The October 7th Mullett Board meeting was well attended, with over 40 attendees. We encourage more public involvement in our local governments because our eyes and ears are the best guarantee that our elected officials will conduct the business of government ethically.
Our local governments supposedly work at the behest of all taxpayers. Not just registered voters, not just the Topinabee Development Association . The Mullett Township Board continues to ignore individual taxpayers concerns, excluding the input of virtually all except the Topinabee Development Association and it's insiders. Old dogs performing the same old tricks.
This issue was more than amply demonstrated when Mullett Township Treasurer Kathy Flory stated she needed to be fully informed of a "holdback" on payment to the Topinabee Park general contractor. She said "I'm on the Board" and am unaware of a holdback and have not been informed of the reason for the holdback or the amount. That demonstrates the breadth of the problem when elected Board members are excluded from the business of Mullett Township.
What would Treasurer Flory say of the past incident when the Topinabee Development Association and Grant writer Karyn Warsow submitted a federal grant application to "beat a deadline" without prior Board approval or advising the entire Mullett Board? Trustee John Brown was rightfully indignant at that time. He has on at least one occasion reminded the TDA spokesperson Tom O'Hare that the Board, and only the Board, has the right to approve and submit grant applications.
David Ogg, a TDA Board member and not an elected official, serving as the Park Project Coordinator offered his opinion that the bill submitted by Fleis & Vandenbrink for "additional" services was a "negotiation" and under the OMA should be hid from the public.
Supervisor MaryAnne Gale then asked the question of the the Board, "should we be discussing this in public?".The Board said yes, public discussion.
David Ogg has an opinion, but unfortunately the OMA allows a very limited number of reasons for a "closed session". The TDA and embarrassed Board members attempts to hide the true cost of the Topinabee Park are not included. In a democracy, the Board's dirty laundry should be hung out for all to see.
Yes
MaryAnne, by law this should be discussed in public. The Open Meeting
Act (OMA), already violated numerous times in the past by the Mullett
Board, continues to be ignored as a few members of the Board,
interacting with TDA members outside of regular Board meetings, conduct
public business in private.
Ahh, so much for MaryAnne's "promise" of open government. Like most of her "promises", there has been no follow through or consistency of action. A decision at one meeting is forgotten or reversed at the next meeting.
An unedited recording of the October 7, 2013 meeting is available free of charge for those seeking the "truth".
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