My Version of Township Meeting Minutes With My Comments and Opinions

Hi All,
All I can say is try to watch the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees meeting of November 28 to witness what I have been sitting through for the last 2 years. You will then realize why the audio/video taping of the public meetings is ESSENTIAL for open and transparent government and should be extended to all public meetings.  I'm sure the printed minutes will not reflect all that occurred.

This blog is different from others.  Be prepared.  I am in my "hi all" rant mode.  Long time email friends will know what I mean.  Following is my "unofficial" minutes, personal opinions and comments.

From the agenda of November 28, 2011 
My version and opinions of the Board of Trustees meeting


Item # 4:  Consider Award of Bid for Refurbishment of Emergency Vehicle- Presented by Fire Chief Piche'

The Board unanimously approved the expenditure of $146,373.17  for the fire department to customize an old delivery truck (purchased in April?  for just under $30,000 from Penske Corp) with 100,000 miles on the engine into a specialized vehicle.   Total project cost:  approx.  $176,373.17  assuming no problems or changes with the "refurbishment" contract.

Fire Chief Piche' had a power point presentation prepared for this project presentation.  This old truck will be refurbished: with lights, sirens, graphics, paintings, a flip up sign to help with traffic direction around the emergency, etc.   For some reason, Pimp My Ride television show came to my mind during the presentation.  Mean comment, yes, but what is the Township thinking? 29 firefighters forming a committee lasting  6 months to come up with how they can make this old truck into a sleek Township vehicle?  Is this supposed to be showing that the Township is "saving money" by a do-it-yourself project?

The purpose of the vehicle: to store all kinds of emergency equipment in one place rather than have it stored in several existing trailers pulled by pickup trucks.  Reason:  get the equipment deployed quicker to the accident scene. Everything goes in the first trip.   Oops, what if there is more than one emergency at the same time?  Where does that one truck go first?  Would it be better to have the water rescue equipment on one trailer and the HazMat equipment on another?  Would it be better to spend the $170,000 on more rescue equipment and more non-motorized trailers and have each fire station equipped than one "refurbished" truck at central fire station holding everything?

What have 29 of the 54 Township firefighters been doing since April 28 of 2011?  Field trips! Spending "countless hours of research and development" including visiting other fire departments in many communities in the state viewing what fire equipment storage vehicles they have.  Oh, and visiting or considering  7 different "fabricators" specializing in "custom" truck work.  Five of those firms actually bid on the specifications for that truck as determined by the committee of 29.  The transformation of the old delivery truck into a new fire department storage truck....oh, sorry.....Special Operations and Rescue (S.O.A.R.) vehicle will soon be on the streets for future emergencies, hopefully, only one at a time.

 Thankfully, the selling of the existing trailers and vehicles currently being used to transport specialized equipment needed in a variety of emergency situations was NOT part of the motion, although mentioned in the report as the fire department's intention.  However, I won't be surprised if some day those vehicles that cost a pretty penny when new, will be sold for pennies on the dollar.  The fire department believes this old refurbished truck will provide 15 years of service to the Township.  I don't believe it.  Remember the "million dollar lemon" fire truck the Township had for 10 years?

That vehicle was brand new.  Broken the first day of use and out of service for a year.

I wonder how many dollars were spent on travel and lodging for those hours of "research and development" by 29 firefighters? Was there overtime hours, too?   Don't worry, it's just YOUR tax dollars.

Item # 5  Introduction of 2012-2013 Preliminary Budget--Presented by Supervisor Savoie

There wasn't much of an "introduction" other than to indicate that the figures represented a balanced budget.  The Board went right to public comment.  I was the only one there that spoke.  I made comments and asked questions as quickly as I could in three minutes.  I only reviewed the first 8 pages of the 36 budget pages at home.  I had my 3 minutes worth of questions just from those pages so I quit reading the other 28 pages.

The most interest FACT after I sat down from my 3 minutes about the budget:  Mr. Savoie chose not to respond to my concerns or to try to answer any of my questions.  Mr. Devine did make a stab at answering 2 questions.  The others followed their leader. Silence.

The Budget and the PUBLIC Review/Concerns

The way I understood the budget issue from this meeting:  THE PUBLIC HAS 90 DAYS to visit Mr. Savoie and bring him your concerns before the final vote on the budget in March. Mr. Savoie will answer your concerns in his office.  OK.  That sounds like Township controlling the issues, keep the issues contained and out of the news.   I will not do that!  Public issues are discussed in public!

Sorry Mr. Savoie, the honeymoon ended. Your 100 days have passed.  There was hope at one point that you would be different. However, your style of leading the Township is just more of the same...and that's a shame.  Is that what "appointments" to an elected position are supposed to achieve? Replace your position with a like-minded person and eliminate the voting public from the process?    


What is currently on Cable 15  TV is  Township produced "spin" stories starring Township employees and leaders with predetermined messages and outcomes.  The public is not being told all that is going on in the Township.  Has the Township sought out opposing views?  No.  Doing that might be considered as open and transparent government.  Why would the Township want to do that?

Agenda item:  Public Comment
For the third Board of Trustees meeting in a row I have asked the Township to announce on their website the FACT that there are terms EXPIRING for various Boards in the Township effective Jan. 1, 2012.  These positions are "appointed" by either the Supervisor or the entire Board of Trustees.  No comment was given by any Trustee and no indication was given that they were interested in communicating to Township citizens that may be interested in serving on those committees.  Silence.

THEREFORE:  I will tell you.

There are 3 positions expiring for the ZONING Board of Appeals.
There are 2 positions expiring for the PLANNING Commission
There are 5 positions expiring for the BOARD of REVIEW  (see Dec. 14, 2009)

SUBMIT a letter of INTEREST and a resume to the CLERK or SUPERVISOR if you wish to be considered for any of those positions.  Don't plan on being automatically called in for an interview, however.  This Township has a history of predetermined outcomes.....and Board appointments are no exception. Be proactive, turn in your resume in person and ask if they have time for a conversation with you about your interests.


The "appointments" will be made BEFORE those terms expire Jan. 1, 2012.  Traditionally, those appointments are made in December.  The only scheduled Board of Trustees meeting is December 12 @ 7pm.   Time is of the essence if you wish to be considered.  Good luck.

Fire Department Vehicles and the Budget

The Bloomfield Township Fire Department has a budget separate from the police budget and the dispatch budget.  However, all three departments are grouped under the Public Safety Fund which share the revenue generated from the many dedicated public safety millages,  property taxes transferred from the General Fund, and from EMS Transport fees (among other sources).  For the past three years, that total revenue has been fairly steady at or above $24,500,000.

From the Public Safety Fund Budget:
Fire department total expenditures have been over $10,700,000 for the past three years.
Line item #978:  vehicle purchase for the fire department:
2009-2010 @ $181,093  
2010-2011 @ $250,000  
2011-2012 @ $382,000

Ladder Truck Purchase
On July 26, 2010, the Board of Trustees met at a Study Session. One of the items discussed was the fire engine that was purchased in 2002 with Public Safety dedicated millage money.

"A fire truck was purchased from E-One in 2002 and since that time many problems have occurred with this vehicle. On the first day of service, the truck broke down and was unusable for a year. The truck, outfitted with a Bronto Skylift aerial/articulating device, has been out of service since July 18, 2009, due to safety issues with the aerial platform."

This revealing report goes on to discuss the "settlement" and "costs" associated with this 2002 fire truck and it's replacement.

"E-One has offered the Township a settlement proposal (Bronto is not participating), in which the Township will purchase a new 78’ aerial ladder fire truck from E-One for
$722,203.00, less a settlement discount of $151,663.00 and a trade-in credit of $350,000.00, for a total out-of-pocket cost of $220,540.00. "

Questions:

• How did the almost one million dollar 2002 vehicle break down on the first day?  
• What was done to replace the vehicle on that first day?  
• Why did it take until the summer of 2010 to make a final "settlement" concerning this vehicle?  
• How many actual fire runs did this vehicle perform?
• Why is the "settlement" offering only a 78' aerial ladder fire truck when the original purchase fire truck was a 100' aerial ladder truck?  
• How much of the taxpayers' dollars were wasted with this purchase? 
• How many taxpayers knew about the "costly million dollar lemon" in the fire station?

More importantly, why was all this information discussed at a Study Session and not at a regular Board of Trustees meeting?  The public is permitted to attend Study Sessions, it's just that not many know when one is scheduled. The attendees at a study session are most likely to be just staff, trustees and lawyers with a "need to know" concerning the agenda items.  Don't know the date this "settlement agreement and authorization to order a new fire truck" was approved at a public meeting of the Township Board of Trustees.  Was it?   However, I did find:

The Fall 2011 Newsletter (p.5), the new fire truck was proudly announced in the newletter  and showcased at the Open House.

"On June 17, after almost two years of research and planning, Central Fire Station took delivery of an E-ONE 2011 Typhoon HP78 ladder truck."

Wow...  Research and Planning? The "spin" stories continue at the Township.
The 2002 Public Safety Millage that provided the million dollars for that "lemon" of a fire truck is expiring in 2012.  Before we renew any millage, I think it is time for a reality check at the Township as to what kind and how many vehicles the taxpayers are willing to purchase.  As a taxpayer, I believe that "lemon" should have been exposed the very first day.  For ten years most taxpayers believed we had a viable 100' aerial ladder fire truck in the fleet.  Open and transparent may be uncomfortable at times, but necessary for the trust and confidence one expects from the leadership.  What will the leaders lead us to believe with the next millage and budget?

Two Rescue Vehicles Purchased
On Feb. 14, 2011, the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of 2 rescue trucks at a price of $314,671 less trade in value of $26,000 for 2 "older" rescue vehicles in the Township fleet. The trade- in price seems very low.  Could a higher price been gained by selling the vehicles to another community?  Was that considered?  Final price approved for the 2 rescue trucks: $288,671.28.

What was not recorded in the minutes was the fact that the "trade in" vehicles were NOT the "oldest" rescue trucks in the fleet.  The department traded in vehicles that were causing a lot of down time with repairs.  More "lemons"?   How old are the oldest rescue trucks that are still owned?  At millage renewal time, remember that  newer vehicles were traded in for $13,000 a piece.  The Township kept older trucks.

Where are all the "utility" vehicles and cars for the fire department leadership budgeted?  Line item #978 needs closer review in the 2012-2013 budget.

In the 2010 Annual Report for the Fire Department, Fire Chief, Dave Piche wrote:

"...... it is a goal of the fire department to achieve the upgrade of all four of the front line fire engines to ALS status over the next three years......"

Fire Department vehicles:  copied in part,  from the 2010 Annual Report:

"Central Fire Station is located at 1155 Exeter, in Bloomfield Township’s Municipal Government Complex. It houses one Paramedic Engine, one Incident Command Vehicle, one Reserve Paramedic Rescue, one Technical Rescue Vehicle, and numerous staff and utility vehicles.

Fire Station 2 is located at 1063 Westview, on the Township’s northeast side. This fire station houses one Fire Engine and one Paramedic Rescue to protect its district. A Paramedic Lieutenant and three firefighters, including at least two paramedics, are assigned to this station.

Fire Station 3 is located at 4151 W. Maple on the Township’s southwest side. This fire station houses one Paramedic Fire Engine, one Paramedic Rescue, and one Reserve Fire Engine. A Paramedic Lieutenant and 3 paramedic firefighters are assigned to this station.

Fire Station 4 is located at 2389 Franklin Road on the Township’s north side. This
fire station houses one Fire Engine, one Paramedic Rescue, one Reserve Fire Engine and an Air Supply Trailer. A Paramedic Lieutenant and three firefighters, including at least two paramedics, are assigned to this station.

The Bloomfield Village Fire Department continues to provide fire services for the Bloomfield Village Association as a volunteer organization of village residents. The Village Fire Department is staffed by 17 volunteer firefighters and a full time/paid Deputy Fire Chief. Our department operates one Fire Engine and one four wheel drive utility vehicle from the Village Fire Station, which is located at 3595 Bradway.

FYI:  The Village Fire fund budget is authorized by a Special Tax Assessment District. These monies are billed by Bloomfield Township in the Winter Tax Statement to all properties in the Birmingham school District No. 34. "