Fred Roperti's Reflections

Special Board Meeting Dec. 23, 2008

Special Board Meeting Dec 23, 2008

This special Board Meeting was called on Dec. 23, 2008 at 10:00 AM, lasting 10 minutes, to delay a property to Jan 15, 2010. This property includes the home located at 9550 Six Mile Rd, adjacent to the Village Green Park. You can read the official minutes by going to the Township Website at www.salem-mi.org where the minutes are posted.

Why call a special board meeting lasting 10 minutes at 10:00 AM when residents would probably not attend? Is this what the Supervisor defines as being prepared and organized to avoid these kind of meetings?

Appearance of Impropriety

You know, it boggles the mind. Why can't the Salem Township Board act like real people? Why the secrets? Why all the back-room political games? Have they taken their direction from Nancy Pelosi (accusing others of lying as misdirection for their own lies)?

Seriously, we all have better things to do than keep an eagle eye on this board.

It's now come out that the three board members that didn't know anything about this (Bejin, Trent, Witkowski), were in the dark a lot longer than they knew. It came out during the meeting that Supervisor Bob Heyl was emailing and talking on the phone with other law firms as far back as July of this year. WHY be so unprofessional about all this? WHY?

Which brings up another point, does that mean that the attorney firms that were vying to become Salem's new attorney firm were doing what is commonly called "ambulance chasing"? Or more pointedly, who violated their oath of office?

Note: This has nothing to do with political party. I hope we all know that liars do not prefer one party over the other.

Special Board Meeting Nov. 24, 2009

Hey Happy Thanksgiving all -

The "Special" Board meeting called 2 days before Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season when
everyone is too busy to be concerned with Township business was a slick piece of back-door business.

The purpose of this Special Meeting was to interview and hire a new Attorney Firm with no advance notice, other than the meeting agenda notice, to Salem residents, 3 board members, and the current Attorney.

Perhaps choosing this date was just a coincidence? Something like Congress trying to pass National Health Care Insurance at Christmas time?

My questions posted at "Did You Know... " were not answered or even considered, as Supervisor Robert Heyl, Treasurer Paul Uherek and Trustees Marcia Van Fossen and Wayne Wallazy voted without a second thought as to the impact and precarious position they have put us all in.

The Deed is Done - WITHOUT....

Hi again,

Despite the questions I asked (see yesterday's post, "Did you know...") the board voted 4 to 3 to install Johnson and Rosati as Salem's new legal firm. Hmm. Win every case brought by a developer for a township, get replaced without so much as a "thank you." Does that strike you as professional? Would you run your life or business that way?

When the Salem Board voted 4 to 3 to replace Salem’s legal representation of McLain & Winters with Johnson & Rosati might it be said that they did so WITHOUT YOU IN MIND?

It defintely was done:

·     without searching for the best legal representation possible, admitting “political” motivations (please see the A2 News article, Salem Township Officials Fire Longtime Attorney in Controversial Vote.

·     without due diligence or consideration for the records of the firms under consideration.

·     without notice to three Board members, the public or the current attorney.

·     without consideration for the pending $50,000,000⁰⁰ (fifty million dollar) arbitration,  against the highly successful winning attorney for developers: Robert M. Carson - what will the arbitrators think of a township board that replaces the attorney that argued before them, without notifying him or the other board members? If you were an arbitrator on this case would you think the Salem Board was honest and above reproach?

·     without consideration for the nine-year, undefeated record of Doug Winters against developers, attorney of record from McLain and Winters, and on-going litigation issues.

·     without consideration for the losses of Carol Rosati (Johnson & Rosati) to Robert M. Carson.

·     without checking the claims of Carol Rosati that she “knows how to deal with Carson” (did she mean by losing to him?).

·     without consideration for Johnson and Rosati’s prior experience with Salem township, when they were replaced in 1997 because they could not fulfill Salem’s need for an attorney firm that  could successfully deal with challenges that developers were posing then – is this déjà vu all over again?

·     without consideration of Carol Rosati’s proposed consent judgment on Salem’s behalf to allow a 16-pump gas station with fast food restaurant, 6000 sq ft restaurant, and 35,000 sq ft retail shopping center in direct violation of our Growth Management plan and zoning laws protecting us from uncontrolled sprawl.

·     without consideration that the above consent judgment was not approved and the entire suit dismissed only through Doug Winters’ intervention. (You’ll note that there is not a shopping center, restaurant and huge gas station, along with the uncontrolled, unregulated growth in Salem today – you can thank Doug Winters for that, even if our township board doesn’t).

 

 

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?

Memories of the Class of 1949 - the Plymouth Rocks

Our Plymouth High School class of '49 held a 60th reunion on September 12, 2009 at the Hilton on Sheldon Rd.  It's hard to believe 60 years have gone by since graduation, where oh where did the time go, and so quickly?  I lived in Livonia, as did others in my class, and we had to bused to Plymouth since we did not have a high school in Livonia at that time although they were working on Bentley High.  There we were, 18 years old and ready to conquer the world, and now those of us left are now 78 years old.  But everyone attending the reunion all really looked good.  In fact, the good-looking girls attending the reunion looked VERY good.  Maybe it's just ego that I don't want to consider myself, or my classmates, as old people.

 

Out of our class of 130, 39 attended our 60th reunion.  Sadly to say that 69 classmates are deceased, and we haven't heard from at least 22 others.  Three of us live in Salem Township, including Ferman Rohraff and Bob Houghton.  I was on the reunion committee to help out but Doris Tillotson White and Dick Weinert did most of the work and we are grateful for their effort at every 5 year reunion.  Several of us were asked to speak to tell about our most interesting experiences, mine being the Township Supervisor for 8 years.

 

I think about my good buddies from Livonia:  Don Patterson, Ted Burton, Jim Wagenschutz, and Jim Kolak and all the fun we used to have.  Don Patterson was probably my best buddy and we used to hang around together driving our Fathers' cars around going to fast food drive-ins, which were plenty in those days.  My favorite memory was Don Patterson and I driving around Hines Park at night looking for parked cars.  When we found one, we threw a lighted fire cracker under the parked car.  The couple in the car would get a rude awakening and they would yell and cuss at us, and we would take off laughing.  Well, one evening we did that to a couple in a 1940 Chevy.  At that time we were driving Don's car, a 1932 Chevy, that his dad gave to him for a birthday present.  This guy in the '40 Chevy was so enraged that he took after us!  We didn't know if he had a gun or what.  We got onto Schoolcraft Road fairly quick heading east, but the top speed of our Chevy was only 61 mph, but the guy's car was much faster.  We tried to lock our doors, but they could only be locked from the outside.  We were finally able to get the outside door key loose from the ignition key chain, while Don is yelling all the time "Alfred, get the censored door locked!"  So we're traveling 61 mph and I have my head outside trying to lock the damn door which finally got locked.  Eventually, the guy in the '40 Chevy gave up the chase, and I can assure you we were  relieved.  Needless to say, we gave up this kind of fun and spent more time at the drive-in's.

 

We had a great time at the reunion visiting with those we haven't seen for years.  Then talking about old times as though it was last week or something, but yet I can't remember things I did yesterday.  I'm hoping that somehow we could still have another re-union although it would be in 2014, that would be iffy at best.  In the meantime my best to all my classmates for good health and thanks for all the good memories as we prepare for another and new life. 

 

Fred 

Election Results - November 2008

Salem Township Supervisor
Robert Heyl	2445	96.76%
Write-In	82	3.24%

Primary Election Results

Thank you for your support.

Fred

REP. PRIMARY SALEM TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
Robert Heyl	755	56.85%
Fred Roperti	572	43.07%
Write-In	1	0.08%
REP. PRIMARY SALEM TOWNSHIP CLERK
Mary Cowmeadow	643	49.61%
David Trent	652	50.31%
Write-In	1	0.08%
REP. PRIMARY SALEM TOWNSHIP TREASURER
Linda Hamilton	616	46.84%
Paul J. Uherek	698	53.08%
Write-In	1	0.08%
REP. PRIMARY SALEM TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE
Susan Bejin	612	13.64%
Bart Cann	457	10.18%
Dennis J. Draplin	507	11.30%
David C. Helm	274	6.11%
Dan Jenkinson	555	12.37%
Marcia T. Van Fossen	827	18.43%
Wayne W. Wallazy	662	14.75%
Brien Witkowski	587	13.08%
Write-In	6	0.13%

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!