Letter to the Editor: Township ignores City request for fire protection contract

September 20, 2024

On November 7, 2023, the residents of the Village of Manchester exercised their right, per the laws of the State of Michigan, and voted to become a city. Michigan State Law requires a division of assets between the Township and a newly created city. State Statute MCL 117.14 clearly defines the formula for a fair and equitable division of the assets acquired with Village tax dollars. Since January 2024, proposals and counter proposals have been submitted without reaching an agreement.

On August 8, 2024, the City of Manchester submitted a proposal to Manchester Township on the Division of Assets and a Fire Contract. Separating the proposals allows a Fire Contract to be put in place while the Division of Assets Agreement is being resolved. Although the City legally has a right to include capital assets of the Township in a division of assets agreement, the City Proposal offered that all capital assets of the township and the fire department not be included in the division. We are committed to protecting the Manchester Fire Department and to trying to keep both parties from needlessly spending taxpayer dollars on attorney fees and court costs.

Manchester Township minutes of the meeting on August 13, 2024, were posted on September 18, 2024, indicating that a “revised” contract for Fire and Rescue Services Agreement had been approved by the Township Board on August 13. NO such fire contract has been presented to the City. We are uncertain what contract was approved.

Despite requests on September 9 and 17, and the Manchester Township attorney confirming on September 18 that he would have the Township Supervisor submit a copy of the approved contract, as of September 20, 2024, the City of Manchester has received absolutely no communication from Manchester Township on the fire contract or the Division of Assets proposal. The Manchester Township Board is fully aware that as of December 31, 2024, without a Fire Contract, the City is at risk of not having fire coverage.

Upon confirming that there was nothing on the agenda for the Manchester Township Board September 17, 2024 meeting to address the Fire Contract nor the Division of Assets Proposal, I personally attended the Board Meeting and read the following statement:

September 17, 2024

Township of Manchester Board:

Your lack of response to our Division of Assets proposal of August 8, 2024, for a settlement agreement, your lack of response to our request for a fire contract, your lack of response to the follow up email on September 9, 2024, from City Manager, Michael Sessions, makes it apparent that you have no interest in coming to a resolution.

The generous August 8th Division of Assets proposal from the City offered that the cemetery, the road millage funds and ALL capital assets of the township and the fire department NOT be part of the Division. The City has offered to work together with a non-binding facilitator. These offers have been ignored.

The residents of the Village followed State Law and voted to become a city. This board may not agree with it, may blame me personally and blame those that supported it, but it is done. Michigan State Law says they have a right to their portion of the assets acquired with their tax dollars. The township supervisor stated that the law is old and should no longer be relevant. Is this your grounds for refusing to come to an agreement? How much are you willing to spend of your taxpayers’ money to try to change the state law?

This board is now at a crossroad. You can decide to have this go to court and try to fight the State Law or you can be fair to the people that trusted you with their tax dollars. They helped you get elected. They helped pay your salaries. They have
supported this board, this township for many many years. They are your friends, your neighbors, maybe even your relatives.

As we all are fully aware, on December 31, 2024, the City of Manchester residents will no longer pay a fire millage and without a contract, they are at risk of not having coverage. If, by ignoring our requests for a fire contract you think you will force the City of Manchester into an unfair agreement, IT WON’T WORK. If this is your plan, every one of you as an elected official should be ashamed of yourself for putting the safety of the residents of our community at risk.

I also want to make it clear that if you force the City of Manchester to put this in the hands of the court, our generous offer of August 8th will no longer be on the table. We will proceed to collect all funds legally belonging to our taxpayers.

Sincerely,
Pat Vailliencourt, Mayor, City of Manchester

It is truly unfortunate that we have reached this point. The City has suggested and offered the Township that an independent third-party facilitator be used to resolve the division of assets agreement, but the Township has not responded to the offer. Without an agreement for a division of assets and a fire contract, the City will be forced to take the matter to court. If legal action becomes necessary to ensure the safety of our community or to resolve the division of assets, the only winners will be the attorneys.”

Sincerely,
Pat Vailliencourt, Mayor, City of Manchester

Views expressed in any Letter to the Editor are always exclusively those of the author. Do you have something you want Manchester to know? Send your Letter to the Editor to themanchestermirror@gmail.com.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.