It appears the supposed citizen-led group, the Board of Light and Power Charter Change Coalition (BLPCCC), is speaking on behalf of the Grand Haven City Council. At the June 20, 2023, Grand Haven City Council meeting, Danielle Martin, an employee of the Grand Haven Board of Light and Power pointed this out by giving the following public comment.
“I’m an employee of the Board of Light and Power (BLP), but speaking today as an individual sharing my personal opinion. The BLPCCC recently submitted signatures to have a proposed charter amendment placed on the November ballot. When the time comes for the community to vote on this item, the public deserves to be accurately informed about the impact this change could have on current BLP employees.
On its website, the BLPCCC makes promises regarding the employees that it will have no authority to keep. Their homepage states, that if approved, the amendment would, “keep employee wages and benefits, including pensions and benefits in the new department as they currently exist.” I ask where this statement is found within the amendment? The only line I can find states that “initial compensation of employees shall continue.” The proposal does not specify what is included in initial compensation. Is that salary? Salary and benefits? It also does not define how long the initial compensation shall continue for. It just says it shall continue.
The fact is, that if the transition happens, wages and benefits will be set by city council. The BLPCCC should not mislead the public by saying on council’s behalf that nothing will change. How can the public be accurately informed when the BLPCCC website contains contradictions, stating on its homepage that all current BLP employees will transfer to the new department, but then stating on the FAQ page that it’s likely there will be some savings to rate payers in the reduction of a few management positions? Which one is it? And more importantly, whose decision will this be?
The BLPCCC has no authority to guarantee any employee positions will continue outside of the initial period referenced in the amendment. In making this statement, they are again speaking on council’s behalf regarding a decision only council will have the authority to make. By stating all BLP employees will transfer to the new department, the BLPCCC is again making a commitment it has no ability to keep - this time on behalf of the current employees. Has the BLPCCC spoken with each individual employee and asked if they will transfer to the new department? They do not know if any employees would seek other work or make a decision to retire should the amendment pass. As an employee, I do not want the BLPCCC speaking on my behalf, and I encourage city council to put a stop to them speaking on yours.”
This employee seems to have been right on target. An email from August 2022 from Council Member Kevin McLaughlin to several recipients including Grand Haven City Council Members Karen Lowe and Ryan Cummins, as well as Board of Light and Power Board Member Andrea Hendrick shows they were involved in the planning process. Perhaps this is why they are comfortable letting Field Reichardt and the BLPCCC speak for them?
This raises many questions. Who are the citizens behind the citizen-led efforts of the BLPCCC? What else are the three members of Grand Haven City Council and one BLP board member doing behind closed doors? The citizens of Grand Haven deserve answers.