Supervisor Reaume Serving His Last Term

The requisite disclaimer.  This is a blog.  The opinions in this blog are my own.  I do not work for Patch, nor am I paid by Patch.  My words, my opinions, my blog.  Nuff Said 

Plymouth Township Supervisor, Richard Reaume will not be seeking another term as Supervisor once his term is up. Some would say that is a pretty bold statement, coming from somebody that is definitely not in his circle of friends. How the heck could I possibly know this?

The way he has conducted himself these last two months tells me that he is not worried about alienating his former supporters. He has upset most of the folks who voted for him, and it doesn't appear that he is very concerned about it either. Those are the actions of a man who is not running again. He is definitely done after this term.

Over the last two months, there has been a huge outpouring of support for the PARC project, which is working on a feasibility study to re-purpose Central Middle School, in Plymouth, into the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex. The Plymouth-Canton Community School district has agreed to participate in this study. The City of Plymouth has agreed to to sit down and discuss the possibilities for this project as well.

The fly in the ointment is Plymouth Township. The Plymouth Township Board of Trustees are the one group that is shutting down the whole process. To be honest, there are only 3 people shutting down this process. Supervisor Reaume, Clerk Nancy Conzelman, and Treasurer Ron Edwards. If one or two of these three people were to change their mind, this thing could move forward.

The last two Board of Trustees meetings have almost reminded me of a United Nations meeting, when all of the voting nations come together on an issue, only to have it shot down by China, or Russia using their veto power to go against the majority. That really is not too much of a stretch of the imagination, considering that I have not heard one single person or entity, step up and agree with the position of Reaume/Conzelman/Edwards. They are the fly in the ointment.

They are the only three people standing in the way of a project that has the vast support of two communities. Again, I have not heard one single person stand up and say that they do not support a feasibility study for the PARC project, that would cost absolutely nothing to the taxpayers. Not one red cent.

I cast more of the blame for this on Reaume, because he is the leader. He is the Supervisor. He sets the tone for the debate, and he has some sway with other members of this elected body.

It is too easy to blame Treasurer Edwards, because as most folks know, Edwards is only motivated by greed and power.  Mr. Edwards has a history of casting votes based on revenge and vindictiveness, and quite frankly, he has become increasingly marginalized, as his antics become more and more disturbing. To be honest, he has become the laughingstock of this board, and more and more people in the community are finally beginning to see it.

It would be just as easy to blame Clerk Nancy Conzelman as well, but she is basically just parroting what Ron Edwards says. Nancy Conzelman has been an absolute disaster as Plymouth Township Clerk, and it shows at every meeting. After over a year on the Board of Trustees, she still doesn't know how to properly conduct a simple roll call vote. The woman is in over her head, and I expect her to be a one term clerk, after Reaume and Edwards leave this board in 2016.

Yes, Ron Edwards will not be running for another term either. Even if he did have designs on another term, he has angered enough people in this community that he could not possibly get re-elected. He barely got past the primary in the last election, and then gave up over 6,000 votes to his Democratic challenger in the general election, which in Plymouth Township is unheard of. A heck of a lot of Republicans crossed party lines to vote for his opponent, or as many said, “Anybody but Edwards.”

So now we get to Richard Reaume. He will not be running again, and that makes it easy for him to take these ridiculous positions. He knows fully well that he is acting against the wishes of the vast majority of Plymouth Township taxpayers, and yet he stubbornly goes against the will of the people.

This is a disturbing trend, and the folks in Plymouth Township are stuck for 3 more years of decisions not based on what is good for the township, and not rooted in what the people want, but rather, decisions based on revenge, greed, and ego.

This is a shame, because Reaume is a smart fellow. He is a smart fellow, and based on his personal life, I believe he has a good heart, and a sense of decency. He has been there for his family, and sacrificed greatly, so that his family could have the best chance for success.

That is why his actions these past two months are so perplexing. As much as I have disagreed with the political decisions that Reaume has made, I don't believe that this is a man solely driven by greed or revenge. I don't believe that he truly wants ego to trump good policy. Greed, revenge, and ego are the traits that Ron Edwards brings to this board, and has, for far too long. Edwards has had far too much influence over others, including Reaume. Heck, I truly believe that if Ron Edwards were removed from this board, you would see a different Reaume, and a different dynamic on this board.

Well Richard Reaume still has the chance to sort out this mess, and make things right. Mr. Reaume has an opportunity to change his legacy. Mr. Reaume can change the public perception of this Board of Trustees single handedly, and it is a golden opportunity, that he should take advantage of. He has a couple of weeks before the next Board of Trustees meeting to think this over, and consider revisiting this issue.

If Supervisor Reaume were to bring this whole PARC thing back to the Board of Trustees for reconsideration, he would be doing the right thing. Reaume could bring this issue back, after hearing from community members, and reading their cards and letters. As the leader of our Board of Trustees, he has that right. He has the mandate to say that after hearing the overwhelming support for this feasibility study, it is in the best interests of our taxpayers to participate in this feasibility study.

He could correctly point out that it would cost nothing to hear these folks out, and that the Board of Trustees could make a better and more informed decision, based on the information brought forth by a committee of community leaders.

Whether or not this would change the outcome of the PARC project after all is said and done, is anybody's guess, but it would certainly change the public perception of the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees. It would most certainly change Richard Reaume's legacy as Supervisor as well.

I believe that in his heart of hearts, Mr. Reaume would like to go back and change some of the events of the last couple of months, and I don't believe he wants to change them purely from a public relations standpoint. I think he would like to change them because when you remove the politics, he is a decent family man, and he knows right from wrong.

Well Mr. Reaume, now is the time to show it. Now is the time to change your legacy. Now is the time to stand up for all those folks who have supported you throughout the years. Now is the time to stand up for all of the residents of Plymouth Township, who have given you and your family so much.

Now is the time to do the right thing...