Posted on Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 3:33 p.m.
Treasurer makes 19-year-old grandson with no accounting experience her deputy
By Cindy Heflin
The newly elected treasurer in Augusta Township has appointed her 19-year-old grandson deputy treasurer, the Milan News-Leader reported. Brendan Humeniak has no experience or education in bookkeeping or finance, the newspaper reported.
In making the appointment Lynda Dew said Humeniak will do a good job and can be trusted, the newspaper reported.
At least one trustee criticized the appointment, the newspaper reported.
Comments
Susan Burek
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 2:01 p.m.
It seems there are alot of posters here who are disgusted by this situation. May of us are not surprised. A group of us are organizing a grassroots effort to expose the fraud and underhanded dealings that have been going on too long in the township. We are not going to wait until election year when people get information weary from the campaigns. We have a website and facebook page of the same name Augusta Town Hall. We are going to start formally meeting in January 2013 and if you are interested in participating, please go to the website and contact me. www.augustatownhall.com or query Augusta Town Hall on facebook. Susan Burek Augusta Township Resident
j matt
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 9:14 p.m.
I would bet $100 that this kid can't balance a simple check book old school way (or new school) for that matter. I would personally like to challenge the kid in a public test of his skills at balancing a checkbook... With all the bells and whistles including: DIT's and o/s checks and bank fees and even simple recording errors. Yes my fluffy lil fair feathered friends this is stuff of basic accounting skills 101. In fact I doubt even the kid's short Granny can dew it either... Now let's complicate the matter and throw into the mix what we accountants like to call lock box batch deposits and we now have a bank reconciliation than may go on for pages. My $100 says that neither one of these buffoons either individually nor jointly can show me that they actually understand the premise of "bank to book" and "book to bank" reconciliations. It is a concept that few people actually truly grasp in it's entirety. So where are these two accused at? Why don't they answer the above 33 angry posters and publicly defend themselves? Perhaps they can't read? or is it more likely they are afraid they may be exposed for the sad frauds that they are. Come out come out where ever you are! Answer us... And most of the rest of you? (including those sad saps that mindlessly voted straight democratic ticket and put these clown where they are without regard to their history or qualifications?) Straighten up and pay attention! You all should be ashamed of all the talk and no action attitudes you display. Get out there and rally in the street and support some real change. I for one have done that and continue to do so.
T. Brooks
Mon, Dec 10, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
The people voted. The winners have taken office. I, for one, will not respond to petty personal attacks and nonsensical challenges. May I suggest you find the proper forum to address your concerns with your local government.
J Matt Shelden
Mon, Dec 10, 2012 : 5:26 a.m.
Tracy Brooks, You and your undereducated son, Brendan Htid Humeniak, are slightly outnumbered in the public opinion polls, don"t you think?? Mmmmmm I guess you do not. Watching this sad show, starring your mommy, your son and yourself, is much like watching a perfectly good steak burn up on the grill. What a waste of meat. Really. Good of you to share Eleanor's thoughts and to inform me that you are perhaps guilty of discussing "people" rather than ideas and thus I have to conclude you have a very very small mind. Is this due to overindulgence by chance? So! Tracy.....Now here is my IDEA once again. Does Young boy wonder Humeniak want to show us his ability to do a 'by-the-book' bank reconciliation?? My $100 against your $100 says he cannot do one nearly as well (or even at all ) nor as efficient as I. We can let the author of this wonderfully written article bring the random bank rec and hypothetical books. We can let any person of her choice be the judge.... Winner take all Put up or as they say..... :)
T. Brooks
Sun, Dec 9, 2012 : 9:21 a.m.
J Matt Shelden, I see you have diligently continued to persecute all who oppose you. You are as I expected to find you. With that, I will leave you to ponder the words of Eleanor Roosevelt "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." :)
Susan Burek
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 3:11 p.m.
This appointment by the treasurer should make the residents very afraid of what they are going to be in for in the treasurer's office for the next 4 years. The motion to require the education and experience was the fruition of 4 years of hard work by 2 previous treasurers, their deputies and a board approved consultant who worked hard to raise the standard of processing in the treasurer's office. This deputy requirement was part of the plan. The new treasurer elect was not only aware of this deputy requirement before making the appointment (and why), but deliberately chose to brush it aside for her own personal satisfaction of hiring a deputy she could "trust" (read: one that won't rat her out if she screws up her job, or worse, she does something illegal). And frankly, I don't thinks she possesses the competency to meet the new standard level and wants to bring the office back to the mediocrity it was when she was in office before. She also knew she could collude with supervisor Hafler and trustee Thornton to help gut the motion at the very first meeting to get her way. They manipulated the new trustees for their vote who didn't have a chance to understand what was happening at their very first board meeting. THAT is the new board our township is faced with. The same old bad politics with the same old people that keep bullying their way back into office. It is only going to get worse. Stay tuned for further headlines…
Susan Burek
Wed, Dec 12, 2012 : 2:34 p.m.
T. Brooks The fact that you keep attacking me tells me I struck a nerve. In fact, I think I hit a bulleye! And as far as those little signs? Get over it.
T. Brooks
Sun, Dec 9, 2012 : 9:07 a.m.
I find this post highly amusing and ironic to say the least. You the same person who lost a campaign for this very office while blighting our community with illegal signs and using poor moral judment in some their placements. (by placing them in road side memorials) The fact that you have already dismissed the new trustees as ignorant and incapable of independent thought, only shows your dislike for anything that is not in alignment with your agenda. Most assuredly, not one of them is unconcerned with your opinion of them personally or professionally, as they are adults.
Seasoned Cit
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 1:18 a.m.
Boy it sure doesn't take long to learn the political ropes does it. Get elected and then do all you can to "get all you can out of the system" . Oh and of course take special care of campaign contributors. Hope she's not invoved with a local Jr. Hockey group.
j matt
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 11:33 p.m.
Young Mr Humeniak's other qualifications to administer this Public Trust job should be made public as well..... His other resumè accomplishments should include that he is the former state of Michigan champion grocery bagger and even traveled to Vegas to compete at the National level Grocery Bagger contest...where he, of course, lost. Oh shucks! Brendan is also the the former ice cream cone eating champion right here in greater Augusta Township. I don't know about you other folks but I have real concerns handing over my more than $2,000 property tax bill payment to an ice cream eatin' grocery bagger.. I must also point out that on his recent Facebook page, Brendan Htid Humeniak alleges to be a graduate of EMU in 2012 but here he says he is attending WCC currently. So is he lying on Facebook?( Graduated from Eastern Michigan University 2012 College — ENG 121 · CTAC 124) How convenient he is to say he will be working towards a BSA or BBA degree. What is wrong with seeking out the hundreds of underemployed MATURE and UNRELATED persons who already have the demonstrated skills and possess the business degree already? I would bet it safe to say that a simple inquiry would have dozens of eager state licensed accountants leaping at the chance to do the work effectively WITHOUT further training, oversight,or risk. On another issue....this vertical nepotism issue will most certainly subject Augusta Township to tremendous scrutiny during the required annual year-end audit. Issues with violating separations of duties and general checks and balances in the revenues and disbursements cycles will surely result in what is called "material weakness" assertions. Those are the very unfavorable items on any audit report. And from what I understand Ms Dew is used to receiving just these sort of "material weakness" reports as she has already had those comments from her previous stint as Treasurer in 2008. YEP! The voters have spoken....they get what they reap She is a De
LAS518
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 6:45 p.m.
A true example of "It's not what you know, it's who you know!" When many of us, (myself included) are unemployed and competing with another 100 applicants for each position, this kid just walks into a job he's not even qualified for? This makes me sick. How is this fair? Give the job to someone that's been out of work that needs to feed their children and pay their heat bill!
Ypsi.Support
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 3:15 p.m.
Nepotism & abuse of power? And this is appropriate how? I hope actions are taken against this appointment. Clearly innapropriate.
Carole
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 11:46 a.m.
I believe in helping out, but this is totally stupid. He should be let go and she should help him find a more appropriate job. With this type of behavior with elected officials, no wonder we are in the position we are politically.
average joe
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 11:31 a.m.
Because this position is a 'public' employee job, one would think that this should be required to be an advertised positition. I think the township residents deserve to have the best qualified person who applied for the job working for them, and I don't believe thats the case here.
sellers
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 12:19 p.m.
It's not much different than the president of the U.S., Governor of the state, or many other similar positions. The cost of interviews and postings would really kill your budget and delay your implementation. Partisan positions are just that - elected and appointed.
An Arborigine
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 3:14 a.m.
Nepotism lives!
golfer
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 10:44 p.m.
welcome to the world of stupid things to do. recall her.
PineyWoodsGuy
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 11:25 p.m.
@golfer. In case ye dint ken, Augusta Twp is the Championship Twp for Re-Call Elections. In the past 20 years Augusta Twp has enjoyed more Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Recall Elections that the countie's other 19 twps combined!
xmo
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 10:41 p.m.
She was endorsed by the U.A.W. and is a Democrat. Sounds about right, is this really news? This is S.O.P. for people in her party!
nickcarraweigh
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 10:34 p.m.
Okay, okay, let's agree giving the kid a job like that may stray into a gray area, ethically speaking. But an $850,000 annual salary and a lifetime pension after six months crosses a line in the sand.
PineyWoodsGuy
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 11:16 p.m.
Yep! Those high salaries down in Augusta Twp are the reason Augustinians take such a keen interest in Every Election!
sellers
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 10:11 p.m.
I would have felt better, that given the conflict of interest, that the appointment be vetted by the board in interviews prior to the public vote. I understand that the young man may be able, and may do a fine job, but due to the conflict of interest it would be nice to have an impartial party make a call with some interview data. I would love to see a follow-up in six months to see if they can measure his success.
j matt
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 11:48 p.m.
to sellers and lisaone... The answer is to have a formal code of ethics policy like dozens of other Michigan Municipalities do. And most speak to the issues of Nepotism. There are 2 types that I am aware of. 1. Horizontal where related parties work in lateral appointments..(frowned on but not nearly as vile) as 2. vertical Nepotism where one relative exerts control over another and vice versa the subordinate could do things that compromise the integrity of the operation for which the superior happily covers up mis-doings.... My prediction is that by the time any employment review comes around, there will be significant and potentially harmful errors for which there is no recovery. Errors for which an emergency manager could conceivably become involved. (that may not be such a bad thing in that township) Boy oh boy! did the voters ever mess up on that treasurer.... Or what?? She is a dewsy for sure
sellers
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 12:16 p.m.
Well, I don't mind if it's not posted, if they are appointed positions that is fine. Interviewing can be expensive, lengthy, and in public positions requires a lot of paperwork. So the appointing is fine - probably saves us taxpayers a few hundred a cycle per posting, but in cases of conflict of interest, there needs to be a way to mitigate that.
lisaone
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 12:48 a.m.
Yeah, that's what I was wondering. Was this a posted position, did others get interviewed? I just think it is so unfair. There are many qualified EXPERIENCED people, some of whom have been unemployed, and have been looking for work for a long, long time...and this kid just gets to walk in, unexperienced? I am angry.
music to my ear
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 9:56 p.m.
well of course people in the township dont approve if it were a grocery store that would be fine, but this is their money and if they dis- approve next election put deputy on the ballot as well. having the relative is just to close for comfort for some people. next could be her grand daughter (if she has one)
Top Cat
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 9:14 p.m.
If he know that expenses should not exceed income, he is already leagues ahead of Treasury Secretary Geithner and President Obama.
johnnya2
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 3:07 a.m.
So not true. If you knew anything about federal or city budgets there are many times that these should NOT be in balance. It is myopic people who believe that debt is bad. If you have a mortgage you may owe $100k on it and only earn $50k per year. The fact that YOU do not understand monetary policy and the economy shows why you will never be appointed to that position. For the record, THE DEBT DOES NOT MATTER. As long as the interest on it is paid it can be $100 trillion and will not change a thing.
dotdash
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 11:55 p.m.
Still grinding that ax, eh guys?
Unusual Suspect
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 11:38 p.m.
... and if he's filed his income taxes, he's ahead of most of the Obama administration.
dotdash
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 8:59 p.m.
This is why most government entities have nepotism laws. Looks like the job description called for a college degree and experience with relevant software, neither of which this man has. There must be many people who do, but couldn't get the job because they don't have the relevant qualification: being related to the boss. Even if it's not illegal in that township, it has the whiff of patronage.
pegret
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 6:10 p.m.
Hmmm, and you weren't even working for Kwame.
walker101
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 1:30 a.m.
I worked for the IRS in Detroit, I worked in a department that had about 60% of employees that had someone related to that not only worked in the same department but were reporting to a family member.
dotdash
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 11:53 p.m.
The article said: Humeniak said at the board's Nov. 27 meeting that he has no accounting or bookkeeping experience, but is "eager to learn." I take that to mean he has no experience with the relevant software. Bookkeeping isn't done in ledgers anymore, nor is it done in Excel.
PineyWoodsGuy
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 11:14 p.m.
@dotdash. How Do You Know the young man has no experience with relevant software? As a matter of fact the vast majority of 19 year olds know more about computer/internet software than guys your age know!
justcurious
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 8:48 p.m.
He'll probably do a better job than most politicians. I wonder who got their panties in a bundle over this one? Silly that it made aa.com
sellers
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 10:08 p.m.
Not if mentored by the person who placed him there.
Linda Peck
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 8:47 p.m.
Wow, abuse of power!
FrankOZ
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 8:37 p.m.
Yikes!