DRAFT Thursday March 8, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. the public budget hearing of the Middlebury Township Board met at the Ovid Municipal Building at 114 East Front Street Ovid, MI. The hearing was called to order by Clerk Audrey Sovis. Board members present were Treasurer Carolyn Stevens and Trustees Charles Simpson and Paul Dutton. Supervisor Anthony Sinicropi was absent. There were 10 visitors. A motion was made by Stevens, seconded by Simpson to appoint Sovis to conduct the hearing and the regular board meeting; all ayes, no nays, carried. Public Budget Hearing: Upon review of the proposed budget for fiscal year 2007-08, Stevens explained the revenue projections for the upcoming year. No changes were requested. The projected total revenue available for fiscal year 2007-08 is $220,150.00. Sovis explained the projected expenditures line by line. Changes recommended included: Increasing (209) Assessor by $500 to cover tax notice mailings and decreasing (695) Community Service by $500 as this account may be idle in the new fiscal year; pending the board’s decision. (901) Appropriate to Other Funds and (901) Contingency were each decreased by $5,000, to accommodate the addition of $10,000 to the Savings CD. This required the General Fund Carryover to be decreased from $70,000 to $60,000. At 7:10 p.m. a motion was made by Simpson, seconded by Dutton to close the public hearing; all ayes, no nays, one absent, carried. At 7:11 p.m. the regular Township Board Meeting was called to order by Sovis with the pledge to the flag. Prayer was given by Simpson. There were 12 visitors present. Scheduled Comments: Deputy Steve Loomis was present. He stated he had nothing to report. Public Comments: Resident John Tribfelner addressed the board regarding the cost of foundations at the Middlebury Township Cemetery. The price was increased from .30 to .50 cents per square inch at the September 2006 regular board meeting. His request for the placement of a foundation, measuring 60”x 20”, will cost him $600 as opposed to $360 when the cost per square inch was set at .30 cents. After board discussion regarding the cost to residents and the cost to maintain the cemetery, a motion was made by Simpson, seconded by Sovis to lower the cost per square inch for foundations to .40 cents; roll call vote: Sovis aye, Simpson aye, Stevens nay, Dutton Nay. The vote was tied and the motion failed. The price will remain at .50 cents a square inch. General Business: A motion was made by Simpson, seconded by Dutton to approve the agenda with the additions of the Assessor’s contract for services and the motion to amend $10,000 from the General Fund to the Savings CD for FY 2007-08; all ayes, no nays, carried. A motion was made by Simpson, seconded by Dutton to approve the minutes of the February 8, 2007 board meeting, all ayes, no nays, carried. A motion to accept the Treasurer’s report was made by Sovis, seconded by Simpson; all ayes, no nays, carried. A motion to amend $200 from (445) Drains to (253) Treasurer leaving a balance of $2,233.03 in (445) Drains, was made by Dutton, seconded by Simpson; all ayes, no nays, carried. A motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Simpson to pay the March bills in the amount of $12,643. 62 ck #’s 1849-1873; all ayes, no nays, carried by signature vote. Communications: An MTA workshop that will cover Michigan’s new Cable Franchising Law is being offered March 22, 2007 at Mt. Pleasant Michigan. Supervisor Anthony Sinicropi and Deputy Supervisor Rich Givens would like to attend. A motion was made by Stevens, seconded by Sovis to send Sinicropi and Givens at a cost of $140.00; all ayes, no nays, carried. Unfinished Business: A bill for $567.20 was submitted by Leighton Leighty for mileage and incidentals occurring in 2006 and prior. There was discussion regarding the age of the bills and the board’s concurring opinion that his services are no longer desired. A motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Stevens to pay the full amount requested and indicate that Middlebury Township has paid in full all money owed to Mr. Leighty; all ayes, no nays, carried. New Business: A motion was made by Stevens, Seconded by Sovis to approve the 2007 Dust Control Agreement with the Shiawassee County Road Commission in the amount of $9,537.50 for two applications at 200 gallons per mile covering 26.96 miles; all ayes, no nays, carried. There was discussion regarding the pay for the Deputy Clerk and Deputy Treasurer. Their hourly rate was increased from $5.15 to $8.00 in May of 2003. Resolution 2007-07 A motion was made by Simpson, Audrey Sovis! 3/16/07 10:40 AM Audrey Sovis! 3/16/07 10:40 AM Comment: Release of Leighton Leighty’s services to township Comment: Deputy Clerk and Deputy Treasurer hourly pay raised to $10 an hour. seconded by Stevens to increase the hourly rate for these two deputies to $10 an hour; roll call vote: Stevens aye, Dutton aye, Sovis aye, Simpson aye, Sinicropi absent, carried. Clarification was requested by the Clerk as to whether or not the Election Chair would receive the $15 bonus on all elections or just the school elections as mandated by the Shiawassee County Election Consolidation contract. Resolution 2007-08 A motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Stevens to pay the Election Chair $15 for all elections; roll call vote: Dutton aye, Sovis aye, Simpson aye, Stevens aye, Sinicropi absent, carried. Clarification was requested by the Clerk as to whether or not the Trustees would continue to receive the $75 home office allowance as this was not discussed when the meeting per diems were adjusted. Resolution 2007-09 After discussion a motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Simpson to decrease the home office allowance for Trustees to $50 annually; roll call vote: Sovis aye, Stevens aye, Dutton aye, Simpson aye, Sinicropi absent, carried. The Clerk asked the board’s opinion about future disbursements with the Shiawassee Economic Development Program through the Chamber of Commerce. There was discussion on the legality of the township participation. A motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Simpson to wait on this issue until more information is known and to leave the account (695) Community Service with $2,000 for the 2007-08 budget; all ayes, no nays, carried. Deputy Supervisor, Rich Givens asked the board’s opinion of renting a portable toilet for the two days that the Board of Review will be meeting at the town hall. Because of the fluctuating temperatures this time of year, it would be very time consuming and costly to hook the water up for two days and then drain the pipes again. The cost of renting a portable toilet with a hand sanitizer is $75 for two days. A motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Sovis to rent a portable toilet for the two days that the Board of Review will be meeting at a cost of $75; all ayes, no nays, carried. Stevens reported to the board that the land surrounding the township hall is no longer being farmed by the Mulder family, so the $50.00 rent that is paid annually to the township for the acreage around the hall was never received for this past year. Simpson stated that he would talk with Tom Albaugh, the new renter. Stephen Schweikert, township assessor, brought a new contract before the board. He also introduced Mike and Diane Dowler, assessors who work with him at MAS Appraisals. The new contract will include the use of the Dowlers in Middlebury Township at an annual contract cost of $7,000 and will run from April 1, 2007 to !pril 1, 2008. A motion was made by Stevens, seconded by Dutton to approve the contract submitted by MAS Appraisals as presented; all ayes, no nays, carried. A motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Simpson to approve the budget for 2007-08 with the changes made during the public hearing, bringing the balanced budget total to $210,150.00; all ayes, no nays, carried. Sovis read her letter of resignation that will take effect April 1, 2007. A motion was made by Simpson, seconded by Dutton to accept the clerk’s resignation with deep regret; all ayes, no nays, Sovis abstained, carried. A motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Stevens to put $10,000 from the General Fund into the Savings CD rather than starting another Improvement CD; roll call vote: Stevens aye, Simpson aye, Dutton aye, Sovis aye, no nays, carried. Reports: Dutton reported that the Maple Grove Cemetery Authority has agreed to allow Middlebury Township Cemetery to use their dumpster for disposal of rubbish. Commissioner Dan Stewart came and touched on a number of topics and issues from the county including the start of the Career Closet which takes gently worn business suits or clothing appropriate for wearing to job interviews. He also talked about the layoffs at the Health Department, the change in phone providers at the county and the Board of Commissioners giving $50,000 towards the Shiawassee Economic Development Program. At 8:58 p.m. a motion was made by Stevens, seconded by Dutton to adjourn. All ayes, no nays, carried. Audrey Sovis! 3/16/07 10:40 AM Audrey Sovis! 3/16/07 10:40 AM Audrey Sovis! 3/16/07 10:40 AM Audrey Sovis! 3/16/07 10:40 AM Audrey Sovis! 3/16/07 10:40 AM Audrey Sovis! 3/16/07 10:40 AM Comment: Election Chairmen will receive a $15 bonus for all elections conducted. Comment: Trustee Home Office Allowance will be $50 a year. Comment: Community Service Account; specifically SEDP Comment: Renewal of Assessor’s Contract. Expires April 1, 2008 Comment: Sovis’ resignation as clerk Comment: Addition of $10,000 to Saving CD for FY 2007-08