Meeting Records Contradict Reaume Letter on Absences

A statement in a campaign letter indicating incumbent Clerk Joe Bridgman has missed the most meetings of anybody on the township board appears inaccurate after a review of meeting minutes.

Plymouth Township Supervisor Richard Reaume addressed a letter to township residents last month, endorsing challenger Nancy Conzelman over Bridgman, citing Bridgman's meeting attendance record. The letter was funded by the campaigns of Conzelman and township trustee candidate Arthur Butler.

According to figures reported by the Plymouth Observer — and available in published minutes on the township website — Bridgman ranked second in missed meetings, behind trustee Steve Mann, who is not seeking re-election.

According to the report, Bridgman missed 13 meetings since being elected in 2008 — five of which occurred between December 2011 and January 2012 — while Mann has missed 16.

Bridgman said in a responding letter to residents that he was caring for his ill father in Arkansas during that time.

Reaume told the Observer the statement in his letter was "an oversight."