Resident Chides Stafford Councilman For Missing Bulk Of Meetings

Is Stafford Township Councilman Steven Jeffries earning his salary if he rarely comes to meetings and spends more time in South Dakota than Stafford?

No, a resident said at the Sept. 27 Township Council meeting, according to The Sandpaper.

"I wouldn't recognize the guy," resident Richie Gilchrist said during the public portion of the meeting. "I make more (council meetings) than he does and I'm crippled."

Removing Jeffries from his position as a councilman wouldn't be easy, Township Attorney Christopher J. Connors said.

Connors - who is a state senator for the 9th district - said that would involve introducing legislation to change the number of meetings an official would be mandated to attend. Currently, that number would be around eight unexcused meetings, he said.

Jeffries ran on the "Common Sense Conservatives" ticket against Mayor John Spodofora's team in the last election.

Things have changed in the time since he ran for a Township Council seat, Jeffries said in a phone interview after the meeting.

He said he is in South Dakota most of the time, due to a professional obligation. He did not have the obligation when he ran for office, but it has since turned into a permanent position, Jeffries said.

“I try to get back at least for every third meeting or so,” he said.

He said he reads his township e-mails and meeting minutes and stays up to date on township business.-In the meantime, he said, he receives and reads the emails and meeting minutes and generally keeps in touch and stays up to date on township business.

Do you think Jeffries should be paid a salary, since he misses the majority of meetings? Tell us in the comments below!

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Image: Stafford Township