Bruce Township supervisor candidate Steven Biroschik took incumbent Henry Araujo to task for his words regarding general assistance recipients at last week's board meeting.
He posted his objections to the term used on social media.
"At last night’s Board meeting Mr. Araujo kept referring to GA recipients as 'Those People,'" Biroschik posted on Facebook. "I asked him to not do that as it was insulting and demeaning to Township residents in the direst of circumstances who request help through General Assistance. The most they can receive is $275 per month."
Biroschik also said that the supervisor has sole jurisdiction over the General Assistance office. To refer to less fortunate residents as "those people" showed his disdain for the members of the community who have fallen on hard times, he ssaid.
The supervisor receives a $45,991 salary and pension for his work for the township.
Biroschik has been a vocal opponent to the salaries and benefits enjoyed by the township's elected officials. He opposed the board's recent resolution that would increase the officials' salaries by 2 percent annually. The resolution also rolled two stipends into the salaries.
The $1,800 stipend was not in compliance with Affordable Care Act (ACA) regulations, but rather than apply the funds directly to the health insurance provider, the board decided to add them to the members' salaries, according to Biroschik's Facebook page.
Biroschik wrote wrote on Facebook that the Travel Stipend Check was no longer allowed due to a new law, The Local Government Travel Expense Control Act. The board decided to add $1,300 to the supervisor, assessor and road commissioner and $900 to the clerk salaries rather than adopt an expense account procedure, he wrote.
Biroschik said he would provide transparency to Bruce Township if elected. He also said that he would not accept a pension.
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