Draft Approved On Thursday March 13, 2008 at 6:30pm the Middlebury Township Board met for a public budget meeting at the Ovid Municipal Building, 114 East Front Street, Ovid, Michigan. Supervisor, Anthony Sinicropi called the meeting to order and began the meeting with the Pledge to the Flag. Trustee Charles Simpson led the board in prayer. Roll call was taken with the following board members present: Supervisor, Anthony Sinicropi; Clerk, Susan Tomasek-Swan; Treasurer, Carolyn Stevens, Trustees, Paul Dutton and Charles Simpson. Also present was Deputy Steve Loomis, Deputy Clerk Shawn Dilts, Deputy Treasurer Mike Stevens and 7 guests. Public Budget Meeting Supervisor Sinicropi read over the projected budget. The state revenue is projected to decrease due to the projection of the tax from sales decreasing as reported by Trustee Dutton. Supervisor Sinicropi reviewed each line item and the projected budget. The projected revenue for the 2008-2009 fiscal year is $209,850.00. The board presented a budget for operating cost and savings of 209,805.00. 209,850.00 The increase in the cemetery was discussed because of the Maple Grove Cemetery Authority was now requiring the support of the townships involved. The roads were discussed as the county level has run out of money and now the township is paying. The issue over the possibility of zoning may fall into the township duties and how it would affect the budget. The discussion of the SDEP was voiced by a concern constituent as whether that was a legal contribution. The money donated has to be shown to benefit Middlebury Township residents. Trustee Simpson voiced the opinion that it was a county program and if it helps the county it would help the residents in Middlebury Township. A motion was made by Trustee Dutton and seconded by Trustee Simpson to adopt Resolution 2008-01: accept the budget as written for the fiscal year 2008-2009. A roll call vote was taken with the following “Ayes” by Charles Simpson, Paul Dutton, Carolyn Stevens, Susan Tomasek-Swan, Anthony Sinicropi and “Nays” none. The resolution was adopted. Scheduled Comments: Steve Loomis had to leave the meeting early so Supervisor Sinicropi read the report of incidents in Middlebury Township. Public Comment: None General Business: A motion was made by Trustee Simpson and seconded by Trustee Dutton to accept the agenda after the following changes: strike item (j) Postage purchase for clerk and treasurer and place as item (b) Revisiting Resolution 2007-03 for amending. All ayes and no nays the motion was passed. Trustee Dutton made a motion to accept the minutes from February’s meeting as written. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Sinicropi. All ayes and no nays the motion was carried. Clerk Tomasek-Swan made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s report for February as presented. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Sinicropi. All ayes and no nays, the motion was passed. A motion was made by Trustee Simpson and seconded by Trustee Dutton to approve payment of March’s bills of $ 9, 582.60 from checks # 2078-2100. All ayes and no nays, the motion was carried. Communications: Clerk Tomasek-Swan discussed taking the FIOA to Mr. Cooley, the township’s attorney that was received from Mr. Leaf. Unfinished Business: Clerk Tomasek-Swan gave her findings on the remomumention. The state will pay for it to be completed but it will take several years. In researching a per parcel fee, it was found that it would have to be assessed. It was decided to do a millage proposal. Supervisor Sinicropi expressed the amount of about $45,000 that the county was giving our township. A motion was made by Supervisor Sinicropi and seconded by Treasurer Stevens to have a special board meeting on April 10, 2008 at 6:30pm to discuss the proposal of a road millage, how many mills and for how long the millage will be. All ayes and no nays the motion was carried. A motion was made by Treasurer Stevens and seconded by Supervisor Sinicropi to adopt Resolution 2008- 02: $10,000 from General Fund to be placed in a CD savings. A roll call vote with the following: “Ayes”; Anthony Sinicropi, Susan Tomasek-Swan, Carolyn Stevens, Paul Dutton, Charles Simpson and “Nays”; none. The resolution was adopted. New Business: It was noted on the Maple Grove Authority Appropriation had Land Development money allotted. The board discussed what land development is being done with the cemetery. Trustee Dutton discussed that surveying the new land area (using stainless steel stakes) and putting a gravel road would be the planned development. The Authority felt it would be cheaper to do these activities instead of waiting. Treasurer Stevens made a motion and was seconded by Trustee Dutton to amend Resolution 2007-03. She expressed that the Clerk, Treasurer, and Supervisor positions on the board are salaried and the Trustees positions were paid per meeting. Item #3 states to have educational meeting be paid to any board member but felt our salary includes meetings. She requested that the line item would be amended to NOT include salaried positions on the board. Discussion ensued over the topic with Trustee Dutton reading the duties of the Supervisor. Clerk Tomasek-Swan brought into the discussion of possibly considering having the Trustees position on the board to become salaried. The salary would reflect the Trustee position time for attending the board meeting and other meetings during the year. The topic was tabled until the next month for further discussion. A roll call vote was called with the following; “Ayes”: Anthony Sinicropi, Susan Tomasek-Swan, Carolyn Stevens, Paul Dutton, Charles Simpson and “nays”: none. The resolution was declared adopted. Resolution 2008-03: To amend Resolution 2007-03 item #3: No salaried board member will be eligible for the $25.00 meeting compensation including seminars, educational or trainings. Trustees receiving Board approval will be compensated $25.00 for meetings. This shall exclude the annual MAT conference and the MTA dinner. The monthly MTA meeting at the county level will be considered educational. Said resolution shall take into effect on April 1, 2008. A motion was made by Trustee Simpson and seconded by Treasurer Stevens to send Supervisor Sinicropi to the MATS conference on April 11, 2008. All ayes and no nays, the motion was carried. A motion was made by Trustee Dutton and seconded by Trustee Simpson to send Clerk Tomasek-Swan to the MTA workshop on Elections and Cemetery management on April 29, 2008. All ayes and no nays, the motion was carried. A motion was made by Treasurer Stevens and seconded by Trustee Simpson to donate $500.00 to the Magnet Program. All ayes and no nays, the motion was carried. Discussion of raising mileage due to the Standard Mileage Rate increasing from $.48.5 to $.50.5; A motion was made by Supervisor Sinicropi and seconded by Trustee Simpson that the township stays at the rate of $.46. All ayes and no nays, the motion was carried. A motion was made by Trustee Paul Dutton and supported by Trustee Charles Simpson to adopt Resolution 2008-04 which states to use interest from the Cemetery CD from the rollover to make repairs on the Middlebury Cemetery. Roll call vote with the following “aye”: Anthony Sinicropi, Susan Tomasek-Swan, Carolyn Stevens, Paul Dutton, Charles Simpson and “Nays”: none. The resolution was adopted. Former Deputy Supervisor spoke on his behalf regarding his resignation. He discussed the amount of education that the township invested into him. He spoke of his decision to quit. Former Clerk Audrey Sovis spoke to support Former Deputy Givens. Supervisor Sinicropi countered on their comments. Discussions to fill the vacant position on the OEMS board, the possible candidates were between Carolyn Stevens and Paul Dutton. Clerk Tomasek-Swan made a motion that was supported by Carolyn Stevens to appoint Paul Dutton to the OEMS board to fill the vacancy left by Former Deputy Givens. All ayes and no nays, the motion was carried. A motion was made by Clerk Tomasek-Swan and seconded by Supervisor Sinicropi to adjourn the meeting at 9:50pm. All ayes and no nays, the meeting was adjourned. Submitted by Susan Tomasek-Swan Clerk