Thursday February 12, 2004 at 7:00 p.m., the regular Middlebury Township Board meeting held at the Ovid Municipal Building was called to order by Supervisor Anthony Sinicropi with the pledge to the flag. Prayer was given by Clerk Audrey Sovis. Sinicropi, Sovis, Treasurer Carolyn Stevens, Trustee Paul Dutton were present. Trustee Charles Simpson was absent. There were 6 visitors. Darwin Hunt and several other members of the Parks and Recreation committee approached the board for a donation for the 2004 season. It was explained that monies for this program are used to purchase equipment that can be reused from year to year and would not be shared with the schools. Of the 617 children that participated in programs offered last year, 118 lived in Middlebury Township. Officer Steve Loomis had no news to report in regard to Middlebury Township. Sinicropi reported that the Planning Committee meeting set for 1-27-04 was cancelled due to inclement weather. It will be rescheduled at a later date to be announced. He also reported that the Board of Review seminar scheduled on February 11 was attended by himself and Bill Kline. Tom Albaugh and Bill riggings were unable to attend. A motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Stevens to approve the agenda with one additional issue under new business added by Dutton. All ayes, carried. A motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Sovis to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2004 board meeting. All ayes, carried. A motion was made by Stevens, seconded by Sinicropi to accept the minutes of the January 21, 2004 budget planning meeting. All ayes, carried. A motion was made by Sovis, seconded by Stevens to amend the budget by transferring $1,475.00 from the Elections Fund (191), allowing $650.00 to be placed in the Clerk Fund (215) $ 75.00 to be placed in the Building and Grounds Fund (265) $750.00 to be placed in the Emergency Fund (336) Ayes: Sinicropi, Sovis, Stevens, Dutton. Nays, none. Absent, Simpson. Carried. A motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Stevens to accept the treasurer’s report and payment of bills (ck #’s 1153-1164) in the total amount of $5,378.26. All ayes, carried. Trustee Charles Simpson entered at 8:00 p.m. A motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Stevens that Middlebury township sign a contract with Demis and Wenzlick Accounting Firm to have them conduct the audit this year at a cost of approximately $1,750.00. All ayes, carried. A motion was made by Sovis, seconded by Simpson to appoint Janet McCreery, Lary Richards, Steve Semans, Mike Stevens and David Sovis to the Planning Commission, with Erin Dutton as an alternate. All ayes, carried. Unfinished business: No new developments yet on a fire safe for the town hall. Leighton Leighty is still in process of finding best solution to the Metz property which has an abandoned trailer on it. The 2004 road projects will be looked at more closely when the weather allows. New business: The initial budget proposal was gone over in detail. A public hearing on the budget will take place at 8:00 p.m. during the next regular board meeting held on March 11, 2004 at the Ovid Municipal Building. The job performance of the township sexton was discussed. Dutton suggested a chain link fence be erected in front of the cemetery with a gate to keep snowmobiles and ATV’s from driving through. He also suggested the removal of over- grown trees and shrubs to enhance the appearance. After more discussion, Simpson and Sinicropi volunteered to look into the cost of white plastic fence rather than the chain link. No decisions were made. At 10:25 p.m. a motion was made by Stevens, seconded by Dutton to adjourn. All ayes, carried. Audrey Sovis, Clerk