Sumpter OKs $46,855 of CPA aid in treasurer, finance director offices

At its workshop session, before its regular meeting May 28, the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees heard a presentation by Ron Traskos, C.P.A., on the cost of filling the vacant finance director’s position.
He also gave an analysis of corrective actions needed within the Treasurer’s office and the cost of a project over a five-week period to proceed with a course of action.
Traskos gave a recap of hours his firm has put in from April 29 through May 24 and a projection for five weeks ending June 28.
He indicated his firm has put in 52.5 hours in the Treasurer’s office at a cost of $8,269 and 45 hours in the Finance Director’s office, at a cost of $7,086, for a total of 97.5 hours at $157.50 an hour for a total of $15,355.
Traskos estimated the five weeks as costing $31,500, for a grand total cost of $46,855.
The board added that item to the agenda for the regular meeting and voted unanimously to pay a sum not to exceed $46,855 to Traskos’ firm, Post Smythe Lutz & Ziel of Wayne.
Traskos said his firm will submit a progress report at the June 25 board meeting, or at the earlier June 11 meeting if something not on their list comes up.
Supervisor John Morgan asked if the problems in the treasurer’s department would have an impact on the township’s bond rating.
Traskos said, “The last thing you need is a ‘qualified audit.’ We think we will be able to stay away from that.”
Township attorney Rob Young asked, since it is doing so much work in the treasurer’s and financial director’s office, will Traskos’ firm be able to do the audit, as it has for many years.
Traskos said they are on the edge of deciding that right now and Young said he hopes they can do it.
Treasurer Ken Bednark said Deputy Treasurer Wendy Snook and Water Billing Clerk Anna Winter went to Tax 1 training and Snook also went to boot camp.
“We are making progress,” he said. “As I said before it’s like trying to unravel a fur ball … Costs are not as exorbitant as expected.”
He said there has been five deputies and three treasurers over the last year and “It’s time to do the reckoning.”
In other business at its May 28 meeting, the board:
• Approved a resolution designating Deputy Clerk Anthony Burdick as the township’s Freedom of Information Act coordinator;
• Approved the second reading and adoption of an ordinance to amend and restate the blight ordinance;
• Approved the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union floating holiday for Friday, July 5, and to close the township hall offices on that date;
• Approved hiring Jesiah Rodriquez as a full-time police officer, contingent upon successful drug screening and required physical and psychological examinations. Rodriguez, 31, resides in Ann Arbor and graduated from the Washtenaw Police Academy in September. He is also a 2012 graduate of Siena Heights University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. He currently is a Medical Medicine Security Officer with University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security, a position he has held for four and a half years. He will replace Sgt. Chris McGlynn who was due to retire May 31;
• Approved sending new Deputy Clerk Anthony Burdick to the Michigan Township Association Clerks’ Professional Development Retreat for training July 17-18 at Shanty Creek Resort, Bellaire, at a cost not to exceed $1,000;
• Heard Trustee Tim Rush say the past Saturday the township had what is called a “sudden event” by the National Weather Service, with just a few minutes warning. He said at 3:41 p.m. people were warned of a storm near Milan heading Sumpter’s way at 45 mph. Warnings were for roof, siding, and tree damage and at the end of the warning it stated, “People attending the Sumpter Township Country Fest should take cover immediately.” Rush said there were two minor injuries at the festival and a couple of bouncy rides broke loose of their moorings and bounced around;
• Heard Trustee Don LaPorte announce the DPW is cutting around fire hydrants, painting them, and maintaining them, starting on Sumpter Road. He also said he will be meeting with Wayne County Commissioner Al Haidous and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell in the near future, so he invited residents to contact him if they had issues for them to discuss;
• Heard Clerk Esther Hurst say that in response to a request by resident Jay Bardell, she had her deputy clerk call Republic Waste and they have agreed to extend the hours of the landfill for residents’ use. It now will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays;
• Heard Public Safety Director/Police Chief Eric Luke say concerning the flood damage from recent storms, a FEMA team was supposed to be in Sumpter that day to assess the damage, but it didn’t show up. Trustee Matthew Oddy said he had information that FEMA was supposed to be in Sumpter May 28 or 29, so they still may come;
• Trustee Rush said there is interest in having another Skywarn training at a date to be determined. He said he will be able to be the trainer; and
• Heard Mary Ban thank Jim and Joanne Posegay for the tribute to the veterans during Country Fest and to the float make by Parks and Recreation for the veterans.