The electors of Addison Township voted 14-6 at the annual meeting March 29 to give the township supervisor, clerk and treasurer two percent raises for the upcoming fiscal year.
Resident John Elsarelli made the motion to increase each official’s salary by two percent of the base amount. The increase did not apply to benefits.
“This is consistent with the increases that have been made for the other office staff,” he stated.
“I think that these people deserve, especially for the time they put in with the public and such, to get a raise,” concurred Eugene Mallia, Sr.
However, everyone did not agree with the motion. Several residents spoke up against the raise.
“I think it’s a little irresponsible to give raises when the economy is struggling,” stated Chris Newby.
Sereal Gravlin suggested revisiting the issue at another time, possibly at an election or time where something can be built into a contract or put into writing.
Karen Koski, daughter of the township supervisor, asked whether township taxes were being raised. She also clarified that the balance in the contingency fund was more than enough to cover the increase.
Supervisor Robert Koski assured the residents that the contingency fund would cover the increase and that taxes were not being raised for this year.
In February, the Addison Township board of trustees approved a resolution maintaining the supervisor, clerk and treasurer’s annual salaries, including benefits at $39,827 each, which represented no increases. The only way for the three positions to receive raises was through the electors. The final vote by the tax payers raised each official’s salary by $770 for a total of $2310 from the township’s contingency fund.
The other issue brought forth by the public during the annual meeting concerned the malfunctioning lights in the Lakeville area.
Resident Sereal Gravlin stated that there are several lights not operating, including some on Rochester Rd., and that this is an issue he has been addressing for the past five months.
“There are at least three lights I’m aware of that aren’t working,” he stated.
Gravlin made a motion to have Detroit Edison either repair the lights or return the township’s money for the months they have been inoperable.
“Would you sit there and pay an electric bill for electric you’re not using,” he stated. “It’s fiscally irresponsible.”
There are actually two sets of lights in the Lakeville area – those on Rochester Rd. towards Romeo and those in Lakeville that were established through a special assessment district many years ago – so many in fact, that Addison Township officials have had difficulty tracking the exact date.
“We do know that we have not assessed for those lights in the last two years,” said treasurer Dan Alberty.
Running the lights costs the township around $12,000, and the special assessment fund has only enough money for one more year of operation, through March of 2004.
“We will be going back to the public for a new special assessment district,” said Alberty.
Gravlin’s motion involved all lights in the Lakeville area and was unanimously approved by the electors present. According to state law, the motion serves as a recommendation, not a directive, to the township board. Koski indicated he will look into the matter.