5/09/05 - Departmental
CARROLLTON TOWNSHIP BOARD
DEPARTMENTAL MEETING
Monday, May 9, 2005
Roll Call: Supervisor Kozara Present
Clerk Finazzi Present
Treasurer Riley Present
Trustee Stork Present
Trustee Dalton Present
There being a full board, Supervisor Kozara called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. Also in attendance: Police Chief Craig Oatten, Fire Chief Tom Czerniak, DPS Superintendent Debby Lopez, Office Manager Irene Yeska and Assistant Office Manager Megan King.
Acceptance of Agenda:
Kozara added #5 - sewer surcharge ordinance and legal opinion to new business and board comments before adjournment to the agenda. It was board consensus to accept the agenda as amended.
Public Comments:
Jerry Fritz, 3363 Terry, requested information regarding zoning law changes.
Pending Business:
Assessor David Cook spoke on the current status of the Michigan Sugar tax appraisal. It was board consensus to have Cook contact the township attorney to work out a pre-tax tribunal true cash value settlement with Michigan Sugar.
It was board consensus to get other format options for the salaried evaluation forms.
Marv read into the record the following email correspondence reference the citizen petition for a 5-year audit to be done by the state:
Mr. Vaughn -
At their regular meeting on April 25 the Carrollton Township Board voted to conduct a public meeting for the citizens who petitioned for a 5-year state audit. The purpose of the meeting was to have the township's audit firm present to explain the audit reports for the past five years to show that township finances are in order. However, one board member strongly supported the petitioners in their contention that something is not right with water and sewer finances and that a state audit is needed. Therefore, he and the petitioners insisted that you be present at this special meeting. The board's motion to hold the meeting also covered an invitation to have you attend.
Would you have time available in the month of May to come to Carrollton Township? If so, could you give as some alternate dates so that we con coordinate them with our audit firm? What is your hourly rate, and does it include travel and expenses? Would you want us to send you copies of our last five year's worth of audits to review?
Please advise. Thank you.
Irene Yeska
Office Manager and Deputy Treasurer
Carrollton Township
Thank you for your invitation to attend your special meeting. Would you please give me more information regarding the special meeting? For what would you need me? What is the goal of the meeting, etc?
Thanks,
Cary Jay Vaughn, CPA, Audit Manager
Local Audit and Finance Division
Mr. Vaughn -
Thank you for your speedy response. It was most appreciated.
Our Township Supervisor, Marv Kozara has asked me to explain to you that the citizens in attendance were adamant that you be invited to attend. Apparently they feel that as an uninvolved third party (especially being a state official), you would be objective in your observations and recommendations. I have listed the goals of the meetings in the below attachment.
Supervisor Kozara has asked that you give us information on what your position is at treasury and whatever information he could use to give you a proper introduction at the meeting. Also, if optional dates for May do not fit into your schedule, Marv has suggested that any weekday after June 10 would be fine. Once we have some optional dates that are convenient for you, we will work with the audit firm to set a final date.
Irene
Ms. Yeska:
I will have to decline your invitation to attend your meeting. Our office does not attempt to arbitrate local issues including disputes between its citizens and the governing body. A resolution must be reached locally. Our office would be willing to consider an audit if requested by the board. We would also review any petition offered to this office by a citizens' group although we would not feel compelled to act necessarily.
If you or any board member would like more information on what exactly a state audit would involve, I am more than willing to elaborate. Basically, we would focus our attention to the areas of concern based on the language of the contract (if the board contracted with us).
Cary Jay Vaughn, CPA, Audit Manager
Local Audit and Finance Division
It was moved by Stork and supported by Finazzi to hold a special meeting reference the petition request for a five-year audit on June 15, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. at the Carrollton High School cafeteria. There being all ayes, the motion carried.
New Business:
It was moved by Finazzi and supported by Stork to approve payment for SADD prom week activities in the amount of $80.00. There being all ayes, the motion carried.
It was moved by Finazzi and supported by Dalton to hold a special meeting on May 31, 2005 to approve the accounts payable for the month of May. There being all ayes, the motion carried.
It was board consensus to have Lopez write the specifications and to obtain three bids for the driveway repairs (from water main breaks) and present them at the May 23 meeting.
It was board consensus to postpone a decision on the sewer surcharge ordinance for further review.
Board Comments:
Kozara noted that the ADA building renovations were not yet finished. Lopez informed the board that the township was at fault for at least five of the ten days that the contractor was overdue.
Kozara stated that he had received correspondence from Zoning Administrator Kim Hill.
Kozara asked the board if they had seen the Saginaw News article reference Mershon School. He asked Lopez to send the Mershon School file to Representative Moolenaar.
Kozara stated that the township needed to get started on the application for the block grant for the Phase II water main project. JoAnn Crary from Saginaw Future had emailed Yeska the information. It was board consensus to have Don Scherzer from Spicer Group attend the May 23 meeting to present to the board their services for assisting the township in surveying for the grant.
Dalton spoke on the possibility of having a salaried employee record the Planning Commission minutes in order to avoid overtime issues.
Finazzi asked that no hats be allowed for all future meetings.
Stork questioned how many cell phones were provided to township employees. He requested that he obtain one.
Adjournment:
It was moved by Riley and supported by Finazzi to adjourn. There being all ayes, the meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph Finazzi, Clerk
Public in attendance:
Jack Dalton 3634 N Michigan
Jerry Fritz 3363 Terry
Jean Spenner Saginaw News
Kathy TenWolde 1675 Hiawatha
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