding two questions to the recreational survey to be done concerning recreational expenditures in Plymouth Township. The two questions he would like included are: 1. Rate on a scale of 1-10 the importance of having cultural and recreational facilities located in Plymouth Township instead of the City of Plymouth. 2. Rate 1-10 the importance of Plymouth Township working in collaboration with surrounding communities on cultural and recreational facilities.
Mike Bailey: Mr Bailey addressed the board about money he has not been paid, for work that he has done. He indicated that Treasurer Edwards initiated this work agreement, and he just wants to get paid for work done. He further indicated that nobody has disputed the work being completed, and nobody has indicated that the work was unsatisfactory. He just wants to be paid. Trustee Doroshewitz indicated that Mr. Bailey has already been to three previous meetings, and questioned why this matter has not been settled. Mr. Bailey indicated that “I'd like resolution, and all I get is drivel. I expect to get paid.”
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Duane Zantop: Mr. Zantop spoke about showing up to township hall to pay his taxes, and was verbally attacked by Treasurer Edwards. He indicated that he recorded the attack, and it is now on YouTube. Trustee Doroshewitz indicated that he intends to seek an ethics investigation concerning Edwards abuse of a taxpayer on township property during normal business hours trying to pay his taxes.
Deborah Whyman: Ms. Whyman is with the Citizens For Accountable Government. She spoke of a lawsuit against Plymouth Township claiming that they have reneged on a consent agreement to allow Lifetime Fitness to build a privately funded fitness facility because the township has suddenly decided to build their own taxpayer funded recreational facility. She reminded the board that this lawsuit risks hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars.
Ms. Miller: Had questions concerning the status of Fire Station Two. She has seen numerous companies doing work around the site, and questioned whether there were plans for the closed fire station. Supervisor Reaume indicated that it is status-quo for Fire Station Two.
Roy Banks: Mr. Banks wanted to know what happened to the survey that was promised to Plymouth Township residents for the recreation projects. Mr. Banks also expressed his displeasure with the board for spending so much taxpayer money on the pavilion in the township park. He stated that nobody ever asked whether we want these things, and he doesn't have the money to pay for the increased taxes for all of these projects.
Deb Maddonna: Ms. Maddonna is Chairperson of Music In The Park, and President of the Arts Council. She spoke of being displeased with her tax money being spent to build an amphitheater to replicate things that are already being done for free in the City of Plymouth, particularly Music In The Park. She indicated that it doesn't make sense to build a facility 1.7 miles away from an existing facility to compete with each other. She expressed safety, and nuisance concerns as well, and indicated that the amphitheater had not been thought out very well, and suggested to the board that they take some further time to rethink some of these projects.
Ken Garner: Mr. Garner expressed his displeasure with Supervisor Reaume over his bad treatment of two of the members of the board, indicating that they are being segregated from the rest of the board because they voted no on the park projects. He asked who paid for the posters of these projects that have left out the pictures of the two board members who voted no. Supervisor Reaume indicated that he didn't know who paid for them. Mr. Garner further stated that this is childish, and that he is not happy with the behavior of Treasurer Edwards, and Supervisor Reaume, and urged them both to grow up, and act like adults.
Duane Zantop: Mr. Zantop indicated that he agrees with Mr. Garner that the posters highlighting the taxpayer funded projects in the park with only 5 of the board members pictured was childish, and he believes that it may also be illegal. He further stated that he is disappointed by the township spending taxpayer money on projects that nobody wants.
Roy Banks: Expressed displeasure over cutting Trustee Doroshewitz off in the minutes. He further stated that he is angry over the township spending taxpayer money on a pavilion that nobody wants. He further stated that he can't afford it, and feels like he is speaking for everybody in Plymouth Township. He finished by thanking Trustee Doroshewitz for speaking to the issues.
Susan Bondie: Ms. Bondie spoke about the process that led up to a 1.9 million dollar bond proposal for mostly park projects. She reminded board members that it was done at a special meeting. There was a huge packet of information for board members to read. She further indicated that Trustees were only given 2 days notice of this proposal. She went on to say that there was no public survey done, no public discourse, and that a promise was made that every single project would be voted on separately. She indicated that while this has been done for water and sewer purchases, it has not been done for other things, including the amphitheater.
These are the public comments from the residents of Plymouth Township reflected as accurately as I can, and to the best of my ability, at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees at the meeting dated April 15, 2014.
Plymouth Township needs a Clerk, and a board who will fulfill the duties that taxpayers elected them to do, and properly reflecting the events of a public meeting in the official minutes is one of those duties. If Clerk Conzelman will not do it, I most certainly will...
