4fetlanr b 0bm\)tr Volume 18 Number 34 Thursday, October 21, 1982 Westland, Michigan 52 Pages Twenty-five cents I Ml 5jS>irb<s.Xorom«tkilbfl (.j|>of4iioa All Rlfbtt Rntrtrd School board appointees draw challenge By 8andra Armbruater gram)," Warmbier said. editor Warmbier said he would meet with Faust on Wednesday (yesterday) to ask One of the four appointments made for an attorney general's opinion on to the Wayne-Westland board of educa­ whether Bedard's appointment pre­ tion is being challenged by other erect­ sented a potential conflict ofjnterest^ ed board members. "-•"' Last Thursday Gov. William Milllken BEDARD SAID his retirement pay appointed four temporary board mem­ wasn't an issue. bers to fill vacancies created after a "Actually there's nothing I can do to successful recall election. Three ap­ help raise my pay. If an issue comes up pointees from Westland are are An­ that would create a conflict, I would drew J. Spisak, 3 MM Fernwood; Dor- abstain and not vote," he said. tha "dottie" LeSuer, 34890 Oakwood Steve Fetter, a member of the gover­ Lane; and John R. Ryan, 35755 Oak- nor's executive legal staff, said they wood Lane. The fourth appointment, were unaware of the situation when the Donald E. Bedard, 38440 Laurenwood, appointment was made. Is a Wayne resident. "As a courtesy, we've agreed to look They will serve until a special elec­ at it again," said Fetter. tion is held on Dec. 7. , He explained that under Michigan Bedard's appointment is being chal­ law, a conflict of Interest could exist in lenged by Fred Warmbier, who has act­ two possible situations: First, an in­ ed as board chairman since the recall compatibility would exist if one person John Ryan Andrew Splsak Dortha LeSuer Donald Bedard election. Warmbier said there is a pos­ held two or more public positions. Sec­ sible conflict of interest Involved. Be­ ond, if a vote came up in which some­ not specific statements about Bedard. people would be appointed by the gov­ fess up where the appointments came one had a personal Interest, he would The three board members originally dard, 61, served as a principal in the had recommended that Harry L. Smith, ernor, board members rushed to rec­ from," Warmbier said. district for S3 years and retired in June be required to disclose his Interest and WARMBIER WAS critical of the ommend three more appointments. Fetter said that 10 to 15 people sub­ abstain from voting. Fetter added that a General Motors public relations man, 1981. other appointments as well. He said he be appointed by the governor. Then Recommended were Chuck West, a mitted names to the governor's office. "Bedard is still on the school dis­ the vote then could proceed, passing councilman In Wayne, Jean Bucbon and The staff then went to Its "contacts In with a two-third's majority. "suspected politics" was the reason with a four-member majority, the trict's payroll. He'll be getting a retire­ why four people recommended by the board itself could appoint the remain­ Jim Tennant, a Ford Motor Co. em­ the community and provided the gover­ ment check for the next five to six Fetter stressed that these were "gen­ three remaining elected board mem­ ing three members. ployee. nor with several names to choose years (under an early retirement pro­ eral terms* under Michigan law and bers weren't appointed by the gover­ Warmbier said that when they "Out of the four, we got nothing. It from." nor. learned several weeks ago that four seein3 rather odd that no one wants to Please turn to Page 2 U Governor names 4 to fill vacancies , By 8andra Armbmstsr said, adding that collective bargaining LESUER, 52, has been a resident of him the second Westland police officer editor also has changed In the last 20 years. the area for 42 years. A Realtor with serving on the board. Lt Dewey Combs "The district had changed. Back then Earl Keim Realty since 1968, LeSuer was elected to the board last June. The four appointments to Wayne- we Wfcrv expanding, and our big con­ said she was active with PTA while her Spisak, 47, said he was never inter­ Westland'8 school board include a for­ cern was could we build enough schools . children attended the now demolished ested in being a member of the board mer member who served in the early fast enough and have teachers that Cady School. but agreed to serve if be was needed. 1980s. would staff them for the entire term,* She said she had been asked by sev­ An assistant to former mayor Thom­ John R. Ryan, 56, a 29-year resident he said. eral people to run for the board last as Taylor, Spisak made an unsuccessful of Westland, later was the chairman of Ryan said one problem was the "90- June and declined to do so, but she.lat*. bid for the. county. commission in the - the Wayne County Community-College day wonder" who would teach for that er agreed to serve if appointed by the August primary election. Board Of Trustees after leaving his lo­ period and be gone. He said that some­ governor. 1 hope to be able to help heal some cal school board post times, one class would'go through two Ttt try to -work cooperatively, with wounds. For some, reason there has Other appointments made by the to three teachers in one year* . other board members so we have a been great dissatisfaction, with what I governor last week are Andrew Spisak "Looking a the pupil population then, good school board again," she said. "It's don't know," he said, adding that the and Dortha "Dottie* LeSuer, both of we believed we would have steady geo­ unfortunate that it's been divided" board members must think about the Westland, and Donald E. Bedard of metric growth," he continued. "State She has served as president of the kids and not themselves. Wayne. aid was increasing, and we had two Sorptlmists, Wayne Felions, and is*a RefenTing to criticism over an ex­ v The appointments were made to fill teacher unions instead of one. One member of various realty associations. tension of the teachers' contract last vacancies created by a successful re­ thing certain in life is that there will be Bedard, 61, retired In June 1981 af­ year, Spisak said, "If you say you pay |s&lH call election. They will serve until a change." ter 33 years as a principal at Adams too much for education, well, you pay special election is held on Dec. 7. Junior High, Cady Elementary and old too much for hamburger." He adde^ Ryan said fee expects to find a "whole Now the'district is faced with declin­ South Junior High schools. that If the district has superfluous pro­ new ballgame" in serving on the board ing enrollment and state aid. "I loved Junior high kids. It was a Joy grams, that has to be taken care of but now. Ryan said he didn't expect any prob­ to go to work every day," he said. noted that some extra programs, like lems in working with the other six Bedard said the board would make music, shouldn't be considered a prob^ "THE OPEN meetings act, to be board members. decisions only on the "decisions neces­ lem unless they interfere with basics blunt; is a serious problem. The four of "I don't agree with Fred Warmbier sary to keep the schools running. Peo­ like math and English. us can't have a session with Superin­ (board member) on the time of day, but ple have-to speak and decide the issues Spisak said he hopes that whoever Is tendent Timothy Dyer to be brought up we do-agree on concern and interest-in on Dec. 7." elected in December provides "some to date-without making it public," he schools," he said! kind of harmony* on the board. ^^¾^¾^¾¾ Candidates gather for political rally „.-*&# Voters are invited tormeet and min­ " Candidates will be featured in the date for governor, 3:30 p.m.; Virginia 5:46 p.m.; Sylvia Skrel, Republican can­ didate for-state Representative from s'i»*»"»iV?V-v*'»- gle with candidates for elective office gazebo in the center of Eaton Place Cropsey, Libertarian candidate for U.S. BILL BRESLER/etart photographer at an old-fashioned political rally from and have approximately 15-20 minutes Representative from the'17th District the 38th District (Includes Westland), 6 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday in Eaton Place at to Introduce themselves and discuss (includes Redford), 3:45 pm; Robert p.m.; Incumbent SenlUbbert-Geake, R- Chomp, chomp Wonderland Shopping Center, Plym­ their platforms. Two bands from Cath­ FitzPatrick, Republican candidate for Northville, seeking re-election as"State"' outh and Mlddlebelt roads, in Livonia. olic Central .High School will be on Wayne County executive, 4 p.m.; Sand­ Senator from the 6th District, 6:15 This Pac Mac figure, alias Bob Carlini of Garden City, isn't really - Candidates for local, county, state band to usher candidates to and from er Levin, Democratic candidate for p.m.; and William Ryan, Democratic about to take a bit out of the car heading down Ford Road In and national offices from the Livonia, the podium. U.S. Representative from the 17th Dis­ candidate for county commissioner of Westland. Carlini, 25, who works at V Fix It on Ford, was merely, Westland and Redf ord areas will be on trict (includes Redford), 4:15 p.m.; the 10th District (includes Livonia), The candidates participating and the 6:30 p.m.