Trustee Dan Kelly has a plan to ‘bridge the gap? between the Independence Township Board and non-union government employees.
Instead of unionizing, their interests could be protected by subcommittee, Kelly proposed at the May 20 board meeting.
‘The board would pass as a general policy that whenever adverse actions were taken as regard to employee benefits, that would be a reduction in salary, changing of their vacation, sick pay, pension qualifications or change in their healthcare, the board would be required to appoint a subcommittee made up of three board members and three employees,? he said.
‘The subcommittee would review, investigate, and collect data in regard to those adverse changes.?
The subcommittee would report back to the township board within 30 days, with its majority recommendation.
‘If there is no majority, the subcommittee will just present the varying views of the subcommittee,? said Kelly.
The policy would cover township department directors, assistant directors, deputies and administrators, noted Kelly.
Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen said she was surprised by the inclusion of deputies because they have their own ‘separate status.?
‘They are ‘at will? employees because they serve at pleasure of the person that appointed them,? she said.
Kelly agreed to exclude deputies, and made a motion for preliminary approval, pending review by township attorneys.
The motion passed 6-1, with Trustee Charles Dunn voting against.
Changes to the resolution were e-mailed to trustees two hours before the meeting, and Dunn did not have time to read it, Dunn said.
‘If I am going to vote for a policy I’d like to read the resolution,? he said.
Non-union employees, which include full-time department directors, department assistant directors, and administrative assistants, filed a petition March 24 to join Teamsters Local 214, based out of Detroit.