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PAGE 4 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN March 31, 2022

SUMPTER
SUMPTER

Trustees continue to discuss sale of township land

The sale of township-owned on the various properties as cash properties and there is a tree
property was again the topic of buyers “have an advantage.” ” every 2 feet,” he said. “It is not
discussion during the meeting of While Trustee Peggy Morgan You can reject all bids made that desirable a piece of proper-
the Sumpter Township Board of suggested a “pilot program” with but if you set a price minimum, ty.”
Trustees March 22. the auctioneers, Bowman Township attorney Rob
In the workshop session prior explained that the company auc- they wouldn't take on the job. Young reminded the board
to the board meeting, Supervisor tions off from “one to 19 proper- members that in his discussions
Tim Bowman again suggested ties, one right after the other. If with the auction company, the
that the township employ the the sell six of the 19, the other 13 owners clearly stated that there
services of Braun and Helmer go right back up again,” he said. properties being auctioned and if necessary. could be no minimum bid
professional auction services to Morgan said she had some debated setting a minimum bid Rush explained that with sev- required or reserve.
sell several pieces of property. concerns about the new proce- at the recently appraised price eral of the sites, the township “You can reject all bids made
He said the services of the auc- dure in place which requires of the various sites. would not actually receive the but if you set a price minimum,
tioneer included the necessary bidders to submit a plan for the Trustee and interim Deputy funding from the sale as it would they wouldn't take on the job. If
paperwork, the title work and property when they bid on it. “Is Supervisor Tim Rush explained go to the state or county. The you're going to try to get the
advertising. that out the door?” she said. that these properties also pre- township, he said, has been appraised amount, they aren't
“This is a better way to go Oddy explained that the new sented a liability issue for the maintaining the land for 30 years going to do it,” he said.
about selling township proper- procedure was written allowing township, noting that four- and would be paid by the state Rush suggested the board
ties,” he told the board mem- board members the option to wheelers regularly used one site or county for that service from members direct Young to review
bers. change the procedure. and that if there were to be an the proceeds of any sale. the auction contract and bring it
During the 45 minutes of dis- Bowman explained that the injury, the township could be While trustees agreed that back for discussion. “We aren't
cussion regarding the property properties are zoned and if the held liable. the land should be sold at “the going to get anywhere with this
sale, Trustee Matt Oddy said he zoning is residential “you have Trustee Don LaPorte said going rate” or the appraised tonight,” he said.
would be in favor of the auction to build a house on it. Nothing that he wanted to reiterate that value, Bowman assured them The board members took no
service “if individuals were else you can do.” he was not in favor of selling any that the township would never action on the proposal to utilize
allowed time to get a mortgage” The board members entered of the properties, but agreed receive that amount. the auction service and voted to
which he said could potentially into a lengthy discussion of the with Oddy that bidders should “The property could be con- remove the item from the meet-
increase the number of bidders possible reserve price on the be allowed time to find financing taminated. I've walked both ing agenda.
Administrator hiring procedure prompts board questions

Sumpter Township Clerk Esther Hurst “red flags” in the background checks,
repeated her concerns regarding the hir- ” again referencing McClary's short terms at
ing of Darwin McClary as the new town- It was a very poor decision. other communities. “I'm looking for some-
ship administrator during the regular Not a great protocol to have anyone body who stays here. McClary has been at
meeting of the board of trustees Feb. 22. many different jobs.”
A motion to accept the formal recom- vote on someone who could be their boss. While the motion to direct Young to
mendation of the hiring committee drew We made a mistake. prepare an employment contract for
some criticism from Hurst who questioned McClary was being discussed, Oddy sug-
the failure to schedule a second interview gested that the board members needed to
with the job candidate. She read from the benefits. What do we offer these candi- “It was a very poor decision. Not a great provide direction to the attorney as to pro-
official minutes of the hiring committee dates,” LaPorte said. protocol to have anyone vote on someone visions of the employment agreement.
meeting stating that a second interview Hurst reiterated her concerns about who could be their boss. We made a mis- Young said that he expected it would be
would take place. “I want to know who the amount of time McClary has spent at take,” Oddy said. the same contract as he had prepared for
decided not to have the second interview. various municipalities during his more Supervisor Tim Bowman said he sup- the last five management hires as a one-
The minutes say second there would be a than 30 years of experience as a city and ported the choice of the committee and year, at-will agreement severable by either
second interview,” she said. village manager. She said her concern was felt the board should move on with direct- party with specific details regarding vaca-
Trustee and Interim Deputy Supervisor the short amount of time McClary spent at ing township attorney Rob Young to pre- tion time. The variable, Young said, was
Tim Rush explained that a second inter- various communities. pare the employment contract for the salary amount, in this case to be
view “was on the table” but was not sched- Rush said that Public Safety Director McClary. $90,000.
uled following the vote of the committee Eric Luke had provided the background “We formed a committee and the com- The hiring was approved by four votes
members selecting McClary. check information at the meeting of the mittee voted. I see no reason to interview with Oddy and Hurst casting no votes and
Trustee Peggy Morgan agreed with hiring committee and that he had person- twice,” Bowman said. Morgan remaining silent and not voting on
Hurst. “I was under the impression there ally made calls on the candidate's refer- Hurst, however, said that she found the motion.
would be a second interview. I was ences, finding nothing negative. He said
shocked they (the hiring committee) didn't the short-term employments were “politi-
have them (the candidates) at a second cal” in nature and as new boards and
meeting,” she said. “Nothing against this councils were elected, those officials
gentleman, but I am against having an chose new administrators and managers.
administrator. The township is not big Trustee Matt Oddy said he felt the issue
enough,” she said. was one of protocol.
Trustee Don La Porte said he, too, “The minutes were approved and I, too,
expected a second interview. “This is the was expecting a second interview. It puts
highest position in the building other than us in a bind with protocol,” he said. “We
elected officials,” he said. He said he put two employees in a position they
expected the second interview to be one should never have been in. I don't think we
during which the township trustees could should have an employee, a contract
discuss salary, benefits and expectations employee, or any other employee approv-
with the candidate. “I scratched my head ing or voting yes or no on somebody who
and wondered what he would be getting as they may be subordinate to.

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