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Power Grab Redux, Redux

Four updates on the Power Grab series:

1. Finally, the mass media speaks! The Flint Journal reported on this story here: County coordinator could get raise, new title. This article reports that:

“Although McAvoy’s job title would change, it doesn’t come with more power or different job responsibilities, labor attorney Bonnie Toskey said.”

Contrast this with what Margaret stated in her March 31 letter to Bonnie Toskey:

“The only appointed department heads that do not report to the Coordinator are those of Equalization and Community Development. If the Commissioners should elect to name me County Administrator, I would assume supervisory responsibility for those departments and expect to have my salary reflective of such a change.”

It would appear that Margaret has a slightly different idea of this job than does labor attorney Bonnie Toskey. I hope the board isn’t taking Toskey’s word for anything …

2. In the same letter, Margaret requests in point 10:

“Classification: Remove from the Classification plan as it is in at least one comparable County or have position re-classified.”

In the May 8 letter from Bonnie Toskey to Chairman Fuja, Toskey states in point 10:

“Classification: Ms. McAvoy proposes to remove the position of County Chief Executive Officer from the County’s classification plan or alternatively provide that the position be subject to a reclassification. I recommend that the Board seriously consider this.”

Margaret didn’t mention the title of CEO in the March 31 letter to Bonnie Toskey, but Toskey mentions it and makes a recommendation to the board in her letter.

Bonnie Toskey is supposed to be the county’s labor attorney, not Margaret’s personal attorney. I’m sure that Bonnie Toskey is a fine attorney and is representing the county to the best of her ability, but I would like to know; did she actually read Margaret’s letter, or just guess at what is in it? Because clearly, communication is breaking down.

3. When the position of County Coordinator was created in Shiawassee, the Board considered creating a County Administrator. The Board decided against this, because they did not want to create a position which had authority to enter into agreements on behalf of the county. Does this mean that the Administrator will have signature authority for the county? Is there a job description in place for the Administrator? If so, why haven’t they provided it, and why did Bonnie Toskey have to reassure everyone at the meeting yesterday that there was no “power grab”? If not, how can we justify giving this job to someone? We know that Administrator is not the same job as Coordinator, because of the distinction made in point one of Margaret’s March 31 letter to Bonnie Toskey. This is not creating a position; it is filling a position that does not exist.

4. According to Tina’s comment to Power Grab Redux, if the Board had waited one more week, they would not have been legally allowed to enter into a contract of more than one year. And here I thought they rushed it through because of my FOIA request. shucks.

If Shiawassee needs an Administrator, we should advertise for the position and allow applicants to compete. Doesn’t Shiawassee deserve the best?

You can still be heard on this issue; attend the Committee of the Whole meeting today, and the full board meeting on Thursday. If you cannot attend, call or email your commissioners:

District 1 Fairfield , Middlebury, Rush twps, Owosso twp Pct 1 & 2 and Owosso City 1-1
James P. Capitan R ………….no email
1005 Meadow Dr
Owosso, MI 48867
989 723-2677
——————-
District 2 Owosso City 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4
Kim Van Pelt D vanpelt@perryk12mi.us
745 Woodlawn Ave
Owosso, MI 48867
989 723-5950
—————-
District 3 Caledona pct 1, Hazelton, New Hven, Venice pct 1 and Corunna City
Jerry Waldon R waldenje@speednetic.com
4569 E Wilkinson Rd
Owosso, Mi 48867
989 743-3995
———–
District 4 Venice pct 2, Vernon twp and Durand City
Jon-Michael Fuja R jmfuja@power-net.net
513 Hampton Rd
Durand, MI 48429
989 288-3506
———–
District 5 Antrim, Burns, Caledonia pct 2 and Shiawassee twps
Gerald Cole R colehlc@aol.com
9908 S Vernon Rd
Bancroft, MI 48414
989 634-5212
———–
District 6 Bennington, Owosso pct 3, Sciota twps, Laingsburg City and Owosso City pct 6-1
Wayne Roszman R rwrosz@netzero.net
804 W Hibbard RD
Owosso, MI 48867
989 725-8227
—————–
District 7 Perry, Woodhull Townships and Perry City
Jaime F Pavlica D jaimepavlica@tds.net
11230 S Morrice Rd
Morrice, MI 48857
517 625-7908

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