ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor.
“It’s deja vu all over again.” — Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra
Dorr Township Trustee Chandler Stanton made history repeat itself Thursday night at the board meeting.
Stanton, who was elected to his seat in November 2020 without opposition was accused in this space a year ago of being a male chauvinist pig on the issue of pay for hourly township employees. The accusation stands.
Stanton was politically incorrect in April 2021 when he insisted that Maintenance Supervisor Randy Grantham be paid more than Office Manager Vicki Fifelski. The Township Board was faced with a proposal to bump her pay from $18.70 to $20 per hour, and to grant an increase to Grantham from $19.50 to $20 an hour.
Stanton told his colleagues he believes the maintenance guy’s work is more important, though Supervisor Jeff Miling suggested the comparison was between apples and oranges. Miling pointed out that Grantham had been employed with the township for a little more than two years while Fifelski has run the office now for nine years.
The supervisor also spoke highly of Fifelski’s performance over the years, adding she’d be difficult to replace and she has valuable skills in assessing. He editorialized that’s it’s difficult to work when not valued and provided fairness.
However, even though raises for both to $20 was approved, Stanton a year moved to bump Grantham up further to $20.50 and his proposal passed 4-3.
Fast forward to this past week, when Stanton moved to have both employees get a $1.50 per house raise, which would have kept maintenance supervisor above office manager by 50 cents again. Stanton this time insisted that the maintenance supervisor’s work is more hazardous outdoors, but Trustee Dan Weber pointed out that dealing with irate township residents can be just as dangerous.
Supervisor Jeff Miling amended Stanton’s motion to have both employees paid the same per hour at $23.21. The amendment passed 6-0.
Justice delayed for a year is justice denied for a year. I hope we’ve seen the last of this ancient relic and insist on equal pay for equal work.
5 Comments