Former Pittsfield Clerk Challenges Incumbent For Pittsfield Township Treasurer Post

Pittsfield Township voters are choosing between two candidates for Treasurer in the Aug. 4 primary election.

Incumbent Patricia Tupacz Scribner is challenged by Feliziana Meyer. Both are Democrats. There are no Republicans on the other side of the ticket.

We posed questions to both candidates. Here are the questions and their answers.

Biography

Patricia Tupacz Scribner

Family: I was married for 17 years to Edgar Scribner (deceased), raised two adult daughters and have one grandson. I enjoy golfing, gardening and being a member of my church.

Career/Business:  Treasurer, Pittsfield Charter Township

Government Experience: Pittsfield Charter Township Treasurer: 2008 – Present; Michigan Municipal Treasurers Association (MMTA), Member: 2009 – Present; Michigan Certified Professional Treasurer, MiCPT Certification: 2011 – Present; Washtenaw County Treasurers Association, Member: 2008 – Present; Pittsfield Township Historic District Commission, Member: 2008 – Present; Arts & Culture Excellence in Pittsfield Committee, Member: 2010 – Present; Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission, Member: 1989 – Present; Vice President: 2007 – Present. 

Volunteer/Community Organizations: Pittsfield Historical Society, Lifetime Member: 2016 – Present; Michigan Democratic Party, Precinct Delegate: 1984 – Present.

Why are you running for township treasurer?

Tupacz Scribner

As a 25-year plus resident of Pittsfield Township, it has been my pleasure to serve the community as Treasurer since November 2008. I will continue to ensure a high standard of fiduciary accountability to the community, which includes upgrading the bond rating by Standard & Poor’s to AA+, reducing banking fees, implementing new investment policies, and establishing convenient payment options for our residents/businesses. The integrity of the Treasurer’s Office is essential to the growth and economic vitality of our community. I will continue to provide the gold standard of service for all residents/businesses in our community.

Feliziana Meyer

Age: 49

Family: Married to Joseph Meyer for over 25 years with two adult children

Career/Business: I have worked as a Business Manager and Administrator at the University of Michigan for over 18 years.
Government experience: Pittsfield Charter Township Clerk from 2004-2008

Volunteer/community organizations: Served on the Washtenaw County Planning Advisory Board, Saline Sustainability Circle, Pittsfield Township Environment Day, Girlscout Leader, PTA Treasurer, and PTA Member. 

Why are you running for township treasurer?

Tupacz Scribner

As a 25-year plus resident of Pittsfield Township, it has been my pleasure to serve the community as Treasurer since November 2008. I will continue to ensure a high standard of fiduciary accountability to the community, which includes upgrading the bond rating by Standard & Poor’s to AA+, reducing banking fees, implementing new investment policies, and establishing convenient payment options for our residents/businesses. The integrity of the Treasurer’s Office is essential to the growth and economic vitality of our community. I will continue to provide the gold standard of service for all residents/businesses in our community.

Meyer

It is time for a change. The current Board has been in office too long and they are over developing and spending frivolously. I will support projects that are necessary to repair our infrastructure or projects that are in line with the community's vision. I earned my MBA with Honors from Eastern Michigan University and have worked at the University of Michigan as an Administrator and a Manager for over 18 years.  

Why should voters select you?

Tupacz Scribner

It has been my honor and privilege to serve my community of 25 years, especially as Treasurer since November 2008. I provide leadership that is results-driven to improve the Treasurer’s Office for the Township and continue to expand upon my professional accreditations.

Since being elected in 2008, I have increased the efficiency and convenience of the Treasurer’s office. By utilizing technological advances, property tax payments and various other transactions are now user-friendly and maintain a professional and secure atmosphere. To achieve this, I streamlined the transaction process by implementing cash receipting software that interacts with all of the township departments, offered online information/payment services, and worked with local banks to provide complimentary tax payments, as well as other payment options. In addition, educational materials are now available via the township website; including tax letter inserts, and various other printed materials. My staff receives ongoing training to keep them aware of current changes affecting the Treasurer’s office to enable them to assist our residents/businesses with questions. I am dedicated to maintaining a high level of customer service for the Township.

I have earned the Michigan Certified Professional Treasurer (MiCPT) credential, certified by the Michigan Municipal Treasurers Association (MMTA) in 2011. I have continued to maintain my credential as a MiCPT through a yearly MMTA program accredited by Michigan State University Extension Center for Local Government Finance & Policy and through additional treasuryspecific education. My MMTA membership provides education, information and networking opportunities. Also, it enables me to access the most current legislative changes that will affect taxpayers.

Along with my professional accreditations, my leadership and commitment to providing an open and accessible system of payments for all residents/businesses within a friendly and professional environment, makes me the best qualified candidate for Pittsfield Charter Township Treasurer.

Meyer

I have the education, knowledge, and experience to provide superior leadership and vision for the coming years in Pittsfield Charter Township. I will work with the excellent staff in the Treasurer's Office to further improve customer service and assistance to the residents of Pittsfield Charter Township. We will work to lower the Township property tax rate, which has increased dramatically since 2009.

What’s the biggest issue facing the township and how should the township handle it?

Tupacz Scribner

The biggest issue the Township faces is the combined effects of Proposal A and the Headlee Amendment which caps a township’s ability to generate revenue, while the cost of providing services continues to increase faster than inflation. Another significant issue facing the Township is the declining state revenue sharing which historically supplemented the township operating revenues. Since being elected in 2008, we have acted to offset these reductions in the revenue base by actively identifying and securing grants while reducing administration costs.

Meyer

The current Board of Trustees does not represent the interests of the residents. I will represent you, and our community's vision. Residents have consistently supported environmental stewardship, wildlife habitat and open space protection, and the peaceful nature of our diverse community. We need to end the current trend by Urban Planners to change our lovely Township into an over-developed suburb with high taxes, pollution, congestion, and overburdened public services. I support smart development like we saw during the previous Township Administration from 2000-2008.

Tell us about something the township has done well:

Tupacz Scribner

Since 2008, Pittsfield Township has established an outstanding track record of fiscal stewardship. We have received nearly $20 million in grant funds, increased our bond rating by two steps to AA+, made significant strides in funding our legacy costs, slowly maintained and increased our general fund balance. We remain (since 2010) the only Township in Washtenaw County to be given an award of excellence annually (9) for our Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). We are also proud of the work and support for our 10-mile seamless loop of greenways. Our greenways connect our residents not just to destinations within our community, but also regionally.

Meyer

While serving as Pittsfield Township Clerk, I acquired all the easements needed to build the first non-motorized pathway in the Township, the Platt Road Greenway, located on Platt Road from Michigan Avenue to Ellsworth Road. In 2002, Pittsfield Charter Township acquired the Pittsfield Preserve and preserved 535 acres of environmentally sensitive parkland. 

What other issues will the township face in the coming years, and how should the township face them?

Tupacz Scribner

As we all know, in March, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) to be a global pandemic. The extent of the ultimate impact on the Township operations and financial performance will depend on various developments that cannot be predicted at this time. In fact, we are already being challenged with declining revenue sharing, budget reductions, possible hardships for our taxpayers and demands on our essential workers.

The Township is actively addressing these issues by passing a six-month deferment resolution for our residents/businesses that are experiencing a hard time with paying their utility, refuse and recycling bills. We are in the process of addressing known budget issues and are following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on health and safety protocols for our staff and community. Just as we were able to survive the Great Recession (2009-2011), we will work harder and smarter to recover from the economic conditions that have fallen on our residents/businesses and the township budget during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Meyer

The COVID-19 pandemic will likely lead to financial difficulties for years to come. The Township should coordinate with Washtenaw County Public Health and the State of Michigan on COVID-19.

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