The Older Persons' Commission has a meeting scheduled for 7:30am this Thursday, February 10.
The question that has risen regarding proper procedure and the number of affirmative votes needed to pass an action is on the agenda.
Recently a vote took place that was 4 to 3 to pass a brand new Pension Contribution Plan. The Rochester representative was absent and would have voted against the plan.
The question has been raised as to whether there were enough votes to pass the action.
Section 6 of the agreement states that "In order to conduct business, a quorum must be present which shall consist of a majority of the Commission." Which basically means if they have a quorum they can hold the meeting.
However, to vote and take official action, it states in section 7, A majority of "The Commission" shall be necessary for the commission to take any official action at a regular or special meeting."
Rochester Mayor Jeff Cuthbertson said, It was designed this way so one community, such as Rochester Hills would have to have agreement from at least one other commissioner in another community to pass any vote. This was a protection that was placed in the agreement.
The question of whether 5 votes were necessary to pass any official action was asked of the Rochester Hills city attorney John Staran at a recent city council meeting. He reviewed a copy of the agreement that was provided to him and said it was his opinion, based on what he was reading, that it would indeed require 5 votes. He did say he was not making an official opinion as we would like to read an official copy of the agreement.
It is reported the OPC attorney, Joanna Allen, is to provide a decision as well. It has been suggested that this could be a conflict of interest for this attorney as she is making a decision that will have a great financial impact upon the Executive Director who openly supported Allen in her pursuit of public office in a recent city council election.
The OPC is organized and run in accordance to the Inter-local Agreement that was established in 1983 between, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township and the city of Rochester and is funded by the three communities through tax dollars.
A board or "Commission" was established to oversee the operation. It is comprised of 8 members. Four are from Rochester Hills (two elected officials and two residents), Two from both the city of Rochester and Oakland Oakland Township (one elected official and one resident).
For more information on the proposed new generous Pension Contribution Plan to be paid for by the residents of the three communities, read my earlier post on January 25.
J Allen is a property attorney and has voiced her support for the pension for Miller during her run for Rochester Hills Council. She did not follow the campaign rules and was down right rude when asked to make correction. I do not trust any decision Ms Allen will give on the matter.
ReplyDeleteThe only consequence for Jack Dalton's (Chair) vote is the Rochester Hills ethnics rules of favoring one person or group over another! He may need to redo the vote. Hooper wasn't even concerned how the council's appointment was behaving or if there was a violation.
Just one of many mistakes and violations of the City of Rochester Hills! I'm glad it's an election year to throw the bums out!
I never voted in favor of a millage renewal so I could fund pensions for ANYONE at the OPC. Does anyone think we should be using our precious tax dollars for this purpose? There really should be more oversight into what happens behind the scenes at the OPC. Joanna Allen does have a conflict of interest because she was supported by Marye Miller during the election. A paycheck is fair enough compensation.
ReplyDeleteLarge NEW pension program for an Executive Director near retirement....mmmm It just never ends.
ReplyDeleteWhats wrong with our Mayor and City Council. Who do they put on these boards? The water fiasco and now this...It is really time for change in the management of this city.
Jack Dalton Chair of Older Person Commission (OPC) is joined by Joan Folgers to give the Executive Director a $12,000 raise (called a pension contribution of 15% of her salary) by breaking the rules set up through the Inter local Agreement between Rochester Hills, City of Rochester and Oakland Twp. The only one calling them on this violation is the City of Rochester, former OPC Board members and a few citizens. OPC Board ignored the first request for a review stating they are doing it properly! Not so fast appointments! The rules states for official business the OPC Board of eight members needs a majority (5) to pass just like Rochester Hills Council needs 4 to pass anything and Oakland County Commission needs 13. OPC should be dead in the water but there is more to the rules --- everything needs be approved through the budget process by all three parties. Hooper of Rochester Hills Council stated they don't want to get involved in the business of OPC. It's your appointment making all these errors! Leading the board in the wrong direction is simply unethical. Dalton knows better he is taking the opportunity to abuse his position. Council has to be accountable on the conduct of their boards and commissions! This area sure needs a lot of shovels for clean up of the political manure! Voters should be outraged! We need to uphold the rules and conduct business in a fair and accountable manner! Transparency Please! Can anyone say the word on RH City Council?
ReplyDeleteIf this pension plan goes through, Marye Miller will NEVER retire. Why should she with a minimum of a $12,0000 BONUS called a pension fund deposited every year? She will be carried out feet first and buried in her Marye with an E mausoleum. Employee morale is in the cellar and they live in fear of her vindictiveness! She has her fiefdom in place and her jesters (OPC Board), rubber-stamping her every whim. She breaks Federal Discrimination Regulation consistently. She is a lawsuit waiting to happen!
ReplyDeleteI have viewed her “stealing” apple pies when everyone else must produce a paid ticket. I called her on it and I should be pushing up daises. If she will steal Arts and Apple pies, what else is she helping herself to? I was warned to be very careful, as she would ban me from OPC. Let her try, I have a very good attorney!
The fall election saw her using the OPC database, postage and stationary to ask OPC seniors to donate to her daughter's recent failed election. Kim is a great gal, but seniors are fed up with her mother and voted against her daughter as a result. Marye travels free on all the expensive OPC trips. Instead of applying the free ticket benefit on a tour and reducing the price for seniors, she takes the trips! It is time for Marye Miller to retire or better yet be fired for violations of Non-Profit rules. Hopefully, IRS will investigate these violations and take action against her. She would look great in an orange jumpsuit!
Citizens defeated Water Tanks and paving of Washington Road. Next project; get Marye Miller out of OPC. This is a small corporation and should be run by a CPA, CFO or MBA. Not an uneducated bus driver earning $78,000 a year plus untaxed benefits! She can’t even write a complete sentence or spell simple words correctly!
The decision on whether this vote was legal was tabled until the next OPC Board meeting on March 3rd. Citizens of all ages need to attend. 7:30 AM. Better yet go to the next City of Rochester Hills Council meeting and hold the council accountable. Both Marye and John need to go (especially before he gets a 3rd pension from OPC!)!
I don’t think area citizens passed the millage to award these obscene pensions. This is simply, a thinly viewed raise for a select few employee! This is immoral at best!
Enough said all ready!