By Gail Peckler-Dziki/Correspondent
After all was said and nothing done at the April 2 regular board meeting, Silver Lake Fire Chief Andy Macfarlane assured the board that using either the fire department door entry or calling him from the fire department landline kept proper track of time the day time drew spent on duty.
Trustee Soti Wilber, who recently lost re-election, put a key to the village hall for use of the time clock on the agenda. There had been discussion about purchasing a time clock for the fire department use when daytime staff went to hourly pay, but no one was willing to shell out the approximately $800 for it.
At the meting, Wilber explained that she and village president Sue Gerber discussed a key to the village hall that would allow daytime crew to use the time clock when they arrived before and after the village hall staff work hours.
“When Sue and I talked about it, she was on board with the idea,” Wilber said. “When I asked Sue (Nelson, deputy clerk/treasurer) she said no. And the police chief said he didn’t like it either, so I was told to put this on the agenda.”
Officer Andy Trudeau appeared at the April 2 meeting. Trudeau said that since the police department wasn’t secured, no one should have a key to the village hall when the office staff was not there.
“We have sensitive information in the office. We have files on crimes under investigation and on juveniles that could be on desks,” he said. “We have evidence and sometimes large amounts of bond money. That could be easily accessed since we don’t have a door on the police station that would secure the department.”
Trudeau said he wasn’t naming names but there was no one working for the police department that had a police record.
Wilber reminded Trudeau that not too long ago, she investigated the cost of installing the proper door to secure the police department.
“I had three bids and worked with other village staff to get all necessary information,” she explained. “When I presented the information at a village board meeting, the chief said he wasn’t interested.”
In a later interview, Wilber said that the cost of the proper door and installation was about $7,000 and at least part of that would have come from the police budget.
That’s when Macfarlane explained that when daytime staff enter or leave, using the door fob, the time is recorded.
“If they don’t have a door fob, they call my cell from the fire department landline and I can see when they called,” he said.
Silver Lake Rescue contract approved through 2014
The village board decided in five yes votes, with two abstentions, to maintain the current agreement with the Silver Lake Rescue Squad (SLRS) until the end of this year.
Neither president Gerber, whose son Dan is a member of SLRS or trustee Sabrina Moran, who is a member of SLRS could vote regarding the issue, but Gerber made the motion that was seconded by Moran to get the vote on the floor. Then both abstained during the vote.
Village attorney Linda Gray said in a post meeting interview that while the pair could not vote on the issue, they could make the motion. “Anybody can make a motion,” she said, “whether you are for or against it.”
In November, village residents will vote on a proposition. Over 200 village residents signed a petition that states that the village board will never enter into a contract with the Town of Salem for fire and rescue service beyond what already exists in the mutual aid agreement.
The village must provide fire and rescue services for residents, and so voted to continue with the SLRS. Other communities, including Brighton and Paddock Lake, have long-term contracts with the town of Salem for fire and rescue service.
Dan Gerber appeared at the meeting as the SLRS representative.
Silver Lake Citizens in Action schedule village-side clean up
The Citizen for Growth group folded because of lack of volunteers. Resident Allen Dunski has kept the vision of resident involvement and formed the Silver Lake Citizens in Action. The first event is a village-wide clean up, scheduled for Sunday, April 13, starting at noon. Everyone will gather at the fire department.
Prior to the cleanup, Dunski said some would have breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the all you can eat spread put on at the American Legion. The cost is $8.95 for adults and $4.95 for children 7 and under.
Members from the fire department and SLRS have already signed up. SLRS has donated rubber gloves, resident Kim Weishuhn has donated garbage bags and the fire department will provide transportation by ATV’s.
For more information, Dunski can be reached at (262) 770-441