Trustee Report Nov 2010
The purpose of the August 25,2010 AuTrain Township Board meeting was "The purpose of this special board meeting was to review the appeal and procedures regarding the Verhamme, et el vs. AuTrain Township and the recent Decision and Order by the Circuit Court.
As AuTrain Township Board Trustee , responsible for the Township's fiduciary and legal health, I spoke at this meeting about the legal costs incurred by the township concerning illegal transient rentals in the LS/R2 districts of AuTrain Township. I showed how both the Township and private parties have spent tens of thousands of dollars specifically as a result of the NON ENFORCEMENT of the zoning in this district. I also spoke directly concerning the Decision and Order by the Circuit Court.
Yet the minutes of the August 25,2010 meeting by Clerk Rogers have no mention of anything said by this Board member concerning these agenda related topics of great concern. Whether Clerk Rogers omitted this pertinent information by a Board member in the Minutes to protect her husband , the Zoning Administrator, or not: the crucial fact is that the complete omission of this discussion is in my opinion misconduct.
Because of a continuing practice of the Township Clerk Mary Rogers to write a personal version of the AuTrain Township Board minutes that do not reflect what actually occurred during the meeting I am forced to publish a Trustee report for the public to view.
I attended the September 14,2010 AuTrain Township Planning Commission meeting and was shocked to see the Township Clerk and Treasurer office used by Zoning Administrator Rogers to host a group of zoning violators.
When an opportunity for the audience to speak came I was the first to try but was constantly interrupted by planning Commission member Tom Balmes . Mr. Balmes was loud and disrespectful to me with his constant interruptions. I was also interrupted by another commission member Kim Rolfe. All in all I was intentionally interrupted close to a dozen times
As other people spoke, specifically the individuals in the group of zoning violators hosted by Zoning Administrator Rogers, emotions erupted and some interruptions from the audience occurred. I was among those that reacted, I said these four words "all of the above". Ironically the Planning Commission members that felt it was OK to badger and interrupt me found my four words worth a most vigorous audible chastising.
THE MICHIGAN PENAL CODE (EXCERPT)
Act 328 of 1931750.157a Conspiracy to commit offense or legal act in illegal manner; penalty.Sec. 157a. Any person who conspires together with 1 or more persons to commit an offense prohibited by law, or to commit a legal act in an illegal manner is guilty of the crime of conspiracy punishable as provided herein:
The group of zoning violators left after they aired their views and the planning commission meeting then continued in a constructive manor with the opportunity for citizen input and cooperation as it has for many months.
