A court hearing is set at Oakland County Probate Court for Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. on Citizens Against Independence Township Waste (CAITW)’s petition to recall the supervisor.
‘The issue as it relates to law is one of clarity,? said CAITW Treasurer Henry Woloson. ‘Are the issues that you’re specifying as far as the recall clear enough and in essence attributable to one you’re attempting to recall??
Some petitions approved include recalling officials for voting against a national prayer amendment in Troy, voting for a tax increase in Gross Point Shores, and changing duties of the city attorney in Keego Harbor, Woloson said.
‘Inevitably people will say, ‘why didn’t you recall him for this, or for that.? Well the law is very precise as to what we can and cannot do,? he said. ‘At the end of the day I can’t speak for other people but we intend to follow the rule of law. If somebody says we should have done this or that, well we can’t do what the law doesn’t allow.?
Though he knew it was coming, Supervisor Dave Wagner said he was ‘disappointed,? when he received notice of the hearing from the Oakland County Clerk’s office.
‘I do realize through the constitution this is all part of life in the political arena, but this is very disappointing because the claims they are making actually have no basis of fact whatsoever,? he said. ‘This is more of an attack on this position, due to the fact the slate they were running didn’t get in. Therefore there is not a township manager, which this group wanted. It just shows you they’ll go to any means whatsoever.?
Wagner said several items on the petition are ‘completely untrue.? He said one item concerning ‘secret bonus payments,? was already cleared by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s office and ‘they found no basis for any action to be taken.?
‘There were no secret payments,? he said. ‘There were memos written, checks were signed all within the authority of my job.?
According to Wagner the car allowance compensation has been around roughly 14 years with no increase whatsoever, so when gas prices were around $4.00 a gallon the prior board approved in budget hearings the $100 increase to begin at the first of the year.
He also noted the architectural work he had done to build a possible new sheriff substation doesn’t requite a board vote unless it’s going out for a millage.
‘These were preliminary drawings I had done with board knowledge,? he said. ‘We were also talking with a potential leaser to go into the building at the same time, which would offset some cost. Due to economic times we are not moving forward with this.?
If the petition bounces back for whatever reason, Wolson said they will resubmit.
‘This is just sour grapes is all it is, yet it is something I take serious,? Wagner said. ‘As far as I am concerned this is very slanderous. They’re slandering my reputation which has been excellent over the years I’ve held office in this township.?
Despite Wagner’s disappointment, Woloson said he isn’t the only one.
‘I’m disappointed we’re spending valuable time having to pull somebody because they’re not doing their job,? Woloson said.