An Independence Township trustee in the late 1990’s, Neil Wallace has decided it’s time to run again.
‘I have seen a number of mistakes that have been made in the last three and half years that weren’t necessary, that shouldn’t have been made,? he said. ‘I know mistakes happen, you can draw a line through so many things that have happened and say ‘we deserve better.??
Wallace is running as a member of a six-person slate, alongside incumbent Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen, Trustee Dan Travis, running for supervisor, Jeff McGee for treasurer, and Bart Clark and David Lohmeier for trustee.
‘I think the people I’m running with are quality people, every single one of them,? said Wallace. ‘Most of them come to running reluctantly, that they understand they’re not looking for a job, but there is a job that needs to be done.?
Part of that job includes bringing in a professional manager, which Wallace believes is the next step in the township’s ‘evolution.?
‘We are becoming an increasingly complex organization, more employees, and more laws that govern municipalities and more money on the table,? he said.
Wallace said the township’s $27 million budget should be handled by a professional.
‘We have professionals running so many other aspects of township government. Our general law lawyers are professionals, our accountants, our labor lawyers, our planner, our engineer,? he said. ‘We have professionals for all these things, but for the most basic, most important day-to-day operations, we rely on whoever gets elected.?
A professional manager would allow the supervisor, clerk, and treasurer to focus on statutory duties of their job and not worry about personnel issues, he noted.
‘Nothing in the state law says that even the people that are there now are ‘full-time? and I suspect not all of them there are devoting their full time to the job,? he said. ‘They’re just paid that way. They have no boss except the voters.?
The township’s deputy supervisor position, added in 2005 and dropped for budget reasons last year, required a bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration or related field, five years managing experience, and a working knowledge of municipal, preferably township, government,?
Wallace said these requirements are similar to a professional manager.
‘People say, ‘well these guys or gals will come and just build their resumes and leave.? (But) we’re at risk to lose a supervisor every four years,? he said.
Delta Township’s professional manager has been there for 15 years, Oakland Township’s, 10 years, he said.
Clerk, supervisor and treasurer salaries, benefits, car allowance, medical, and pension contributions cost the township about $360,000, said Wallace.
That money can be saved by hiring a professional manager, he said.
The budget is the ‘single most important thing? the township does every year, he said.
However, he disagrees with the current method of all information being ‘funneled through the supervisor.?
‘The board doesn’t get to see all of what the department heads are suggesting as priorities or desires and you have this rush to judgment,? said Wallace. ‘It’s not really a thoughtful process where all the budgeting takes place or is presented to the board in the last month or so before the end of the year where the deadline is.?
Wallace would want to start working on the budget at the beginning of the year., breaking it down month by month and hearing from each department head what their priorities are, where they can cut, and what their future goals are.
‘The question isn’t, of course, whether the budget is balanced. The question is, is there balance in the budget?? he said.
State law requires a balanced budget, he said.
‘For one to say they submitted a balanced budget is like a mother saying ‘I fed my child,?? he said.
Another key belief for Wallace is citizen participation.
‘I think it’s so important in a community like Independence where we’ve got such great human resources that we should be tapping that,? said Wallace. ‘The more input we have from citizens the better decisions we can make.?
However, he wants more ‘transparent board meetings? and would like to see guidelines and rules in place of who is permitted to speak and when.
‘The idea of citizen input isn’t just to give everybody a podium to stand there, flailing away, saying whatever they like,? said Wallace. ‘The idea is for the board to be apprised of the citizens concern and to hear their ideas about what’s best for the township.?
He also noted he is not ‘anti- growth? as he has been labeled, but has supported developments consistent with the master plan and in the ‘best interest of the township.?
Wallace was born in Detroit and grew up in Southfield. He received his bachelor degree in business administration from Western University, post graduate work at Oakland University, and then graduated from law School at the University of Detroit Mercy in 1977.
He moved to Independence Township in 1976. He got involved in Independence Township politics in 1978 when he attended his first board meeting, concerning a proposal to build a 22-story hotel on Pine Knob hill.
Wallace has served four years on the township board, six years on the planning commission, five as chairman, as well as various boards at the county and state level.
‘One of the things I am most proud about running this time is the good people I am running with. I’m just really proud to be standing shoulder to shoulder with them,? he said. ‘It may be trite to say but good government doesn’t just happen, it takes hard work and dedication.?
Primary election is set for Aug. 5. Independence Township Board’s seven seats are all up for a vote, with 17 candidates running for a seat. See Clarkstonnews.com for candidate profiles.