Linda Vanicelli Hardacre

Linda Vanicelli Hardacre and Gary Wall are competing in the Tuesday, Aug. 7 Republican primary election for the Waterford Township supervisor position. The winner of the primary election will face the Democratic nominee for that position. The township supervisor serves a four-year term and is currently paid $90,987 per year.

The following are the questions we posed to Hardacre, and her responses to those questions.

BUDGET: Years of revenue decline prompting by falling home values and other factors have forced a variety of budget cuts. What changes in township budgeting priorities or processes do you advocate to deal with these hurdles? Where could the township’s budget be trimmed back? What, if anything, in the budget should be held harmless from the budget ax?

HARDACRE: I believe in Waterford Township and know that structural innovations and strategic development will be key in the revitalization of Waterford.

There are many areas in the budget that could be trimmed back. The Parks and Recreation Department should be a priority in Waterford and not subject to anymore budget cuts. I have some “ideas” which should prove beneficial to Waterford Township in that regard.

EMERGENCY FINANCIAL MANAGER: Some people have speculated that the township will be forced to come under the authority of an emergency financial manager within the next two years. Please state why you do or don’t agree that such speculation has merit.

HARDACRE: I do not feel Waterford needs a financial manager.

POLICE/FIRE DISPATCH: Some on the township board have come forward with a proposal to contract with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department for police and fire dispatch services as a way to save money. Explain why you do or don’t support the proposal.

HARDACRE: Working as a team, with police and fire, I am confident we can resolve issues and keep the quality of public safety a priority.

WASTE COLLECTION: Waterford currently has a waste collection system under which each individual resident and business is left to secure their own trash collection service, but some have proposed changing that by carving up the township into waste collection districts and soliciting bids from haulers to serve those districts. How, if at all, should the township’s current waste collection system be changed, and why?

HARDACRE: Waste collection should be on everyone’s tax bill like in so many other communities. It will save the citizen money and keep down the truck traffic in our subdivisions every day of the week.

SUMMIT PLACE: Essentially vacant and an eyesore, the Summit Place Mall has been the subject of a number of proposals for redevelopment. However, there has yet to be a large-scale redevelopment proposal to come to fruition? What is your vision for the future of the Summit Place Mall site? What would you do, if anything, as a township trustee to ensure that vision becomes reality?

HARDACRE: The development of Summit Place Mall properties is crucial to the redevelopment of Waterford Township. Again, I have a plan and will implement it as soon as I am elected to the position of Supervisor.

TOP ISSUES: What are the three most important issues for the township, and how do you propose to address them?

HARDACRE: My top three priorities are balancing the budget, development of vacant properties, and keeping a police presence in our township.

WHY YOU? Why specifically should voters choose you over your opponent?

HARDACRE: I have a proven track record of successful implementations throughout my career and I am no longer content to sit back and watch the further decline of Waterford Township.