Voters will have the final say on restructuring local government as they head to the polls Aug. 5, at least for the next few years.
If elected, Trustee Dan Travis, running for supervisor, incumbent Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen, treasurer candidate Jeff McGee, and trustee candidates Neil Wallace, Bart Clark, and David Lohmeier all promised to vote for a professional-manager type government for Independence Township.
“This is an idea whose time has come,” Lohmeier said. “We’ve done our homework. We can do this.”
Supervisor Dave Wagner, running for reelection, disagrees.
“It would create another layer of bueaucracy,” Wagner said. “An outsideer coming in would not be responsible to the people.”
According to Michigan law, township boards can appoint a township manager to write and administer township budgets, administer and supervise departments, enforce ordinances, and other, day-to-day operations.
Travis, along with VanderVeen and McGee, pledged to accept reductions in salary to help pay for a manager.
In March 2007, Vanderveen proposed the board look into hiring a superintendent. The board invited Richard Watkins, 15-year manager of Delta Township, to talk about his job duties and hiring process.
In his April 2007 report, Watkins cited growing populations, a growing number of township employees and a large amount of township complexities as reasons for a manager.
He also said a manager is accountable to residents and the board, because he or she is hired at will and may be replaced, depending on the contract.
Of Michigan’s 1,242 towships, 130 are chartered ? of those, 42 employ a township manager, said Evelyn David, member information liaison with Michigan Township Association.
Most have smaller populations than Independence Township, David said.
“It doesn’t really matter if they have large populations,” she said.
Most serve townships with parttime board, providing regular, day-to-day service to residents in the absence of full-time supervisor, treasurer, and clerk, she said.
Delta Township, just to the west of Lansing, has a relatively large population, about 31,000 residents, compared to about 35,000 in Independence Township.
Delta switched to a township manager form of government in 1993, said township Supervisor Joe Drolett in a phone interview, July 10.
‘It’s working fabulously,? Drolett said.
Officials conducted a national search, with three finalists, when it hired Watkins, the township’s second manager.
“We got Richard’s name from the Michigan Township Association ? he’s very qualified, experienced in day-to-day experience in running a municipality,” Drolett said. “The right person will do wonders.”
Delta Township’s budget of about $19.7 million ? Independence Township has a budget of about $17.2 million, includes $479,421 for the township manager’s office. In addition to the manager, the office includes assistant township manager, human-resources generalist, executive secretary, department secretary, and information technology administrator.
It’s worth it, Drolett said.
“The manager allows the board to step back from micromanaging,” he said. “It saves money in time and errors ? it’s been a wonder for us financially. He keeps a handle on what’s going on day to day.”
Salaries for Independence Township full-time officials are $75,969, superintendent; $67,826, clerk; and $67,623, treasurer. Supervisor’s office budget is $249,900; clerk’s office, $518,200; and treasurer’s office, $376,440.