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February 4, 2021 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 3

SUMPTER
SUMPTER

Deputy supervisor resigns following public squabble

”
A heated exchange at the Jan. afternoon the day before and “I'm a full-grown man. I can do
26 meeting of the Sumpter that scheduled meetings on I'm a full-grown man. it on my own. I am perfectly
Township Board of Trustees has Tuesday, along with some unex- capable of doing this on my own,
apparently prompted the resig- pected personnel issues, kept I can do it on my own. Kenny,” he said. “I want to get
nation of Deputy Supervisor him from returning the voice I am perfectly capable of doing along and do my job and do my
Kenneth Bednark. mail from Bednark. He said the best for the community.”
During a study session of the voice mail message informed this on my own, Kenny. Bednark responded that he
board members just prior to him that Supervisor Tim had a 45-minute conversation
their regular meeting, Trustee Bowman had instructed Bednark no recognition of doing so and been a full-time deputy until with Bowman on Friday and that
Peggy Morgan criticized the fail- to call and tell him that discus- moved on to the next item for dis- “this board cut your legs off.” there were items in Luke's con-
ure of Police Chief Eric Luke to sion of his soon-to-expire cussion. “We did discuss this (Luke’s tract that Bowman needed to be
return a phone call from employment contract would be During discussion at the fol- contract). I'm covering your back. aware of.
Bednark. The call was, according removed from the meeting agen- lowing regular meeting of the If you're not happy with my serv- “I am quite confident we dis-
to Morgan, an effort to discuss da. board, Bednark took the opportu- ice, just let me know,” he said. cussed this,” he said. “The onus
Luke's upcoming contract renew- “I saw no immediacy in the nity to chastise his boss about Bowman responded that he, is on you sir, not only on me.”
al. She asked why there was this message,” Luke said. that exchange. He said that in the too, had only been in office for That exchange, and a subse-
“lack of communication.” Trustee Matt Oddy asked two months he had been the two months and was attempting quent discussion between
Luke, in attendance at the Bowman, “Did you have your deputy supervisor he had repeat- to acclimate himself to municipal Bowman and Bednark, apparent-
Zoom meeting, responded that deputy tell the chief the item was edly had to compel Bowman to government but obviously took ly prompted Bednark to submit a
the “phone call” was a voice mes- to be removed?” Bowman respond to his emails. He offense at Bednark's comments letter of resignation, effective
sage he had received late in the responded casually that he had reminded Bowman that he had and tone. Feb. 10.
Sumpter trustees approve settlement of pay rate dispute

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Members of the Sumpter insurance, sick and vacation time
Township Board of Trustees We had a review. The board already accrued from the date of his
unanimously agreed to a one- swearing in on Nov. 20 until the
time $500 payment to Deputy passed a resolution, so we can move on. board set his pay as a part-time
Treasurer Kenneth Bednark If this was paid in error, deputy supervisor at $8,406 with
along with a month of a back no benefits Dec. 15.
wages at a higher hourly amount. we should get the money back. The discussion continued
The unanimous vote came with Morgan repeatedly insisting
after a protracted discussion of ing more. If the board intended Bednark had not been paid “the that Bednark be paid the amount
the situation at the Jan. 26 meet- the deputy, in this case Bednark, money he had earned.” “authorized by the supervisor.”
ing. The topic was prompted by to perform additional or other Trustee Matt Oddy reminded She suggested paying him that
Trustee Peggy Morgan who also duties, then other laws such as Morgan and the board that the hourly rate and then discussing
raised the issue at the Jan. 12 minimum wage and benefits trustees had previously agreed the interest, benefits, insurance
meeting, suggesting Bednark be would come into play. that if it had been determined and vacation days he was claim-
compensated at the higher rate “I need direction from you as that the supervisor had the ing at a future meeting.
paid to the previous deputy to what your intent on Dec. 15 authority to set the hourly wage Oddy and Trustee Tim Rush
supervisor. At that time, the was,” he told the board. rate, the township would not take were both adamantly opposed to
question of authority to set town- Supervisor Tim Bowman the money back from Bednark as that suggestion saying this issue Supervisor Tim Bowman
ship employee wages was explained that when he hired a reimbursement for the over- had simply “dragged on too time worked from Nov. 20 until
referred to township attorney Bednark as his deputy, he payment. long.” Both said they wanted the Dec. 15 along with an additional
Rob Young for research. assumed it would be at the same “We had a review. The board issue settled during the meeting. $500 in compensation for his
Young presented his prelimi- rate as the previous deputy already passed a resolution, so Oddy said, however, it would be other claims on the condition
nary findings but told the board supervisor. “I was not asking him we can move on. If this was paid difficult to vote on the issue that this would satisfy all the pay
members last week that his to do anything more that my in error, we should get the money when there was no calculation of issues.
research left him needing direc- statutory duties,” he said. back. We dealt with this at the the amount presented. Bednark reportedly submitted
tion from the board as to their During the meeting, Young last meeting,” Oddy said. After lengthy discussion, the a letter of resignation last week-
intent when they voted on the repeatedly acknowledged, as did Bednark delivered a letter to board members unanimously effective Feb. 10 following a pub-
issue Dec. 15. At that meeting, the the trustees, that there was no township officials last week agreed to pay Bednark the lic dispute with Bowman.
board reduced Bednark’s posi- inference that Bowman had any demanding back pay, interest, increased hourly rate for the (See related story, above)
tion to part time without benefits ulterior motive in the appoint-
at a reduced hourly rate. ment of Bednark and that he had
Young explained that the acted on incomplete information.
To receive The Eagle in your inbox,
board of trustees has the authori- Morgan repeatedly suggested
ty to set the wages for township that the board pay Bednark at
employees. He explained, how- the previous deputy supervisor’s
ever, that a deputy official is rate and stop withholding what
responsible only for performing had been determined as an over-
the statutory duties of the person payment from his checks. She
appointing the deputy, and noth- reiterated several times that visit www.associatednewspapers.net.

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CANTON
INVITATION TO BID
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Charter Township of Canton, 1150 Canton Center S, Canton, Michigan will accept sealed
bids at the Office of the Clerk up to 3:00 p.m. Thursday, February 18, 2021 for the following:
DEMOLITION SERVICES
Bids may be picked up at the Finance and Budget Department, on the MITN Purchasing Group website at https://www.bidnet-
direct.com/mitn/cantontownship or you may contact Mike Sheppard at: mike.sheppard@canton-mi.org. All bids must be sub-
mitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked with the proposal name, company name, address and telephone number and date and
time of bid opening. The Township reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals. The Township does not discrimi-
nate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services.
MICHAEL SIEGRIST, CLERK
Publish 02/04/2021 CN2170 - 020421 2.5 x 2.055