This is an easy one, it’s taken directly from their recent campaign material and titled as “accomplishments.” So here goes.
“Disbanded the Fire Administrative Board.” (FAB)
They call disbanding FAB an “accomplishment” when the real reason was to get directly at Chief Mark Hamilton and a few of the Fire Fighters that are on "the List." This feud with the Hamiltons has been going on for years with a few disgruntled residents including the Uhereks and Muirhead. They are angry about the fire trucks that the Chief and several Fire Fighters use to get to emergency situations, even though it allows them to get to emergencies much quicker and protect us, the Public.
The Fire Fighters were being stalked in December 2009. On January 12, 2010 Heyl had Uherek call 911 for police to shut up the Fire Fighters who were asking the Board for assistance in the stalking issue. Three police Deputies responded to shut them up. Now the Fire Fighters have joined a union and the township has to pay an Attorney thousands of dollars to negotiate a contract.
FAB was created long before I took office. The Board was served by volunteers who were experienced in some way to help make the Fire Dept. more effective in taking care of the needs of Salem Township and its people. Whether it was fires, a heart attack, or auto accidents they were there quickly. Just like they came to my house in 1994 when my wife had an emergency, we were able to spend one more day with a wife and mother because of them. Do Heyl, Uherek and Wallazy have a conscience?
“Evicting the For-Profit Contract Post Office Operation”
This is another accomplishment to be proud of? When I first heard about the For-Profit operation, I thought great. I raced to the Post Office to get a sandwich and a coke but I was told she wasn’t selling anything, not even potato chips. Then I thought she sold Lotto Tickets, but no again. So I asked where she gets her “profit” and it turns out she gets paid by the Post Office to handle the mail, just like all other Post Offices. Hmm, you work and get paid. Maybe when you get a paycheck it’s really a “for-profit check.” I just learned that our Salem Post Office should be called a "Community Post Office" (not contract).
Linda Hamilton has been paying rent of $250 per month for over 10 years for an office of about 10 ft x 10 ft. Expenses would include electricity for two light bulbs, heat and A/C, and pick up one trash basket a week. As far as snow removal and cutting grass, it has to be done anyway for the building. How much would that add up to in expenses for the Post Office room? Maybe $100/month, just a guess. So the Heyl gang claim we have been subsidizing this Post Office for years? Give me a break! She has been providing a service all this time so that people like me don’t have to waste time and gas driving to the Beck Road PO, or to Northville or to South Lyon and then wait in line.
Anyone who is familiar with this phony issue knows certain people have been trying to get rid of the Post Office for years. They have filed complaints about the Post Office coming up with whatever reasons they can. They stopped buying stamps there for the newsletter or other mailings to take away business. They have even switched the Township mailbox and zip code to Beck Rd where they have to pick up their mail.
Why not be honest and admit they want her out of there, it’s just part of their vindictiveness. They have spent thousands to have the Township Attorneys draft an eviction notice. When that failed to be passed, they came up with a new idea. Just raise the rent to $700 per month so they can then say she was offered a lease but refused to sign it. The Township Attorney was paid additional money to come up with that research and the new monthly rent offer. How would you like to rent out a spare room for $700 a month?
“Ending Nepotism and Cronyism”
This is an accomplishment? And again aimed at the Hamiltons and the Fire Department. How many volunteer fire departments in small towns have relatives working together? Do you think that they are on call 24 hours a day, take training, clean up trucks, and whatever else on their spare time for the money! I know I wouldn’t. Yet, they are there to help when needed as neighbors and friends. We should feel fortunate that cousins, brother-in-laws, nephews, etc would do this for us.
The alternative is to go to a full-time fire dept, pay $50,000 for each Fire Fighter plus benefits to sit at a fire hall waiting for a call. Go talk to our adjacent neighbor Superior Township that is spending about $2,000,000 (that’s millions) per year on fire services paid through taxes. So this is another “accomplishment” they can be proud of and want our vote?
“Limited Improper Building and Computer Access”
I’m very pleased Mr. Heyl stopped Brien Witkowski, a board member, from unlimited access to the Township Hall and Computer system after work hours. Particularly since he was involved with litigation alleging electronic espionage. Now that is really scary to think that Brien Witkowski is a crook. Maybe they are afraid he might find out about any secret letters exchanged between Mr. Heyl and Township Attorneys, or neighboring communities regarding availability of Fire Dept. services.
The same campaign literature asks why I hid this alleged espionage, which I knew nothing about, from the residents of Salem. That’s interesting. We all know that Mr. Heyl did not disclose the terms of a lawsuit settlement with Pennzoil-Quaker State. The settlement was dated Oct. 14, 2008, or about a month before Mr. Heyl took office. Maybe it was just a coincidence to settle before taking office. On page 9 of a 12 page Consent Judgment, there is a finding of fact, agreed to by Robert and Joann Heyl, which includes among others: unfair competition, false advertising, unjust enrichment and breach of contract. Yet Mr. Heyl accuses others of suspicious motives and that former board members “sole purpose was to unjustly enrich themselves.” Talk about the pot calling the kettle black, such nerve.
By the way, you can go to the front page of this website and click on the link: Pennzoil Quaker State v Robert and Joann Heyl if you wish to read more on the 12 page Consent Judgment. You won’t find it in any of their campaign material paid for by Salem Residents for Truth, just a tiny bit ironic.
“Increase the Township’s Return on Investments”
A of 5% return on safe investments would be nice, although the returns actually range to a low of 1.85%. It should be noted that most of the money is invested in Federal Mortgage Loans, like Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac, which recently had to be bailed out with billions of our dollars when they were failing. The primary objective in these investments should be safety.
To Summarize Their Accomplishments
“Disbanded the Fire Administrative Board.” (FAB)
“Evicting the For-Profit Contract Post Office Operation”
“Ending Nepotism and Cronyism.”
“Limited Improper Building and Computer Access”
“Increase the Township’s Return on Investments”
So these have been their accomplishments, for the past two years, in their own words. Something they are proud of? But I believe they forgot to include some “accomplishments” that they may not be proud of like:
Exorbitant legal bills. Legal bills paid by the current Board (Heyl, Uherek, Wallazy) amount to $198,000 for the period between January and July 2010 without any active litigation. That’s about $28,300 per month. This compares to the previous Board that spent a total of $157,000 for the 3 fiscal years 2005-2008, or an average of $4,400 per month. How can this be justified? If you saw the bills for the every day phone calls, meetings, reports generated, and attendance at every board meeting at $175 per hour, you could understand.
Forcing Fire Fighters to unionize for their protection against harassment from this Board. They want to concentrate on providing the best and most effective service possible for the Township and not be concerned about retaliation. The 18 Fire Fighters and 4 Officers are asking for your support in a recent mailing.
Mr. Heyl refuses to answer citizen’s questions at public meetings. You must contact him in his office or by phone so he can give you his (unbiased?) answers in private. What happened to his promise of Open and Transparent Government?
Heyl, Uherek, and Wallazy have now “partnered” with a Developer, through secret meetings and correspondence, to arrange for the availability of sewer and water in direct conflict with the intent of the USD Development Agreement.
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