Sumpter Twp. approves 3 new fire fighters, 1 full-time police officer

At its brief regular meeting on Jan. 26, the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees approved the hiring of three paid-per-call fire fighters and one full-time police officer.
The fire fighters, who have been on the Sumpter department in the past, are Bernard Rich, Michael Beaudrie, and Shauna Spoonamore, who are approved pending their passing of physical examinations.
Rich said he had been on the fire department for two years and then had to step down, but now he’s back and ready to serve again.
Beaudrie also had been on the fire department, but moved out of the township. Now, he’s back in the township and ready to serve.
Spoonamore, who was not present at the emeting, was praised by Trustee Daniel LaPorte, also a fire fighters, who said she had moved back into the township. Trustee LaPorte said she has over 300 hours of training, most of which Sumpter paid for. He said she will be a good asset for the department.
The board also terminated employment of fire fighters Robert Gay and Nate Cornwall.
In other business at the 15-minute meeting, the board:
• Approved the recommendation of Police Chief James Pierce to appoint part-time Police Officer Patrick Douglas Russell to the position of full-time officer starting immediately;
• Approved the specialized services operating assistance program third-party contract between SMART and Sumpter Township for fiscal year 2016;
• Approved canceling the regular meetings schedule for March 8 and Nov. 8 because those are the same days as elections;
• Approved paying warrants totaling $692.258.24; and
• Heard Mary Ban thank the administration for getting the street light fixed at Willis and Sumpter Roads. She then said the City of Belleville needs to repair some of its street lights that are out on South Street, heading south from 5 Points, and another one at a shopping center on Sumpter Road that has been out for ages. Ban also said Bemis Road, between Sumpter and Haggerty/Savage roads, “is atrocious!” and needs to be resurfaced.