John Boyle — Candidate for Scio Township Supervisor
My name is John Boyle – and I am a candidate for Scio Township Supervisor. I am a 44-year homeowner residing in Scio Township and a 37-year owner of commercial real estate in Scio Township.
My academic credentials include:
- Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Georgia State University with concentrations in Applied Mathematics, Risk Management and Actuarial Science
- Master of Actuarial Science Degree from Georgia State University
- Master of Science Degree in Statistics and Operations Research from the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania
In my professional life, spanning five decades, I am an actuary and a strategy consultant – and the Founder of J.L. Boyle International (JLBI). I specialize in strategy development in the private and municipal sectors (which includes a 2005 study for the City of Detroit which accurately predicted that, absent a complete restructuring of the City, the City would file for bankruptcy in eight years (which it did in 2013)); private-sector corporate restructurings and turnarounds; complex analysis; and complex-litigation support.
I have worked on over 50 startup companies and corporate restructurings/turnarounds and on over 250 cases covering a broad range of legal-practice areas. My clients have included Fortune 500 Companies, privately-held companies, cities and municipalities, law firms, and individuals.
Prior to forming JLBI, I taught Statistics, Operations Research, and Mathematical / Financial Modeling at the Wharton School Business School and, later, I was the head Actuary of Ford Motor Company. I also was a Rifleman in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Take a moment to review some key statistics of Scio Township, as well as the most recent S&P Rating report for Scio Township below.
My Platform
Serving the Scio Township Community
- The need to reduce the unsustainable increase in the cost to run Scio Township – running at 4X the rate of inflation over the last 4 years and over the last 10 years – while population was flat (see attached analysis). (Note: Family incomes tend to increase at the rate of inflation.)
- The need for courteous and considerate behavior toward others among Board Members, and the need to set standards of acceptable behavior from public participants.
- The need for a Finance Director (Chief Financial Officer) and a Finance Organization – who are employees and seasoned Finance and Accounting Professionals – instead of paying high-priced consultants who are not beholden to the Township’s residents and who have no “institutional” memory.
- The need for the Board Meetings to focus upon strategic policy and financial performance (including (monthly financial statements including Income Statements, Cash-Flow Statements and month-end Balance Sheets – for Government Activities, Business Activities (Water Department and Sewer Department) and the Downtown Development Authority.
When the Board attempts to discuss the financial affairs of the Township without detailed financial reports, it is akin to describing a jigsaw puzzle while all the pieces are still scattered around.)
First Things First
- The need for a revised proposal for a millage increase for the Fire Department which is fair to and affordable by the Scio Taxpayers and which gives the Fire Department needed support for additional Firefighters (minimum of 3 additional), equipment, and facilities. The proposal would include historical financial statements, proforma financial statements, and competitive bids for major one-time purchases.
- On the environmental front, the need to comprehensively address the following concerns:
- The Gelman water plume and the potential effect on Scio Residents whose homes and businesses are in or likely to be within the plume.
- The 3.5-mile-long pressure pipeline that carries the bulk of the Township’s sewage from the Township to Ann Arbor is 40 years old, and little planning has been done to provide a back-up sewage line in case of a significant or catastophic failure. My sense is that this is a “ticking time bomb”.
- The Scio trash-removal contract with GFL Environmental was executed in December 2020. In the three years since the contract was executed, the cost for the trash removal (per residence) has gone up by 35% — almost double the increase of 18% for the Consumer Price Index. This should be examined and, absent a compelling justification for the increase, should be remedied.
- The need to review the rules, regulations, and site-plan requirements that have significantly increased the cost for real-estate development in Scio Township.
- The need for a Personnel Audit which would require the following:
- Job descriptions
- Performance expectations (with annual performance reviews)
- Benchmarking wages and benefits.
- The need for (i) a Forensic Audit for the Fiscal Years 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 and (ii) an Audit of “Financial Controls” starting with who has authority over expense approval and who has the ability to execute contracts on behalf of the Township.
These goals cannot and will not be met unless Scio’s voters elect a Board that (i) agrees that achieving these goals is critical for the proper functioning of the Township (which has not been the case for the current Board) and (ii) is capable of working as a focused and cohesive team to accomplish these goals.
My Promise to You
If elected:
- I will use the power of my position solely for the betterment of Scio Township’s Residents.
- I will request a forensic audit for Fiscal Years (ending March 31) 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 to include forensic audits for each major Township fund (Government, Fire Department, Water Department, Sewer Department and DDA).
- I will not sign off on any Township financial audit that does not include detailed income statements, balance sheets and cash-flow statements for each major Township fund.
- I will not sign off on any millage increase that does not provide three years of detailed proforma statements (Income statements, balance sheets and cash=flow statements) for the fund seeking the increase.
- I will work with appropriate experts to assess and address the risks associated with the Gelman plume and with the sewage pipeline from Scio to Ann Arbor.
Make a Donation to John Boyle for Scio
Checks can be made payable to:
John Boyle for Scio
P.O. Box 1008
Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1008
Endorsed By
Spaulding Clark, former Scio Supervisor
Jack Knowles, former Scio Supervisor
Charlie Nielsen, former Scio Supervisor
Jim Cameron, former Scio Trustee
Jerry Schleicher, former Scio Trustee
Irwin Martin, former Scio Trustee
Jim Dries, former Scio Trustee
Jane Vogel, former Scio Trustee
Mark Brazeau, Scio Trustee
Jim Merte, former Scio Assessor
Donna Palmer, Scio Treasurer
Don McDevitt, former Scio Manager
Jerry Kangas, Scio ZBA
Gus Boutsikakis, Uptown Coney Island
Joe Grammatico Jr., Scio Business Owner
Monica Knowles
Dave Lutton
Basil Baker, Attorney