Spring Arbor Township Board Minutes: January 20, 2003

A special meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday, January 20, 2003, at 6:30 p.m., with the following members present: Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Clerk Randi DeVries, Treasurer Gloria Melchiori, Trustees Marston Fortress, Troy Ganton, Patricia Short and Brent Williams. Guests: Dick Greenslade, Russ Ratkiewicz and Tim Woolworth.

NEW BUSINESS:

A. Computer Network Upgrade Fees. Motion was made by Short and supported by Fortress to approve the expenditure of $2,000.00 from the general fund and $1,000.00 from the sewer and water funds to upgrade the individual software programs from single-user versions to a network version. Roll Call: 7 yes.

Motion was made by Short and supported by DeVries to go in to a closed session at 6:50 p.m.; carried.

Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Short to rise from closed session at 6:54 p.m.; carried.

B. Items for 2003 Budget. The board members then discussed the potential expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2003, and also reviewed the one-time expenditures for the current fiscal year. Revenues for the next fiscal year were also discussed. Trustee Short suggested that operational expenses should not come from our fund balance, but capital outlay expenditures would be appropriate uses of fund balance. Trustee Short also proposed that the Policy & Communications Committee work on a proposal for salary and fringes and staffing of the office and offered to survey the full-time employees and elected officials regarding preferences for fringe benefits.

C. Contracts for Inspectors. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by DeVries to approve the contracts for the Building Inspector, Electrical Inspector, and Mechanical & Plumbing Inspector. Roll Call: 6 Yes. Trustee Ganton was absent from the vote.

D. Budget Meeting Dates. The Supervisor recommended the following dates for budget committee meetings and board meetings. February 5, 2003, 6:30 p.m., Budget Committee meeting. February 10, 2003, 7:30 p.m., regular township board meeting. February 17, 2003, 6:30 p.m., budget hearing. It was also suggested to set aside March 31, 2003 as possible meeting date.

Adjournment. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Fortress to adjourn at 8:30 p.m.