Plymouth Twp. official criticized for saying female employees need to exercise

PLYMOUTH TWP. — A township trustee is drawing criticism and demands for an apology after he implied that women who work in the township hall need to exercise.

At a public meeting of the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees on Feb. 10, Trustee John Stewart said he supported a $29,200 purchase for exercise equipment for the township exercise room and wanted to encourage better mental and physical health among staff.

“Psychologists say you do things that make you feel good, so let’s create a new atmosphere,” said Stewart, 75. “I don’t know why the women employees on the first floor of township hall aren’t asked to pack a brown bag lunch and transport it down to the Lake Pointe Soccer Park and you walk them around that beautiful park.”

Stewart also suggested a lunchtime yoga class for female employees.

“You would make my month if you would call me and say, ‘You know what? (A township employee) has begun to organize yoga for women, and they’re meeting at 12:00 to 12:30 in the new workout room,’ ” Stewart said. “That would be a significant improvement and something that the supervisor can take credit for and the board of trustees can all take credit for.

“I was very surprised when the supervisor called me two weeks ago and said, ‘We’re going to buy $20,000 worth of equipment,’ ” Stewart said. “I said, ‘Eureka, it’s about time.’ ”

Calls for apologies

Township Treasurer Bob Doroshewitz was not at the meeting but said he watched online and arrived at work the following day to find female employees discussing Stewart’s comments. 

Some, he noted, were “livid.” 

“The implication was that they need exercise,” Doroshewitz said. “It was horrible, particularly if you have somebody who is maybe self-conscious about their weight. You’re basically saying the women in township hall are too fat.” 

Doroshewitz estimated about 18 to 20 women and eight men work on the first floor of township hall between the various departments.  

“You don’t tell somebody they need to go on an exercise program, particularly ‘you women,’ ” he said. “It’s just not cool.” 

Doroshewitz said he sent an email to Stewart, which he later shared with Hometown Life.

“I am requesting that you issue a formal apology to the Township’s female employees, particularly those working on the first floor, for the comments you made last night,” the email said, in part, also noting the remarks were “offensive, unprofessional, and unacceptable in the workplace.”

Doroshewitz said Stewart came into the township office shortly after receiving the email, confronted him about it and said he would not apologize. Doroshewitz also said he has concerns about Stewart’s behavior, citing recent outbursts, saying “it’s getting worse.”

Supervisor Chuck Curmi declined to comment on Stewart’s remarks at the meeting, except to say the issue was Stewart’s to address. He added he had “nothing to say” about whether a complaint was filed with his office about Stewart’s remarks.

“My judgment is that a simple apology would work, but that’s for his judgment,” Curmi said. “I can’t make him do that. He’s got to handle that himself.” 

Stewart stands by statements

Stewart said his comments were meant only to promote employee wellness and ensure the township’s updated workout space would be open to women as well as men. 

“If we’re going to spend money on a weight room, it should be available to women to exercise if they wish,” he said in a Feb. 12 interview, pointing to his own family of “strong women.” 

Stewart called himself a “health fanatic” and said his suggestion that female staffers take a lunchtime walk or consider yoga was motivated by concerns for the health and well-being of township employees. 

When asked about his comment suggesting the township’s female employees pack lunches and take a walk at the park, Stewart replied, “I live by that statement. Mental health, a break. Get out of that office because there’s toxic communications going on in that office.” 

“We want to encourage good health,” he added. “Sometimes I come on way too strong. But I am all about health and fitness. This was a purely motivated thing.” 

Trustee Sandy Groth said she did not view Stewart’s remarks as sexist and interpreted them as an effort to ensure female employees were included in workplace wellness opportunities. 

“I did not take offense to anything he said, and I’m a woman,” Groth said. “I really took it that he was trying to make sure that they also had opportunities.” 

While acknowledging that others interpreted the comments differently, Groth said her reaction was “very different.” 

“I think you interpret things how you want to interpret them,” she said, noting she would have preferred a conversation seeking clarification rather than calls for an apology.”

Exercise room will open to all employees

Stewart was reelected to a second consecutive term in 2024, but also sat on the board from 1988-92. He also served three terms as state representative for the 20th District from 2000 to 2006.

Before Stewart’s comments, the board heard a presentation from Plymouth Township Police Sgt. Mike Hinkle, who said that while proposed upgrades to the dated fitness room would be led by the police department, the new equipment would be suitable for all fitness levels and available to all employees, not just police. 

“This is a police department project that we hope benefits every employee in the (township),” Hinkle said. “Every employee is going to be able to go up there and utilize this facility.” 

Hinkle noted the room is open 24/7 and has historically been open to all township staff.

Contact reporter Laura Colvin: lcolvin@hometownlife.com.