Clerk Stanley Grot To Start Soundboard, Ethnic Committee

During his first official Board of Trustees meeting, newly-appointed Clerk Stanley Grot vowed to add new programs and bring more youth to board meetings. 

Grot would like to start a Citizens Advisory Committee- or soundboard - which would give residents a chance to air their concerns in a less formal environment. 

He believes some citizens may shy away from public comment due to cameras, and “name-calling, yelling or grand-standing,” he said. He would like to organize or host a monthly round-table discussion outside of the regular Trustee meetings. “The agenda will be simple: problems, ideas and solutions,” he said. Grot will provide more information on the committee soon and invited residents to email or call for details. 

In addition, Grot would like to start an Ethnic Committee similar to what he organized as a Sterling Heights Councilman about 20 years ago. “There are many residents from different nationalities that live in Shelby (and) they can provide a wealth of information on their respective community and their traditions and customs,” he said. 

He also proposed an Employee Appreciation Day. In addition, Grot asked the township reach out to area schools and invite young people to the Board meetings through a high school internship program.

“Attending these meetings for a while I noticed there’s no young people in here,” he said. “These young people need to come to a safe place where they can write their essays, they can do their paperwork for school, (and) they can do their interviews with their elected officials.”

Hackel awards Shelby Board of Trustees for cost-savings 

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel acknowledged the Shelby Township Board of Trustees by presenting a plaque to Supervisor Richard Stathakis in honor of the township’s cost-savings through 2011. The township marked their third year of surplus last year, contributing almost $3 million to the general fund through cost-cutting, including the reduction of staff by attrition. In addition, the township fire department is $300,000 in the black. 

Trustees adopt 2012 Recreation Plan 

The Shelby Township Board of Trustees adopted a five-year recreation plan Tuesday night. The plan serves as a guideline for improving recreation within the township and enables the township to be eligible for state and federal grants. In the past, grants funded the building of the Nature Center, allowed for improvements to Mae Stacker park, and more. 

Board approves purchase of new police radios 

The Board also approved the purchase of 32 mobile and 29 portable police radios at a cost of $198,029. Installation will cost $11,984.  The police department will use federal grant money to purchase the necessary upgraded equipment that will be installed in cars and used by individual officers. 

DPW to retire revenue bond early for savings 

The Board of Trustees approved a request from the Department of Public Works to use money from the department’s $44 million reserve to pay off a roughly $9 million revenue bond for a savings of nearly $2 million for the township.  As a result, DPW customers may see a decrease in the cost of their water bills.  

Software upgrades for DPW 

The Board approved DPW’s request for new software licenses from ESRI, Inc. allowing the department to keep better track of the township’s water and sewer needs. The total cost of the software is $15,300. Labor support is another $15,000. Grot voted against the upgrade. 

Board approves promoting, hiring new librarians

The Trustees approved promoting of current librarian and hiring of a new one to work in the Children’s Services area.