At least two people currently or formerly involved with the Waumegah Lake Improvement Board take issue with some Springfield Township officials? characterizations of ‘mismanagement? on the part of the lake board.
During the public comment section of the March 10 township board meeting, the citizens attempted to get trustees to ‘clarify? statements quoted in a Feb. 23 story in The Clarkston News.
The story documented discussions of the role of the township’s representatives to lake boards in general and a Feb. 10 vote to replace Lou Kirby as Springfield’s representative to the Waumegah board.
‘We were kind of dismayed to see in The Clarkston News…some of these statements or accusations, especially in regards to a past record of mismanagement, approving a mess and not working with the township,? said Dr. Paul Haduck, the elected riparian representative to the Waumegah board.
Supervisor Collin Walls offered Haduck a complete copy of the official minutes of the meeting, saying he would be glad to discuss the matter further if Haduck deemed the minutes insufficient.
Kirby, saying he had reviewed the complete minutes, asked for a public response to the questions.
‘Because those comments were made in a public forum, I would like to have public explanation as to what [the township board] believes the lake board did inappropriately,? Kirby said.
Walls said the public comment portion of the meeting was not appropriate for a back and forth conversation.
‘If there needs to be a discussion in public, we will set that as an agenda item,? Walls said.
Kirby accused the board of ‘slander? before leaving the meeting
‘I think it’s very sneaky,? he said to the board. ‘It’s terrible what you did.?
Later, Haduck and Kirby said officials? actions reflected their opposition to an augmentation well for the lake.
At the Feb. 10 board meeting, some alluded to the fact that Waumegah is the only lake improvement board to go beyond projects such as weed harvesting.
During the interview, Kirby cited a motion by the township board in October 2002 which he said constituted an order to vote against the well. The minutes of that meeting include Walls? statement that the township board cannot dictate a lake board member’s vote, but Kirby said he abstained from the vote because of Walls? personal comments to him.
In response to a claim by Treasurer Jamie Dubris on Feb. 10 that the lake board missed deadlines for the issuance of checks and made ?9-1-1? style telephone calls, Haduck said the lake board’s financial representative has had problems getting the treasurer’s office to provide adequate information.
‘We’re just trying to get all our numbers straight and pay all our bills,? Haduck said.
Haduck and Kirby were not in attendance at the Feb. 10 meeting, and Haduck admitted he has not read news coverage of the deliberations on lake board representatives. According to Haduck, however, township officials failed to honor a Jan. 2003 agreement to notify the lake board that the issue would be on the Feb. 10 agenda. Haduck also said Walls was given an opportunity to advise the lake board of any improper procedures.
‘I made a motion [on Jan. 6, 2003] that if there’s anything we’re doing wrong, please bring it to our attention,? Haduck said. ‘He said he’s not aware of anything.?
‘They slandered my name,? said Kirby, noting that his replacement, Mike Trout, was invited to the Feb. 10 meeting. ‘They basically aligned my name with mismanagement and financial problems.?
Other than Kirby’s request for minutes, neither Haduck nor Kirby attempted to contact township officials prior to the March 10 meeting, they said.
‘We would at least like an explanation, regardless,? Haduck said.
As of Monday, Walls said neither Kirby nor Haduck have requested a spot on the township board meeting agenda for a public discussion of their concerns.