Chesterfield Township Board Lets Down Community

In response to the Board members voting no on the Police Department Advisory Committee’s suggestions and presentation, I just have to say shame on you.

Christine Bell, you were at all of the meetings that were held including the work group sessions. Not once did you bring a recommendation to the committee nor comment on any of the items being discussed.

Linda Hartman, Mike Lovelock and Scott DeMuynck, none of you attended the work groups to bring forth ideas or comments. I know that David Joseph met with both Mike and Scott at 6:00 in the morning on a few occasions to discuss the ideas and cost savings. Scott your claim that you only received the presentation on Friday night at 6pm is laughable. You have been involved. Just because you did not pick up the presentation until Friday does not mean that you were in the dark. I helped put this presentation together with numbers discussed and verified by our own finance department. I kept the presentation at a very low level so that it could be completely understood by all.

I am sure that information was being given to each of you by “concerned citizens” of the community. I also know that due to the Opens Meeting Act, anyone including elected officials was allowed and welcome to the meetings.

Each of the work group meetings lasted 3 ½ to 4 hours. Add on to that the two community meetings at about an hour each. Now with a total of 12 members on the committee plus the three township employees that also helped, think of the time, effort and thought that went into this.

 Ideas were suggested,feasibility was discussed, and conservative dollar values were identified and then confirmed by the township finance department.

We had a couple of “concerned citizens” act out in what I would refer as rage towards the Committee members. It is a shame that people have to act out in this manner in a public forum. I was upset and wanted to do the same thing but maintained my composure because this is what we do in a civilized society. It seems like the only thing acceptable to these individuals is a new mandate for higher taxes via a new millage rather than entertaining cost saving measures that would allow police officers to keep their jobs.

There was plenty that I wanted to say but chose to keep my comments simple and to the point. I was just too angry that our elected officials decided to play politics rather than do what is right for our community.

It was mentioned that we still have 34 days left on the original vote of “less than 90 days” to find a solution. The opposing members stated that they would like time to review the presentation and questioned the numbers presented. They also claimed that they would like to come back and sit down with their own recommendations. There was plenty of time for this during the past 56 days. Where were the suggestions then?

Your number one job as an elected official is to maintain the peace, safety and order of the community. You failed in your obligations.

David Novak
Chesterfield Township resident Police Department Advisory Committee member.