Three Day Work Weeks, Taxes and Meeting Notices

Hi All,
Days Open at Township
Township employees have three day work weeks for the next three weeks.
The following are the days the Township is open:  Dec. 19, 20, 21 ; Dec. 27, 28, 29 for 2011; and Jan. 3, 4, 5 for 2012.

Library Closed During the Holidays on these dates
The Library will be closed:  Dec. 24 and 25, 2011  and     Dec. 31, 2011 and Jan. 1, 2012
The virtual door to the library is always open.

RIZZO  Solid Waste Collection Holiday Hours
No Changes to the services provided by RIZZO.  Collection will be on the regularly scheduled day as Christmas and New Year's Day both are on Sunday this year.  However, Christmas trees will be collected through Jan. 20, 2012 if placed with regular trash.  All other yard waste collection has been discontinued and will resume March 15, 2012.

Property Taxes and Payment Options

All property taxes are due before year end if you are planning on claiming the costs on your 2011 tax returns for the IRS. Otherwise, the deadline to pay 2011 property taxes is February 14, 2012.   There are payments options to pay bills by cash, personal check or credit card and through a company called Official Payments Corp.  according to the Treasurer's section of the website.  I have never used this service.  I just found it on the website.  Treasurer, Dan Devine,  (248.433.7705) should be able to answer questions about this company.

"Official Payments is a leading provider of electronic payment solutions for the IRS, states, municipalities, colleges and universities nationwide. So give yourself the benefits of Official Payments and consider your payment Officially Paid."

Meeting Notices
Library Board Meeting CHANGED to MONDAY, December 19, 2011 @ 7 pm.
Please note that the December, 2011 Library Board of Trustees meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 7:00pm, has been changed to Monday, December 19, 2011 at 7:00pm.

Planning Commission MeetingThere is a Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Monday, December 19, 2011 at 7 pm.  The agenda states there is a Public Hearing for the ATM kiosk site plan in the Bloomfield Hills Shopping Center at the SE corner of South Boulevard and Opdyke.  The site plan indicates that 11 parking spaces will be eliminated.  There will be more lighting to provide safety while using the bank ATM.

The main question is:  was there the LEGAL 15 day noticing of a Public Hearing?  This issue came before the Design Review Board on December 7. Where was a notice published?  It was not under legal notices on the Township website.  Fifteen days have not even passed since it was first heard at the Township.

The January meeting has been scheduled for WEDNESDAY, January 4, 2012 as the Township offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, @ 7 pm.

Design Review Board Meeting
The Township website has not yet indicated whether or not there is an agenda for the Design Review Board scheduled for Wednesday, December 21, 2011 @ 2 pm.  (Dec. 7 agenda still posted).  The township  continually claims the 18 hour notification.  I continually claim the Design Review Board is illegal as it is set up for a Township government.  The legal opinion I requested has not been provided.
12/20 UPDATE: The Design Review Board meeting on 12/21  @ 2 pm is cancelled.
The January meetings should be the first and third Wednesdays,  Jan. 4 and Jan. 18, 2012 @ 2 pm.

Board of Trustees Meeting
There is no meeting on December 26, 2011 as the Township offices are closed.
The next scheduled meeting is January 9, 2012 @ 7 pm.

Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 10, 2012, @ 7 pm.

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.