August 15, 2017: Jackie Gets Her Man, A Part Time Manager at a Full Time Price

Backgrounder:

At the July 25th Board meeting, Jacki Otto forwarded the insinuation that I, Jim Nelson, had profited from the video edited and posted to our YouTube account, VideoNorthfield. She did so in her best crude innuendo "style" in a July 19, 2017 letter which was included in the meeting packet.

Ottos Concern 2017 07 19 800w173h

While it is not unusual for Jacki Otto to base her public statements and decisions on shallow and superficial understanding, it is unusual for her misstatements to be so readily refuted. Usually she's a bit slyer.

Here's the view count for VideoNorthfield. The viewcount is the aggregate number of times videos have been viewed since we began posting them to YouTube. The following two screenshots were taken on August 15, 2017. The meeting videos have garnered a grand total of 4150 views:

VideoNorthfield 4150 Views Total 360w151h

As you can see from the next screenshot, YouTube doesn't allow you to begin allowing advertising until you've had 10,000 views. As you can also see, the VideoNorthfield Account has never been set up for advertising anyway.

VideoNorthfield YouTube Minimum of 10000 360w317h

On July 25th, when confronted with the falseness of her accusation, Otto smirked it off with her best tough guy bluster, "I stand by what I said."

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Something to remember the next time you're impressed by Jacki Otto's confident arrogance:

Underpinning her arrogance is an equally confident ignorance.

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So, what happened at the meeting?

Responding to questions from Trustees Beliger and Dockett, Treasurer Zelenock confirmed that the General Fund balance had closed the 2016-2017 fiscal year at 43%. That's half the 85% level required by Board policy, which has never been amended. That 85% level was itself a cash grab by fled Township Manager Howard Fink. Prior to Mr. Fink's brief residence in Northfield Township, the Rainy Day Fund had been built up to a level of 125%. (Watch the discussion here.)

Another aspect of the previous Board's incompetent management of Fink surfaced in the latest Supervisor's Report. Northfield Township had paid $16,500 in unnecessary sales taxes on its purchases of Electricity from Fink's hand picked electricity reseller. Supervisor Chockley identified the issue and arranged for the refund. This was a nice follow through from Supervisor Chockley's identification of the too high prices the Township had been paying for natural gas from Fink's hand picked Natural Gas reseller.

Even the notion that resellers could sell electricity or gas cheaper than the utilities whose electricity and gas they were "reselling" is idiotic and defies logic, but Fink was good at that. Trustees Otto and Chick and the rest of the previous board went along uncritically. (Because going along is easier than thinking.)

Local Boy Scout Troup Leaders were publiclly grilled for almost fifteen minutes over a proposed use of 75 Barker Road. They were brought before the Board by Trustee Otto. Why weren't these questions asked and answered in advance?

Tetra Tech Engineer Brian Ruebel showed up and took more grief and abuse over his proposal to re-examine the cost of providing new sewer system connections. The proposed $6 Million in sewer system expansion and accumulator tank costs will result in a rise in both current and deferred and future costs.

Manager Steven Aynes recommended that the Board immediately raise the cost of new connections to the level recommended by Tetra Tech in their 2014 study. Details in the the packet break out, below. The Board spproved an immediate connection fee increase but did not approve the new Tetra Tech study. That will be further studied. A study of studies.

In a virtuoso display of cluelessness, Jacki Otto averred that the previous Board had ignored the necessity of connection fee increases because no one was connecting. They left the Township's WWTP a sitting duck, with connection fees that covered neither the current costs of connecting to nor the incremental increase in burden upon the Sewer plant. It also left nothing in the treasury to pay for the inevitable repairs and replacement. So what was the plan - to lose a little on every sale but make up for it in volume, as the old joke goes?

After the votes, Ruebel walked out, barely saying goodbye, another evening of having his motives and credibility insulted having run its natural Northfield course. Some ugly stuff gets said to that guy.

Supervisor Chockley brought forward the existing Dog Park Lease Agreement between Northfield Township and the property owner, the Whitmore Lake School District. It turns out that Northfield Township is legally obligated to clean up the dog poop. If The Township doesn't the School District can hire it done and force the Township to foot the bill.

Forgotten in this discussion was the promise of only weeks ago by our Hydra Headed micro manager, Janet-n-Jacki, to personally pony up the $500 yearly cost.

When I have time, I'll make a LiveVideo link to the touching moments and meeting where they said it.

Discussion of the Fire Truck purchase was tabled due to a problematic sales contract, issues raised by Township Attorney Paul Burns.

The Board approved the interim promotion of Police Sergeant Smith to Lieutenant. The Board approved hiring retired State Police Trooper Christopher Pascoe by the Northfield Township Police Department. I apologize if I have his rank incorrect.

Jacki Otto added the final Agenda item at the beginning of this meeting. Due to "additional information" provided at the last Board Meeting, it is now recognized that the meeting videographer function is better treated as a contractor position. The Board approved making both Lisa Lemble's meeting recorder position and the meeting videographer function, contractor slots. They directed Township Attorney Paul Burns to draw up proposed contracts.

Watch the Agenda Items you actually want to see later using our