Trustee Neil Wallace wants everything released to the public about purchase of the new Township Hall, including confidential and privileged.
The reason: to regain people’s trust.
‘What we face as a current board and what the past board has put on us is unprecedented,” Wallace said.
The Independence Township Board voted 5-2 to release the documents, a series of letters from township attorney Steve Joppich to the township about the township hall. Closed-session minutes were not included because Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen said those could only be released by court order.
Supervisor Dave Wagner and Treasurer Curt Carson voted ‘no.?
Wagner said it sets a bad precedent.
‘I think what we’re doing is setting the stage for the future where we won’t be able to go back,” he said. “We’re going to be hearing an outcry for other documents that we have completed. I just think it’s a slippery slope.?
Carson agreed.
‘I can’t second guess the previous board, I wasn’t there,” Carson said. ‘I can make a decision on this topic and I’m not willing to set a precedent that I don’t know would even be appropriate.?
Wallace disagreed.
“It is an exceptional circumstance and therefore it is not a precedent unless we want it be,? he said. ‘We’re not bound to apply any particular standards or to release information in the future just because we did it this time.?
VanderVeen said she would ‘gladly open up all the information? if she thought it would ‘settle the matter once and for all,? but questioned whether it would.
‘Are we opening ourselves up to litigation that this township can ill afford,? she asked.
Trustee Larry Rosso, who said he was ‘not privy? to two of the significant documents given out, said ‘it is probably a risk worth taking, to become as transparent as possible.?
‘If you don’t do it, there is going to be more consternation and issues of what are we hiding under the rock and what are we covering up,? Rosso said. ‘We got ourselves into this situation, we have to be as open as we can with the public and take the chances in spite of some potential legal implications.?
Township Attorney Steve Joppich said he respects the board’s decision.
‘If my client wants to waive a privilege, then I follow the direction desired by my client to the best of my abilities, until they direct me otherwise,? he said. ‘It’s not my place to say whether it was a good decision or a bad decision.?
Even though Wagner says it will ‘help clear the air,? he still feels it’s a ‘huge mistake.?
‘I wouldn’t be consistent, nor would any supervisor be consistent, if we didn’t vote against it regardless of what it says or doesn’t say,? he said. ‘I have to be consistent on how I believe, that it is confidential between attorney/client privilege, period, and there is a reason for that. Otherwise you wouldn’t have it.?
Documents are available at township hall. We’ll analyze them and tell you what we find in future issues.