Sumpter Township residents concerned about Po law suits

At its regular meeting on Sept. 27, the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees heard from resident Mary Ban on concerns she has heard in the community on the claims in the law suit brought against the township by Clarita Po.
She said the suit claims the township raided Po because it needs money because Sumpter is broke. Ban said she attends all the meetings and has heard reports on the budget.
“We’re not broke and we’re not about to be broke,” Ban said, adding the budget is available to everyone to study.
Township attorney Rob Young said what a lawyer puts in a complaint is his idea of the situation, but not the facts.
He said the auditors, Miller Canfield bond counsel, Stoddard Barch, and the Moody organization in New York have reviewed Sumpter’s finances and Moody’s has given Sumpter an A-minus rating, which is very good.
“You can believe all these professionals, or believe the Pos or their attorney,” Young said.
The board held a closed-door session with attorney Young after the meeting was concluded to get an update on the Clarita Po vs. Sumpter Township law suit. Young said the township had yet to be served on that law suit or the second law suit that more recently was filed by Nelson Po.
In other business at the Sept. 27 meeting, the board:
• Approved paying Van Buren Township $12,772 as the matching funds for the FEMA grant that has provided some $122,000 worth of air packs and bottles for the fire department. VBT is acting as fiduciary for the grant for fire departments in the area;
• Approved and adopted amendments to the township dog ordinance, which is being printed in the Oct. 6 edition of the Belleville-Area Independent, Sumpter’s newspaper of record;
• Approved transfer of Ordinance Officer Randy Lynch to a full-time position in the Water Department;
• Heard Trustee Don Swinson report that Sumpter Parks and Recreation made $11,551.11 in profit from the Sumpter Country Fest and $1,475.48 from the car show and demolition derby. He reminded everyone that the Turkey Shoot fund raiser will be held starting at noon on the first four Sundays in October at the police shooting range next to the closed landfill;
• Heard Supervisor John Morgan thank the Parks and Recreation volunteers for all they do for the community. “They need a big thank you,” he said, and then pointed out a couple in the audience. “Mr. and Mrs. Posegay should be in retirement, but they’re working like little Trojans — and smiling”;
• Heard attorney Young report that the governor signed new medical marijuana bills the previous week and that makes quite a change in the agenda. He said it appears a board will be appointed to review applications and that board will be a cross between the Liquor Control Commission and the Gaming Control Board. “The township does have the opportunity to opt out or to control grows in the township,” he said;
• Heard Virginia Belinski, representing the League of Women Voters, remind everyone they have until Oct. 11 to register to vote in the Nov. 8 election. She said they can get sample ballots and backgrounds of candidates by going to Vote411.org;
• Heard Belinski say, as a Sumpter citizen, that the three board officers are here full time although they are paid part time and this is the lowest paid township board in Wayne County. She said board members give a lot of donations from their own pockets. “I appreciate this board and they are a great team,” she said, adding residents can get answers to their questions in person or by phone; and
• Heard Jay Bardell say the Sumpter Police Department did a fine job in identifying the person who did the thefts from cars in the township.