Fred Roperti's Reflections

DID YOU KNOW THE TOWNSHIP IS VOTING TO REPLACE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY'S AT TOMORROW'S MEETING?

Yes, I mean the same attorney's that have kept us rural and tax free by (among other things) winning a $2.1 million judgement and restoring our monthly income? Did you get notice about this? I didn't. Here are my questions to the board, I hope you join me in asking our representatives for explanations.

From the Desk of A.A. Roperti….11/23/09

To the Salem Board of Trustees:

I will be seeking answers to the following - at the appropriate time - during the Salem Board of Trustees meeting to be held this Tuesday, November 24, regarding agenda item: Interview and Selection of Salem Township Legal Counsel. I am providing these 10 questions in advance to avoid surprise, and to facilitate intelligent and useful debate and discussion. I apologize for the lateness of this document, but it was unavoidable due to this agenda item just becoming available to the public.

1. The township has retained its rural character, quality of living, and local tax-free status due in large part to the successful, committed and honest representation that McLain and Winters has provided Salem over the past nine years. Why are you considering replacing them?

2. To seek to replace Mclain and Winters with minimal notice, at a meeting held two days before a major holiday gives the appearance of impropriety, why is it important to do this so quickly, and seemingly under the radar of the public?

3. In speaking with a trustee, I am informed that he did not know of this agenda item until he got his board packet. A committed township attorney is the lynch pin of a successful township - board discussion, motions, and ordinances are worthless without having the ability to enforce the vision of the people, and for someone willing to do the best for the township without limits. Why would this board not do everything it can to make all its members aware of what it is planning in so crucial a decision? Why would the Board want to put less effort into finding attorney representation than it does in finding someone to cut the lawn? Surely this board recognizes that attorney representation is more important than lawn care to the future of this township.

4. Why is the board considering applications from attorney firms that have not provided their hourly rate, relevant references, and history?

5. Why is the board considering applications from attorney firms that represent developers that have sued townships in behalf of the developers? Are these firms willing to divest themselves from developer clients should Salem Township decide to allow them to represent them?

6. Why is the bid proposal policy being waived when it does not apply to professional services such as selection of township attorney? It gives the appearance that there is misdirection afoot. What is the purpose of this motion?

7. It is known that Johnson and Rosati previously represented the township, and that rather than go to court to uphold our township zoning ordinances, they began negotiations for a gas station, fast food restaurant and other such businesses in our township. Which board members support Johnson and Rosetti for township attorneys?

8. It is also known that Marcia Van Fossen has a personal relationship with the principals of Johnson and Rosati. How did their name come to be on the short list of potential law firms?

9. It is known that Mr. Winters represented Supervisor Heyl’s neighbor in a dispute over a kiddie pool. Mrs. Heyl as president of the neighborhood association spearheaded the actions against the neighbor’s pool. I would like to give Mr. Heyl the opportunity to speak openly about this to dispel any cloud of personal motivation superseding the township’s best interests. The timing and lack of notice of this action, especially in light of the victories that McLain and Winters can claim on behalf of the people of Salem township, already raise a cloud of suspicion for the motivation for these actions among reasonable people. To leave potential personal bias unexplored is to invite the public to mistrust the motivations of their elected officials.

10. I have heard that there was extensive email conversations held with these law firms without full board knowledge. Can those board members that had these conversations identify themselves, and describe the nature of these email conversations?

Candidate Night Answers

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. 

South Lyon Herald - You Just Never Know, Continued!

Well, I appeared in a story on the front page of the Detroit Free Press on Tuesday, and on the front page of the South Lyon Herald on Thursday - along with a bystander, my daughter Gina.

Apparently some people, that have nothing better to do with their time but create conspiracy theories, decided that Salem Township Clerk David Trent went out in the street and started handing out ballots (which, sadly, is NOT the most absurd thing I've heard in this election). Do I need to say now that that's not true? But please, don't believe me - take a look for yourself...(click to view full size)

I'm wondering, when these people look under the bed do they see dust bunnies, or Russian spies?

In any case, the plot thickens....remember the story of Chicken Little? When Chicken Little gets hit on the head by a "ballot" falling out of the sky, it just ain't news until Chicken Little runs off and tells Henny Penny all about it. In our story, Henny Penny is the editor of a small town newspaper.

Well our little Henny Penny is so excited by this piece of "news" from Chicken Little that he rushes out and publishes a story on the front page reporting this fact: "one of those that received a ballot without submitting an application was Gina Roperti, the supervisor's daughter." Henny Penny forgot to mention that when he spoke to David Trent, that David told him that all the applications were right in his hand and running through the copy machine for Mr. Penny to pick up. Hmmm. But somehow, the story ran as fact anyway.

Do you think there'll be a retraction and apology on the front page next week?

Oddly, there was enough lead time on this story that Henny was able to spread the story to others, and quote their reaction. He contacted Turkey Lurkey with the State, and Goosey Loosey with the County, he was so excited just thinking about these ballots falling from the sky that he completely forgot about the facts... maybe when "Foxy Loxy" reminds Mr. Penny of how far afield he has roamed from his employer's Principles of Ethical Conduct, he'll think twice before printing known and unsubstantiated fantasies.

In light of what I just read reported as "news", I am amazed looking at these Principles of Ethical Conduct. The story was written with complete and utter disregard for his employer and his profession.  Mr. Penny smears me, my daughter, and David Trent, all while knowing what he is writing is not the truth, in an attempt to influence an election. FOR SHAME!

In the Detroit Free Press - You Just Never Know!

Last week I read an article in the Free Press about GM retirees having their retirement health care benefits reduced...I decided to write a note to the reporter- at about 2 am - about the comments that some GM salaried retirees had made.

To my surprise, Meghana Keshavan called me, came out to Salem, interviewed me, had me photographed and the story appeared - on the front page of the Freep, no less -  all in less than a week! You can the entire story below...

Accomplishments as Township Supervisor

Managing Growth

ü  Worked to revise Salem’s Growth Management Plan to best reflect our long-range values and needs’

o   The detail of the GMP is what gives it defensibility; the revision added 2/3 to the existing version

ü  Successfully defended multiple lawsuits brought by developers that went to court to test Salem’s Growth Management Plan and Ordinances. Our strong, precise ordinances allowed us to prevail, maintaining our vision how we want to maintain our township.

Keeping Salem a Great Place to Live

ü  Designed and implemented a community park in the Salem Hamlet, completely financed through private donations, no township money used.

ü  Explored many alternatives that will give Salem the best balance of cost and health and safety services (fire and police).

ü  Actively worked with police to resolve individual resident issues – trespassing, noise disturbances

ü  Crafted noise ordinance with input from law enforcement and courts, so that we have an ordinance that provides warnings, tracks repeat occurrences and provides escalating penalties for multiple offenses.

Finances and Budget

ü  Restored township’s income from landfill and gas recovery revenue through successful lawsuit, including recovery of all attorney fees.

ü  Always support seeking simpler, more economical alternatives.

o   Specifically, spent $30,000 to correct a problem when Drain Commission proposed a $1.4 million solution, which would have been assessed to residents. Further, solved a “$400,000” drainage problem for $10,000.

ü  We enjoy a bank balance of $7 million, compared with $2.3 million upon taking office. We’ve built this reserve by keeping expenses down, government small and defending our income.

o   A healthy bank balance is also a key to being able to ensure that development is done on our terms – those that would sue to overturn our development ordinances think twice when there is enough of a “war chest” available to defend our development standards, guaranteeing that we decide what happens within our borders. 

Government

ü  Township still employs just 3 full-time employees; keeping government small is a key to maintaining our open space. Expand government and sprawl is right behind.

Salem First Accomplishments as your Township Supervisor

Accomplishments as Township Supervisor

Managing Growth

ü  Worked to revise Salem’s Growth Management Plan to best reflect our long-range values and needs’

o   The detail of the GMP is what gives it defensibility; the revision added 2/3 to the existing version

ü  Successfully defended multiple lawsuits brought by developers that went to court to test Salem’s Growth Management Plan and Ordinances. Our strong, precise ordinances allowed us to prevail, maintaining our vision how we want to maintain our township.

Keeping Salem a Great Place to Live

ü  Designed and implemented a community park in the Salem Hamlet, completely financed through private donations, no township money used.

ü  Explored many alternatives that will give Salem the best balance of cost and health and safety services (fire and police).

ü  Actively worked with police to resolve individual resident issues – trespassing, noise disturbances

ü  Crafted noise ordinance with input from law enforcement and courts, so that we have an ordinance that provides warnings, tracks repeat occurrences and provides escalating penalties for multiple offenses.

Finances and Budget

ü  Restored township’s income from landfill and gas recovery revenue through successful lawsuit, including recovery of all attorney fees.

ü  Always support seeking simpler, more economical alternatives.

o   Specifically, spent $30,000 to correct a problem when Drain Commission proposed a $1.4 million solution, which would have been assessed to residents. Further, solved a “$400,000” drainage problem for $10,000.

ü  We enjoy a bank balance of $7 million, compared with $2.3 million upon taking office. We’ve built this reserve by keeping expenses down, government small and defending our income.

o   A healthy bank balance is also a key to being able to ensure that development is done on our terms – those that would sue to overturn our development ordinances think twice when there is enough of a “war chest” available to defend our development standards, guaranteeing that we decide what happens within our borders. 

Government

ü  Township still employs just 3 full-time employees; keeping government small is a key to maintaining our open space. Expand government and sprawl is right behind.