“They’ve done a fantastic job,” said Barry, noting later: “Like a company with an executive staff, we want to make sure that the township is protected and the employees also get protected.”
Both Rogers and Singh have played key roles in establishing policies, standardizing procedures and creating goals that have set a solid tone for the township at a time the community has attracted strong commercial growth, Barry said.
The agreement with Rogers calls for an annual base salary of $115,818, while the one for Singh, an attorney who is a part-time employee, sets an hourly wage of $119.46. Both documents allow trustees to adjust those rates “from time to time.”
“The trustees,” Barry said, “have laid out a number of duties for Greg to execute – to run the township correctly. And he’s doing a great job.”
Among those tasks in the past two years have been developing a strategic plan and an employee policy manual, both of which trustees have adopted. After the township voted to become a home rule government, trustees expanded the administrator’s authority. With the exception of police officers and department heads, the position now make decisions on all township appointments, compensation and disciplinary actions - moves that had been under the purview of trustees.
“The trustees have articulated that they like the way the township is going,” Rogers said.
His agreement, Rogers said, demonstrates “a commitment from me and a commitment from the township that we like the way things are going – both sides – and we want to continue them to bring a level of professionalism to Miami Twp.”
Barry said township operations have improved in many areas - particularly with the police department, community development and public works. That is part of a “collective effort….we’ve been working on it for two years and it’s continuing,” Rogers said.
Singh was hired by the township in 2013 following a series personnel shake-ups that included firings, lawsuits and settlements. From September 2012 through the end of 2013, the township parted ways with an administrator, human resources director and deputy police chief while its police chief retired.
An audit by Singh around that time found the township spent $238,000 over five years on employees settlements from wrongful termination or the termination of employees without following proper industry standards and human resource policies. Findings in that audit led to a series of changes in policies and procedures.
That type of work is continuing, Barry said.
“We’ve put a lot on our compliance officer,” he said. “He’s had to review all of the procedures in the township to make sure that everything’s up to code and we’re doing things the correct way. He has done that.”
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