Public Marinas Harboring Secret, Private Recruitments

[XLFD]

The two public marinas in Ludington, Ludington Municipal Marina (LMM) and Harbor View Marina (HVM), are engaged in unethical hiring practices that prohibit fair consideration of suitable candidates for positions and encourages cronyism and nepotism, both of which currently exists. Such practices are often considered illegal and actionable upon by those who have not been given a just opportunity to apply and be considered for public positions.

In this expose, the history of the inadequate hiring practices of the LMM will be revisited by looking back at the Ludington Torch archives from 2011, when we exposed flagrant nepotism and favoritism. We will then look at the current situation and find that nothing has changed, other than that the current mayor isn't providing summer jobs for his three daughters at the public marina (noting that the mayor not only serves as a member of the marina board, he also appoints the other members who are charged with forming policies for the operation of the marina, such as hiring practices).

History of Patronage

In Marina and the Hendersons, it was revealed that not only were Mayor John Henderson's daughters working full-time at the marina (the third daughter would, in an incredible act of corruption, be hired later during Henderson's term with zero consideration for publicly posting the job), but also that many other LMM workers had parents working for the City of Ludington. They also had offspring of Wastewater Treatment Supervisor Rob Allard, Public Works Crew Leader Dave Wroble, Building Inspector Ed Britton, and LPD Chief Mark Barnett.

FOIA requests for job postings of all types were denied due to them not existing. They did not post job openings on the website, the newspaper, or at any city posting board-- ever. They did not try to recruit from the schools or the local college by advertising positions there. It was pure political favoritism where employees were chosen for whom they live with or whom they were friends with.

Why is this nepotism (and cronyism) an unjust and corrupt way to run a public enterprise? Robert Wechsler's 2009 arguments are as true today as they were back then, when he penned:

• Nepotism includes many of the basic government ethics issues: conflict of interest, misuse of office, preferential treatment, and patronage.
• Nepotism undermines public trust by making government look like a family business run not for the community, but for the families in power.
• Nepotism is bad for morale within the government organization. It goes far beyond hiring. It remains a problem every time raises and promotions occur.
• Nepotism and its cousin, hiring friends (cronyism) are the leading methods of keeping other ethnic and racial groups out of local government.
• Nepotism puts officials in an awkward position when they don't want to hire a relative, but feel it's expected of them. Nepotism laws protect officials as well as the public.

Nepotism also exacerbates problems. A culture of loyalty and secrecy flourishes within families. As does crime. Nepotism in government naturally leads to nepotism/cronyism in contracting, which means a failure to competitively bid, or bid-rigging. This can cost taxpayers millions of dollars a year.

And this 'bid-rigging' happens regularly with the Ludington City Council, the most glaring example of recent vintage being the 2020 contract with Turf Care, where six councilors ignored the city charter's rules and picked State Senator Curt VanderWall's company over one that significantly underbid the senator's bids on all seven criteria. It's not surprising that the council has petitioned VanderWall for favors from the state over the last four years multiple times.

These displays of corruption through nepotism and cronyism in bidding and employment has continued unabated over the years even after exposure. As noted, Henderson's third daughter and Assistant City Manager Jackie Steckel's daughter both received jobs at the LMM shortly after the 2011 article came out. The competitive bidding process loses to cronyism at least once every year, costing the public a lot of money. No anti-nepotism ordinance has ever been considered since, no unfairly decided contract has ever been reconsidered since.

Favoritism Flourishes Today

The State of Michigan effectively gifted the City of Ludington with HVM last fall. Both HVM and LMM have a similar amount of boat slips (160-176), with roughly the same amenities. One would believe that the number of employees hired by Ludington would nearly double. Did the city advertise for any jobs in the new marina?

Only one. They posted notice for the position of assistant marina manager, effectively so that each marina could have an on-site manager. They did this both in early 2019, when the HVM acquisition by the City was almost guaranteed, and this year in January when the HVM lease was official (they now have two assistant managers). No other positions have been advertised, they have all been filled in by appointment because they are either related to somebody with the City or were apprised by the openings through a friendly source. Here are some of the names from July 2019, who were on the payroll at the marina:

Tyler Sniegowski is reportedly related to Tom Sniegowski (of the City DPW) and Assistant City Manager Jackie Steckel. Cody Kuster is the son of Tony Kuster (currently employed by the marina as an assistant manager also), Jake Plamondon is the son of Utility Maintenance Supervisor Darryll Plamondon. Officer Tony Kuster was on the marina payroll and also on the LPD during that time.

Other names on the roster have interesting things in common that may explain how they got the public job without the rest of the public finding out; should the city deny impropriety this would be further explored. Other folks in 2020 that got on the list (which remarkably had the same amount of people (minus the additional manager added) that were hired when the city had only one marina) are Jake Plamondon's cousin, and the daughter of a Ludington firefighter. Both were also working in 2019:

Americans have long believed in equal employment opportunity, and we have a right to expect our local government agencies to provide such opportunities. But unless I am mistaken, there is nobody of color working at either marina (perhaps one Hispanic), and nobody with disabilities. Since the City has only sought assistant managers and have appointed or reappointed 22 other marina workers without any regard to marketing their job openings, it appears discriminatory-- the fact that so many relatives of city workers have been employed over the years lends strong credence to this.

It is well past time for the city marinas to adopt equal employment opportunity policies for all departments that conform with the law and with the ethics that many other less corrupt local governments follow.

[Freedom Seeker]

Same old. Same old. Nepotism is an expected "perk" in Ludington. What could ever change it? Why change when the city employees love it?

Thanks for getting the "reply" glitches fixed!

[XLFD]

I don't know how long you have been following us FS, but back in the days of a John Shay directed city shortly after Mayor Henderson retired, they convinced the city council to introduce seven charter proposals.  These were apparently discussed at committee meetings nobody knew anything about, and introduced to council.  All tried to get city officials less accountability to the public and allow corruption to fester more.  

The city charter/code does need changing, but it needs changes to reflect more transparency, more accountability, less secrecy, and less ambiguity.  Our previous leaders knew their way around most of the existing rules of conduct, and knew they would be forgiven if exposed.  If I had a voice, I would suggest we add a healthy dose of ethics using the AG's Model Ethics Ordinance, which has such things as anti-nepotism policies and real sanctions for officers acting against the public interest.  

[Freedom Seeker]

• I've been following these posts long enough to figure out that Ludington is run by a few and that the people have very little representation or voice. That first came to my attention in the LDN when "Shame on You, Tom Rotta" was published on the front page. That LDN article caused me to look at both sides of the issue, and I found that the city of Ludington acted more like a gang of thugs, than a representative for the people. When a government can gang up on an individual for speaking his mind against an illegal activity of putting cameras in public bathrooms closely pointed at privacy stalls, for instance, then something stinks. The lies, coverup, and all-out ganging up against Tom Rotta is a case of government gone wrong locally.
  
  Now the new city manager seems to be more civil in discussion and understanding but breaking through the issue of nepotism may be a tough chore.

[Willy]

FS. Like most people I thought the LDN was behind what was good for the community. After all they received many awards for the best small town newspaper so who could argue with that. I remember when X came on the scene back during the old LDN forum and some of the things he revealed didn't match what the LDN was reporting. Then bigger issues came up and X explained in detail what was going on and used actual facts. When compared to the LDN it became obvious how biased and protecting the LDN was toward local politicians and their agenda. It's been years and I haven't bought a single copy of the LDN and have no desire to read the lies and distortions in that propaganda rag. Everyone owes a huge thank you to X.

[XLFD]

I usually have to pay good money for testimonials like that-- thanks for the freebies.

If you read the local news in The COLDNews and the MCP can you ever remember a time when they took a stance against council or commission improprieties?  The best I can think of was about 11 years back when Jennifer Miller (who would later be axed with Rob Alway when the COLDNews made cutbacks) reported on the disparity between county commissioner's remuneration.  A couple were getting under $10,000 per year in full, while two others were getting in the mid $20,000s-- for doing the same work.  One of the ones yanking about $25,000 from county taxpayers:  current State Senator Curt VanderWall, who even then knew how to milk the system for all he could take.  Jenn definitely got beat down for doing so.

Rob of the MCP used to write exposes on Scottville Commissioner Ed Hahn, the only problem was that Hahn was the outsider (like me), who only wanted more transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and fiscal responsibility.  These two local media outlets will not use their power to hold your government accountable, they will use their power to act as shieldmaidens for the government when others question the illegal, unethical or insipid public policies.

[Freedom Seeker]

I agree Willy, on the thanks owed to X for years of exposing unlawful practices at city hall, Ludington. If it hadn't been for X we could have enjoyed blissful existence in not knowing about cameras in the bathrooms, overpriced Watertower painting contract, nepotism at its finest, city employees getting sweetheart home valuations, no bid contracts for public employees, sewer discharge, non compatibility and Pere Marquette bayou pollution, FoIA and OMA violations, to name a few things, and the list goes on.

But most shocking to me was banning X from city hall while he was running for a seat on the council. That just showed complete complicity in city employees ganging up on a citizen. If they can do it to one, they can kneelontheneck of anyone who speaks up. That kneeling (bullying) has been a very effective tactic which may take years to restore trust in city hall and rebuild community and give a voice back to the citizens.

[Du Wright]

Good luck with building community relations and police ward parties after many years of neglect and being cut out of discussions at "committee meetings" level with decisions made by a few in the top hierarchy at city hall in secret.  Now what?  Cops come along and patrol our wards and throw parties for community relations?  I guess maybe they would be better at it than the "Community Development" department which acts as a second Chamber of Commerce focusing on Downtown Development.  The trouble with Ludington community development, imho, is that those who have been in position for too long are mostly arrogant, self-serving and don't want to serve, hear or see the public, the ward people.  They just cater to the rich hob nobs who might donate to their cause downtown.

[Du Wright]

For those who refuse to read MCP, I refer in my last comment to this interview and article by Rob Alway which makes me feel like police overreach into "community development" which imo is more of a function of mayor and city councilor directing a community development department.  Unfortunately for years we've had a gang of councilors and mayor who haven't served the community, imo.

https://www.masoncountypress.com/2020/06/19/new-ludington-police-ch...

[Willy]

If the Ludington police dept. has enough time on their hands to: “ be out there, making contact with the public daily, not just in a time of emergency or when there is a crime committed, but for everyday occurrences, such as helping someone change a tire or shovel an elderly person’s driveway. I want the officers to visit the stores just to say hi. I want the officers to help serve lunches at the schools and the senior center. I am encouraging officers to park their vehicles and walk around neighborhoods and downtown. And "officers will build relationships with the community  by hosting neighborhood pop-up parties. He said the police department is hoping to make arrangements with city councilors about setting up community gatherings in each ward."

It may be possible that the Ludington Police Dept. has to many officers with very little to do. So the next time you see an LPD officer waiting to snare a speeder you might suggest that they host a pop-up party instead of handing out tickets. Just think if the Manistee Police Dept. had thrown a pop-up party for Mr. Milks he may still be alive today.  POP UP PARTIES MATTER

[XLFD]

In these times, police need good PR, even in our backwater towns.  I don't fault them for trying to emphasize community policing, that's what XLPD Chief Barnett did back in his early years of chiefdom.  I would like to see them occasionally getting out of their cars and walking a beat or bicycle patrolling (it should be noted they have done recent bicycle repairs in the police budget).  It's good optics if wisely done.

If they serve lunches at schools or the senior centers or have pop-up parties, I'd like to see them do that on their own time, so they won't be interrupted by necessary business while making good community contacts.  These events could easily backfire on them if they do not conduct themselves humbly, transparently and honestly throughout or use a lot of money from their budget just for PR opportunities.

[Freedom Seeker]

Good point Willy. Perhaps waaay too much time for a police dept. to host popup parties with a budget that is a considerable portion of hardpressed taxpayers money. Maybe now is time to reform the LPD.

[Du Wright]

Does anyone know what our city's budget deficit is now days? Plus the $100+ million for the schools debt. The city had something like $23 million for sewer, $25 million for water plant and other things, so over $50 million. Does anyone care, does anyone know? No, let's just build more west end puppies, splash pads and James street redos. There's no end to taxpayers deep pockets. And meanwhile if our economy collapses during the coronavirus, we can get a federal bailout (ha ha). The federal government is somewhere around $25 TRILLION DOLLARS in debt after the latest stimulus. Well let's just create a police department to serve kid's lunches, and stroll the stores just for fun. While at the store, pick up some wieners and pop for a popup party.  Maybe Chief Kozal is trying to make up for the negative community relations in Manistee.