Ousted Salem Township supervisor files recall petition against his replacement
Former Salem Township Supervisor Fred Roperti is attempting to recall current Supervisor Robert Heyl - who defeated him in the 2008 general election - further roiling the stormy political waters in the township.
Roperti submitted a recall petition request last Tuesday with the office of Washtenaw County Clerk Lawrence Kestenbaum. With enough support, the petition could be on the ballot for Salem Township voters as early as August.
Roperti, who was supervisor from 2000 to 2008, contends Heyl had “hidden agendas” during the campaign for supervisor. Among them, he said in an interview, was the firing of township attorney Doug Winters, who was dismissed last November by the township board.Â
Roperti also said Heyl is now trying to get rid of Salem Fire Department Chief Mark Hamilton and is attempting to force the local post office from township-owned property.
“I can only guess, but it has to do with personalities,” Roperti said.
Heyl was tied up in Board of Review meetings when contacted by AnnArbor.com, but authorized Treasurer Paul Uherek to speak on his behalf.
Uherek called Roperti “a serial slanderer” and said the written statement was “a total outrage.”
“Lawyers are looking at that, I’m sure,” Uherek said of the statement. “Mr. Roperti has, in my opinion, and apparently, too, our current attorneys’, libeled our attorneys.”
The recall demand will receive a clarity hearing at 3 p.m. on April 1. The hearing will be held in the lower-level conference room at the Washtenaw County Building, 200 N. Main St. Presiding will be Kestenbaum, County Treasurer Catherine McClary, and a judge to be named.
When the petition’s language is approved, Roperti and his supporters will have 180 days to gather the necessary signatures. The number is calculated according to a formula based on the percentage of Salem Township voters who cast ballots in the last gubernatorial election. Some 25 percent of those voters need to sign the petition.
In addition to the firing of Winters, whose services were replaced by the Farmington Hills firm of Johnson and Rosati, recent upheavals in Salem have included the settling of a suit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union against Roperti and the township after events in 2008.
Recent events have taken a whole new tack, and Roperti said he was especially alarmed after Winters was let go by the board.
“Salem Township is what we are today - I attribute that mostly to him,” Roperti said.
Roperti also objected to the township board’s special meetings “to consider kind of sensitive issues, things that had to do with the fire department.”
Regular board meetings are the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The board met at 10 a.m. last Dec. 23 and again on Dec. 28.
At the Dec. 28 meeting, the board approved $12,285 in payment for arbitration services related to the development of Salem Springs, a proposed retail complex at M-14 and Gotfredson Road. Roperti blames Heyl for increasing the township’s liability in a bond issue tied to the project.
On Jan. 15, three days after the regular monthly meeting, a 9 a.m. session addressed harassment complaints by township firefighters.
Roperti, 78, denies that resentment over the lost election led him to pursue the recall.
“I could have walked away from this and gone to Florida and spent my money going to Florida on vacation," he said. "But I cannot put up with this kind of stuff, can’t tolerate it. And I can’t live with myself.
“And I know what they’re going to say. This is vindictiveness and that. You think I’m the only one that’s upset about this?”
Ronald Ahrens is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
salemsurfer
Mon, May 3, 2010 : 1:45 p.m.
Come on let the new board do their job. Quit whining. The changes needed to take place. Why don't you (the opposition to the new board) do something positive with your energy. Great Job Mr. Heyl, Mr. Uhereck, and Mr Wallazy.. Its very refreshing to see men that have a heart for what they do. Passion goes a long way.
God's Child
Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 12:33 p.m.
It always surprises me when people get involved in business that is none of their concern. Take for explain "Salem Resident". If you followed current information and also looked into information from surrounding areas, you would realize that we are getting off really cheap for our fire protection cost. We are paying for 27 firefighters(which I am not sure where you got that figure but it might be correct) and it cost us less than 2 full time firefighters. As a resident, I am actually thankful for the quick response we get when the fire department is called. As for taking the knowledge and leaving, that is part of life. If you can not offer a person a full time job, why fault him for leaving when he finds one? As for it being UNACCEPTABLE, that is part of the price that one pays when you are a "paid on call" fire department. Again, I prefer that over the option of having to put the fire department on full time. That is what I would call UNACCEPTABLE. As for the fire department being upset. After reading the letter that Heyl sent out, I can understand why they would be upset. If I was on the fire department, I would be upset also. What kind of country do we live in where we feel that we can take away a persons first ammendment rights? You might not appreciate and value the freedoms that we have in America, but I do and I don't take it lightly when someone does not respect them. I actually sat in the meeting and did not find the firefighter out of line, I saw some people that were looking for answers. As for the board, I actually found them more out of control then I did the firefighters. How DARE the board treat the crowd the way that they did much less the disharmony that they have with each other. I was actually embarrassed that those were our elected officials. You might think that was alright, but you are also the one that feels it alright to take away people's freedom, so I really do not value your opinion. As always, it cracks me up when someone post something without doing research. I have just spent the past 15 minutes looking up the definition of Stalking and the Laws of stalking for Michigan and no where do I see that it requires that you do it for 20 minutes. So please, in the future, post where you got your information so that we can all be educated and learn. Seems to me like you might want to change your username because it doesn't fit your personality.
Salem Resident
Tue, Mar 23, 2010 : 10:37 p.m.
The firefighters are not being stalked. A couple of people followed them and took pictures. That is not stalking - you have to be watching someone nonstop for 20 minutes to be stalking. The accountant told us to watch the accountability of mileage of fire trucks and that it needs closer controls - I attended the meeting, did you? The firefighters are paid for all of this training and many times they just take the knowledge and leave - is this fair? The firefighters show up sometimes 15-20 for one call. Unacceptable. 2-4 or even 1-2 is acceptable. It costs the township unbelieveable amounts of money. Why do we need 27 firefighters and 1/3 of a police officer? Craziness - pure craziness. Mr Heyl is doing a fine job trying to clean these things up. Salem Resident
VoiceofReason
Tue, Mar 23, 2010 : 4 p.m.
To Salem Resident - Heyl deserves to be recalled. Read the stipulated order and what he agrees as findings of fact - dilution, unfair business practices, unjust enrichment, etc. This is not the behavior of an honest man. How DARE you attacked the firefighters - individuals who spend hundreds of hours training to serve the people of Salem. They get up in the middle of the night to respond to medical, rescue and fire calls. And the thanks for people like you is you call them undeserved names. They are stalked - FOIA the meeting between Heyl and FAB members - seems Heyl has some knowledge of when the stalking will stop. Interesting? Accountability - what a spin! The auditor told FAB and VanFossen that the vehicles are driven in accordance with IRS standards which have remained unchanged since the VanFossen witch hunt of 1996. He further stated that the vehicles are driven for the benefit of the community. Even people like you - that have clearly shown your bias! You the owe the firefighters a thank you, not posting the garbage created of the new dictator, uh supervisor of Salem.
ActiveParticipant
Tue, Mar 23, 2010 : 12:58 p.m.
I happened to attend a FAB meeting recently, the auditor was there. He told FAB that the IRS laws had not changed since 1996 when he sent the township clerk information answering her questions. A clearly marked fire vehicle is still exempt. The trucks are driven for the benefit of the community. Why doesnt the past clerk, now a trustee remember what she did or didnt ask? Why didn't she report back to the board and public that the trucks are driven in accordance with the law? Why claim that firefighters asking questions are rowdy? Do you, like Mr. Heyl have a list of acceptable topics that will be allowed. Why did Mr. Heyl tell the audience not to clap and show support for speakers? Why did Mr. Heyl think something was funny and allowed the audience to laugh? You may think a business owner who is sued by Pennzoil is a good person to be Supervisor, but many of us do not. Fred, keep up the good work!
Salem Resident
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 7:16 p.m.
After finally settling the three long,expensive and lost court cases that were under Mr Roperti's watch the Board decided to replace the lawyer who recommended these expensive lawsuits with a lawyer that has expertise in "land use". The new firm will make up better documents so we don't get sued all the time. Makes a lot of sense to me!! That way maybe we won't be spending 1.3 million on useless lawsuits. Maybe we could spend money on a community center or something for the people rather than paying lawyers. By the way, Mr Roperti hired a new lawyer when he was put into office, its a common procedure - why is he so upset? The fire department is upset and feels threatened because the new board is asking questions. Policies and procedures are being rewritten to reflect current laws and liabilities. Sure wish they would stop booing and being completely out of order while stacking the township meetings with unruly fire fighters. They are acting like a bunch of bullies. Mr. Roperti please do go to Florida. When you first lost the primary you said you were going to sell and move away. Now you are creating even more havoc than when you were in office. Give this up, the new board is doing the best they can with the mess you left behind. Supervisor Heyl, I commend you for all you are trying to do for Salem. Please, residents, lets support him and give him the chance he earned.
VoiceofReason
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 3 p.m.
If you read the stipulated order in the Pennzoil litigation you will discover that Mr. Heyl agreed that the charges mentioned in the recall language were "findings of fact". How can this then be slander? How can anyone who has treated his customers in such a dishonest manner remain Supervisor. If only Mr. Heyl were honorable - he would resign. Now the truth comes out about who is running the township - the Treasurer. Have you ever been to a meeting where the Treasurer nods his head "yes" or shakes it "no" to clue in Mr. Heyl?
ActiveParticipant
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 12:35 p.m.
OH MY, shame on the Ann Arbor News reporter. First of all, Mr. Roperti was NOT ousted. He lost in the August primary. Mr. Heyl officially won unopposed in November election. As for Mr. Uhereks reference to our attorney, does he mean the Salem Township attorney, the attorney that represents the people of Salem Township? Did you know that the charges concerning the Pennzoil litigation are part of a very public stipulated order? Why the outrage over a factual document signed by Mr. Heyls personal attorney on his behalf? I understand that Mr. Roperti has documents to back up all his statements. When something is true - it is not slander. Name calling as Mr. Uherek seems to be doing is a bit childish for an elected official, let alone an adult. I wonder why the reporter doesn't have respect for all parties involved. He refers to some individuals as Mr. and for others just uses last names. About the comment concerning that winner of the election drives the agenda, I really thought he was elected to do the will of the people.
HennyPenny
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 11:12 a.m.
A "serial slanderer" you say Mr. Uherek? Hmmm. Are you upset because you think someone is stealing YOUR title? Newsflash: truth is an absolute defense to libel - a concept you may not be familiar with. Don't think recalls work? Ask Hamburg.
salemresident
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 9:54 a.m.
Mr. Roperti has always had the best interests of the reidents at heart. I wish him luck with the petition. The new supervisor and treasurer ran with promises of more open government, but since they took office, they have been turning many "under the table" deals. Elections do have consequences, but when you are not following through with any of your campagn promises, you deserve to be recalled.
commonsense
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 9:25 a.m.
Huh... for a moment I thought we were reading about Augusta Township.
Huron74
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 8:16 a.m.
Someone needs to remind Mr. Roperti "that elections have consequences". The person that wins gets to drive the agenda. That's the system we use here.
a2huron
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 7:38 a.m.
Memo to Salem Township: Recalls don't work. Look at Van Buren Township.