Trustee McMullin, Give the Township a Treat and Temporarily Step Aside
A Recap to the Munson Township Trustees and the Munson Fire Department Conflict:
As I see it, there is enough blame to go around.
As a Munson resident and as somebody who has attended the bi-monthly meetings of the Munson Township Trustees for some time, I have seen the biases of individuals on both sides of the aisle.
In the past six months, the greatest issue that affects our township government is the conflict between the Fire Department and Trustees. It should be known that Trustees Bushman and McCaskey are level-headed and are open to ideas and concerns.
It is Trustee Chairperson McMullin who has allowed herself to become embroiled in conflict. She leaves her objectivity at home when it comes to township business. I have personally spoken to the trustees during “hearing of the public” that there is animosity toward the fire department, and I felt it to be inappropriate.
In December of 2022, the Fire Department came to Munson Township with the concern that added funding for the Fire Department was needed. The Fire Department made a preliminary proposal to the Trustees. As a spectator, a township resident and as a registered voter, I felt the Fire Department’s need to be legitimate, worthy and valid. I spoke up at this meeting and noted there was no media coverage present to document what I made a great appeal for the Fire Department’s needs.
Two things happened after the meeting. The Fire Department went back to their home to develop a precise list of needs and expenses for the Trustees to dutifully evaluate their proposal.
In the meantime, an anonymous letter complaining about the Fire Department appeared. Instead of discarding the anonymous letter as per township policy, it found its way through the chain to all Trustees and the Fire Department. Of course, this enflamed the underlying issues. At the next Trustees’ meeting, trustees disregarded this anonymous letter per township policy.
This issue did not end here. Another township resident authored a similar letter/email asserting the same allegations. However, this ordeal has led Trustee McMullin to start another one of “her witch hunts.” It is asserted that Chairperson McMullin has approached department heads prior to a meeting and has asked for them ‘to keep their presentations short as she wanted to get the meeting over quickly.’ These comments only serve to enflame these individuals.
Trustee McMullin abruptly leaves the town hall once the meetings are adjourned and never allows herself time to speak to anybody after the meeting. It leaves one thinking that Trustee McMullin really does not like her job.
Inappropriate behavior has derailed the process. Things have deteriorated so badly that we now have attorneys talking to attorneys. Recently, Trustee McMullin opened a public meeting and rambled on for over 20 minutes with accusatory indictments relating to the Fire Department and its township liaison. After indicting these folks, and when they ask to respond to her uninformed and ill-informed statements, she responded, “these are my statements and don’t require a response.”
Once again, she was able to enflame ill feelings. Trustee McMullin’s accusatory indictments have left residents with a sense that the Fire Department’s monetary soundness needs to be questioned.
The real wants and needs of Munson Township have been allowed to suffer. There have been no serious public conversations relating to the Fire Department and its need for added funding since the debacle began. It seems like Trustee McMullin is an anti-Fire Department individual and has lost all objectivity.
There also appears to be a group of residents who have issues with the Fire Department. However, these issues should not derail the real concern as to the need for necessary funding for our Fire Department.
There are real issues facing our township. However, Trustee McMullin has lost her objectivity. If Trustee McMullin stays as the Township Trustees’ chairperson, there will be conflict. Things will continue to be halted. All parties will hide behind their attorneys and the poor residents of Munson will suffer.
Both parties need to get rid of their legal attorneys. Chairperson McMullin needs to step aside.
Trustees Bushman and McCaskey both need to sit down together with Chief Vatty and call a truce. The Fire Department representatives should feel comfortable attending township meetings and then real discussions can start again on their needs for added funding.
As a 35-year resident of our great township, I have never had to question my faith and belief in our township’s governance until recently. If Trustee McMullin genuinely cares about Munson Township and the different departments, she must willingly recuse herself from the current Fire Department issues. She should not hide behind the township’s legal entity. Nor should she go about trying to insinuate that baked goods or other treats given to the Township’s employees, that same should be considered as bribes. Seriously, Trustee McMullin, give the township a treat, and temporarily step aside the negotiations with the Munson Fire Department.
