Secrets or Lack of Transparency at Bl. Twp.?

Hi All,
This morning I received the Bloomfield Township E-News ... sent minutes after midnight... informing me in a side column blurb, that the Township offices are CLOSED TODAY.... THURSDAY, July 2 for the 4th of July holiday.  There was and is no notice on the home page of the Township website giving any forewarning.    http://www.bloomfieldtwp.org/

WHAT??   Friday, July 3,  is the Federal Holiday day off,  but since the Township doesn't work 5 days a week,  they decide they are ENTITLED to a Thursday vacation day??

It is PAST TIME for the taxpayers to INSIST that the township government operates on a 5 DAY WORK WEEK.

Here is what Greg Kowalski, wrote:

Bloomfield Township offices will be closed Thursday, July 2, in honor of the Fourth of July holiday. The Senior Center will be closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4.
In addition, the Bloomfield Township Public Library will be closed Saturday, July 4. The library will reopen at noon on Sunday, July 5.

Greg Kowalski's Bloomfield Township E-News never really tells us about the Township government news. Once again, he wrote about the Woodward Cruise happening in August.  He wrote about the Bloomfield Hills school construction and about a Charity organization.  He is not at The Eccentric newspaper anymore.

Why is closing government offices on a Thursday....a secret?  Or is it just plain lack of transparency? Please read my OTHER "secrets or lack of transparency" issues below.

MY:   "Hi All, MARCIA's News" about our Twp. government....maybe not news...but rumors and opinions  :)

1.  Nepotism:  is the "family and friends" hiring system at the township, as I call it.  Leo Savoie says it is not a problem.  The problem is that jobs are not posted for the public in many ways.  Despite calls for job postings to be more transparent,  often family and friends are getting the jobs.   Rumor has it that the Fire Chief now has his son as an employee.  Did Supervisor Savoie approve that hiring?  If so, why didn't he say anything at the special study session  (Thurs., May 28, 2015 @ 8 am) when the nepotism question was raised?  Is it to keep the public from knowing what is really going on at the Township?

How open and truthful was the township when speaking to Lisa Brody when she was gathering ,information for her article on nepotism?  See:  http://www.downtownpublications.com/Articles-features-c-2015-06-25-220857.112113-Government-nepotism.html

Children/spouses/ relatives/friends of employees may get the summer positions or full time/part time positions somewhere in the township. Even how Greg Kowalski got his job should be called in question as to where, when and how the job he was hired to do was posted. 

The nepotism policy of the township should be changed and more importantly, the JOB POSTING and hiring policy should be reformed.

2.  Who is Lewis G. Bender, PhD and why is he interviewing trustees and others?
See his webpage:  http://lewbender.com
Seems one of his specialties is Workplace Conflict. 

Did Supervisor Savoie contact him and hire him to do something at the Township?  Did Savoie do this with the APPROVAL of the Board?  If so, at what PUBLIC meeting was this discussed?  Is this just another step in Savoie's attempt to change the job description and pay for the job of Treasurer or Clerk before the coming 2016 election cycle?

On April 13, 2015 this was a very controversial agenda item:


What is the mission for Dr. Bender?  Rumor has it that Dr. Bender  also met with Department Heads?  Why?  Who is left out of some meetings and why?   

What about the PUBLIC?  We should know what is going on behind closed doors.  Having small meetings with a hired person, asking questions presumably about how the township government is working and how the elected and hired personnel work together.... is a problem...especially when we, and perhaps some of them being interviewed, don't know the PURPOSE of the hiring of this man.

3.  Contract RAISES... were given to ALL employees 4x since 2011, without any apparent negotiation committee in place or used.  The special six year contract that was signed in 2011 prior to former Supervisor David Payne's "retirement" (aka as quit in the middle of his elected term) had wage openers in 2013 and 2015.  In both cases, ALL employees, not just the ones with the contract, were given 2% raises for 2013 and another 2% for 2014  and then again 2% raise for 2015 and 2% more for 2016.  That included raises for the elected officials... Supervisor, Treasurer, Clerk.  Is that how TOWNSHIP government works?  They suggest their own raise and vote on it?

When I asked Supervisor Savoie about where that money in the budget is coming from for the 2% raises times 4, he indicated that property values are increasing and that the employees had wage freezes in prior years.  WELL, yes, there was a reported wage freeze, but step and longevity increases and promotional raises, etc. continued per the contract.

Also, please do NOT FORGET, that in February 2010, the township asked the taxpayers for a 1.3 ten year millage to KEEP THE STATUS QUO.  The economy was hurting for everyone.  But this ten year millage was intended to be TEMPORARY.  The township collects $4 million plus from this "temporary millage" every year.. for ten years. This was to make up for lost revenue.  Now, the money is being used to increase wages and other benefits and more hiring of employees.

4.  New Contract Language   Have any talks or ideas or suggestions been tossed about at the township?  Maybe.   Rumor has it that the number of years worked at the township may be LOWERED  to be able to collect pensions and health benefits.  Is that a negotiable item/ or will it just be an "update" in an employee handbook?    Rumor has it that the retiree health benefits are/were  "adjusted" so living in upstate Michigan or other places, participants would be able to remain  "in network"   so extra fees and costs would not be paid by the retiree.  Guess who pays?  

The EXISTING employee contracts should be part of public record that does NOT need to be FOIA.  WE, the taxpayers, should know not only WHO is hired, but under what conditions and at what price.  We should also know who in those contracts are "perked" with vehicles...car maintenance...car insurance..gasoline..etc. 

Did you know that the township pays the retiree health benefits each year/ as billed?   That is rather misleading.  There are over 200 current retirees.  We can lay off employees to save money, but we can't lay off retirees.  That money has to keep being spent each and every year...until every retiree and/or their beneficiaries are dead.  Is this a negotiable item in the next contract?  When will the township explain the potential REAL liability of retiree health insurance over the future decades? 

5.  Much more to tell... to think about...  to reveal...  wish more people in the township would pay attention to what is going on.   Read my archived blogs going back to 2011.  Many of the issues remain today.

6.  PLEASE CONSIDER placing YOUR NAME on the 2016 ballot.  Please be qualified to perform the job you are considering.   Be prepared to have that decision made PRIOR to May 1, 2016  in order to get your name on the August primary ballot.

Marcia

Opportunity Missed To Reduce Costs to Taxpayers

Hi All,
The Township Board of Trustees at their Dec. 12 meeting voted to exempt the township from the financial provisions of the MI state government newly signed  ACT 152.  The Township Board did not present any figures to the public stating the potential benefit of Act 152 to the taxpayer.  How much money could have been saved?  The figures were never discussed at the meeting.  Unbelievable.

"AN ACT to limit a public employer’s expenditures for employee medical benefit plans; to provide the power and duties of certain state agencies and officials; to provide for exceptions; and to provide for sanctions."

Job Application Materials Reveal Some Costs to Taxpayers for Employee Benefits

FYI:  The Township is currently taking applications for MORE firefighter/paramedic.  This is where this information was found.  From application materials:




No Salary Figures or Complete Contracts for Examination

Without the salary figures and the complete contracts and the other contracts that may exist for other employee groups, a complete analysis of costs is not possible. The Township leadership had this information and could have presented the facts.  As taxpayers, I believe all that information should be readily available online.  If the Township can tell potential employees the contract details online, they certainly can tell the taxpaying public.  What are the salaries so the dollar figure of the percentages can be calculated?
  

Bottom Line:  We Need Elected Officials and Trustees That Look After the Taxpayers Best Interests


It is the elected officials' job to provide services at reasonable costs.  I'm not so sure that is true in Bloomfield Township. An incredible amount of money seems to be given to the employees as benefits.  The Township even pays employee tuition bills for college since March 22, 2004. There seems to be enough vehicles for most to use and some employees have township credit cards.  How is all that listed in the budget for taxpayer review?  Why are we on a four day work week? The four day work week serves the employees interests, not the taxpayers.  Who gets hired?  Posting of job openings seem to be found more by existing employees, their family members and friends than the general public.  There are line items in the budget that on close examination could reveal many areas to reduce personnel costs. Why isn't it done?  The taxpayer needs relief.  The taxpayer needs FACTS.


The costs for personnel is about 80% of the budget. When Township officials FAIL to discuss the agenda items, especially those concerning contracts, finances and the budget in detail at the public meetings, I wonder, what are they hiding? Show me the facts and the numbers?

Ready for Change in November 2012

Personally, I'm ready for a change in leadership.  All 7 positions are expiring. Don't count on the Township to tell you how and when you can apply for those jobs.  So I will.   The deadline to submit applications for Supervisor, Clerk, Treasurer, and 4 Trustees positions that expire in Nov. 2012........IS EARLY MAY 2012....for the PRIMARY vote in AUGUST 2012.  Get an application.  There are people who will support a change in leadership.  I'll help connect you with people looking to support qualified people to get the needed change in leadership in Bloomfield Township.  You will need to get signatures ....start now.