Savoie: township following governors orders

In his supervisor's comments at the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, April 27, Supervisor Leo Savoie complimented the team behind him at the township in responding to residents needs and concerns, and emphasized the township, as a municipality, had to follow the governor's executive orders, and not make decisions based on politics. His comments came after the public comment, portion of the meeting during which former treasurer Dan Devine, who is challenging Savoie in the Republican primary in August to be supervisor, had both his candidate announcement and an email he sent to the clerk's office read, per his requests, where he aired personal grievances against Savoie. In his email, referring to landscaping services, he stated, “Supervisor Savoie it is time for you to step up to protect the property values of our township residents. Due to the Covid-19 issue, Governor Whitmer has mandated many measures to protect the spread of the virus. Many of her restrictions are unconstitutional...some of them are absurd and very detrimental to the property rights and wellbeing of our residents...As supervisor, you swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and were elected to protect and uphold our property rights not to kowtow to the governor when he or she is out of line… Step up and be the elected leader you were elected to be.” Savoie responded, “Bloomfield Township has been and will continue to make our decisions based on values and principals – not by politics or popularity… Municipalities do not have the right to arbitrarily pick and choose which laws they are going to enforce and which laws they won’t. As elected individuals we did swear an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States but we also swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the state of Michigan. As elected officials and leaders we recognize there are appropriate steps to take if we do not agree with something. Disobeying an order is not an appropriate step. Our police officers take an oath to uphold the constitution as well. Should we tell them to violate their oath?” He went on to explain the township has been spending hours planning and implementing for the crisis, not just with police and fire, but also communications, IT, water and sewer systems, and all other departments. “It takes team effort to keep things running, and that's what we are at Bloomfield Township – a team,” Savoie said. “Some people say Bloomfield Township is closed. We are anything but closed. Our doors maybe closed to the public to comply with the governor’s order but we are working longer and harder than ever to continue to deliver the services expected by the residents in our community.” He said they are prepared to open, with safety precautions, as soon as they are permitted.