These are the questions asked at the Salem Area Historical Society Candidate Forum, my answers as well as an open and closing statement. Each candidate response was limited to 100 words. Please send me your questions through my email fred@fred-roperti.com or by leaving a comment on any post on this site.
Fred
Opening statement:
I’m asking for your support for another term as Township Supervisor. I’d like you to know from me why I am running again. Had there been a candidate that demonstrated an understanding of the issues, a willingness to learn the facts rather than just to attack, I would not be running. I love this township, I didn’t just build a house 29 years ago; this is where my heart lies. I’m concerned about the “changes” that are promised. That is why I’m running again; I’m working hard to win and to support the candidates I know will put Salem First.
Closing Statement
As a young man in the 1950’s, I watched the many acres our family farmed in Livonia paved over at an alarming rate when some self-serving individuals got onto the Livonia township board. That’s right; Livonia was once a farming community, more rural than Salem is today. What’s left - the Roperti Turkey Farm - now sits on a 5-acre island in the midst of a sea of sprawl, a monument to “change” – change that benefited a few at the expense of the rest. I don't want that to happento Salem, and that’s why I’m asking for your support.
What type of Police Services do you want for Salem Township in the next 4 years and at what cost?
I would like to see Police services that are responsive to our residents’ needs at a sustainable cost. This includes meeting expectations that have been defined by the Board and Supervisor, and held accountable for their performance. We have investigated alternatives that can meet these criteria including formation of an Eastern Washtenaw County Regional Police Force and contracting with Northfield Township. Neither alternative met these criteria. Our current contract with Washtenaw County remains the best option at this time, but other alternatives are being pursued. This includes expansion of State Police services and use of zoning enforcement officers.
Does the township need more office space in the next 4 years and, if so, how would you satisfy this need?
The township can use more space, but I don’t consider it critical. In the last 8 years staff has increased by two part-time employees, and an Assessor that requires an office just 5 hours per week. I do not foresee any staff growth in the next 4 years. Facilities for the Fire Dept outside of the current office complex could be a first step, giving us additional space for offices. This would fit with current facilities and harmonize with the character of the Hamlet, at a reasonable cost.
When a public sewage facility and Detroit Water Services arrive in the Urban Services District, what is your position on other areas getting these services and how can this be accomplished?
The current Development Agreement does not allow expansion of utilities outside of the Urban Services District, and has been designed to remain that way in perpetuity.
When the landfill is completed, how will Salem cover the high cost for its ongoing maintenance (ref: Novi spends thousands, annually)? When will this happen, and what should Salem do?
We have approximately 15 years of landfill income left for trash, longer if expanded. Gas recovery operations may continue for 30 years. I would like to see a Committee empanelled to investigate the experiences of communities with a closed - or soon to be closed - landfill similar to Salem’s. Then make recommendations to the Board how to minimize maintenance expenses, determine what those expenses are, and how these costs may be paid for in the future.
Some developers seem to ignore current growth plans and zoning and have no qualms about buying land and then suing the local government to have the regulations altered to fit their needs. Alternatively, they find other means of changing the playing field, such as what's currently happening with the mental hospital land annexation issue in Northville. How would you prevent developers from pursuing such changes or law suits in Salem Twp?
We need to be assured that our Growth Management Plan (GMP) and Zoning Ordinances remain reasonable and defendable in court. As we’ve been doing, continuous review of these documents is necessary to maintain those two standards, reasonable and defendable. This review includes any other documents related to development such as Development Agreements specific to the Urban Services District. Our Township attorneys have successfully defended the Township against such law suits over the last 8 years, because we have solid ordinances and GMP.
How should Salem Township use its $7 million reserve fund and why? (i.e. buy land for future township buildings - Fire Station, Police Station, Senior Center , etc., buy land for public parks, buy developmental rights to help preserve the agricultural character, blacktop/pave main roads that are currently gravel, continue financially investing)
Our reserves should continue to be invested in sound instruments that yield the greatest allowable interest rates, and are government guaranteed safe. I’d like to continue purchasing property as it becomes available, to preserve open space and potentially for investment.
What are the statutory duties for the position you are seeking and how do you plan to fulfill these duties?
Statutory duties for General Law Township Supervisor include: chair or moderate township meetings; assessing property; developing yearly township budget; and with Board approval, making appointments to the Planning Commission, Board of Review, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Fire Administration Board. I plan to fulfill these duties as I have for the past nearly 8 years.
What do you want to happen to the Township-owned Rider House?
It should continue to be used as part of Township facilities. Its use may vary depending on availability of new office space. It could be then used, for example, to accommodate police offices, or an Assessor’s office. The Post Office should remain in a place convenient to residents while keeping the Salem zip code alive. Continued use of the Rider House would assure that the building would be maintained in good condition, rather than letting it deteriorate if vacant.
What changes do you want in the next 4 years with regards to the number of township employees, their compensation and their benefits?
I see little or no change in the number of part-time/full-time employees in the next 4 years. There may be additions to the number of temporary employees or paid-on-call fire fighters depending on need. Only full-time employees are entitled to health care benefits. Compensation should reflect cost-of-living factors as well as for Outstanding Performance, based on the current Employee Manual.
What should be the approved zoning size of the largest building in the Urban Services District and why?
The prior zoning ordinances were less specific than currently approved ordinances. They did not specify the total maximum building size, instead gave a formula for determining total allowable maximum square footage for all buildings.
The new ordinances specify a maximum building size of 6,000 square feet, up to 8 clustered, for a maximum of 48,000 feet.
Two notes:
1) The Township negotiated with Shostak a reduction from 25% to 18% for total allowable square footage.
2) Shostak’s application might have been under new ordinances; however, delays in approval were created by misguided challenges by a candidate for trustee that lives in the USD.
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