Sumpter Township sets special board meeting to handle business

After being unable to have a board meeting on Nov. 13 to conduct business because of a lack of a quorum, the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees held a special meeting on Nov. 20.
The new board members, who had been sworn in the day before, were introduced by Supervisor John Morgan and invited to say a few words.
Clerk Esther Hurst, who has served at the township for more than 30 years and was elected to the clerk position she had been appointed to, said she didn’t need to introduce herself.
New Treasurer Ken Bednark said he has lived in the community for 40 years and hadn’t gotten into township government until now. He said it was a long and rigorous campaign and now he’s ready to serve the township. He invited the residents to contact him at any time.
New Trustee Tim Rush said he has been in the community for more than 30 years and has decided to retire here. He said he would be honored to serve the community and he has an open door.
On Nov. 19, Dawn Hadyniak was sworn in as deputy clerk and Vern Morse as deputy treasurer.
In other business at the Nov. 20 special meeting, the board:
• Was informed Trustee Don Swinson would not be able to stay for the special meeting because he had to leave. Trustee Swinson explained he was going to the funeral home because Todd Atchinson had died;
• Heard Finance Director Scott Holtz explain the second-quarter budget amendments and then the board passed the amendments. Holtz said the changes included $21,000 for auditor services for the problems in the treasurer’s office, when $3,000 to $5,000 was expected. Holtz said he expects more auditor charges coming for October. Attorney Rob Young said the overall auditing for the township finances will be more because Holtz was in the treasurer’s office and a person from the auditing firm was in Holtz’s office. Also, Holtz said, the changes reflect a shortfall in expected revenue in the landfill Royalty Fund;
• Approved paying $1,074.82 for the Detroit Edison LED light in the township hall rear parking lot. “It has already been done. It is a much-needed light,” said Supervisor Morgan. Holtz said this is unbudgeted, but can be absorbed in the general fund budget. Trustee Matthew Oddy said it was dark for candidates in the parking lot at the entrance to the community center during the election and he asked them to take a look at that because there is another election in May. Clerk Hurst said the media center lights have been taken care of;
• Approved Public Safety Director Eric Luke’s request to buy $7,010.35 (plus shipping cost to be determined) worth of new body armor and load-bearing outer carriers for the police department from its forfeiture fund. Director Luke said they were due to buy 10 vests at $664 each, with a Department of Justice grant to cover 50% of each vest. When an officer had to take off his taser because he was having back problems, Luke looked into outer load-bearing vests that takes the weight off the belt and puts it in front. The only item left on the belt is the gun. The officer has tested the new vest for several weeks and it works well, Luke said. The special vest adds $283 to the price of each vest and the government only helps with the cost of the regular vests. Ten regular vests cost $6,640 and the government will pay for half of that and the rest will be paid for by the forfeiture fund;
• Approved the Oct. 15 resignation of Michelle Roman from the Building Department;
• Heard Supervisor Morgan report he has appointed Trustee Rush as board liaison to the building department and Treasurer Bednark liaison to the water department;
• Heard Supervisor Morgan announce he has appointed a hiring committee for the building department position;
• Heard attorney Young say the two approvals for two storm water maintenance permits that were on the agenda of the meeting that couldn’t be held should have been taken off the agenda. He said the storm water work for the two Verizon towers should be completed and approved by Wayne County before coming to the township board to approve being responsible for maintenance of the ponds if the owner does not do so. “It’s not back on the agenda tonight because it’s premature,” Young said;
• Heard Young say the Michigan Township Association, Michigan Municipal League, and Prosecuting Attorneys Association are pouring out information on recreational marijuana. He said he will bring information to the board at its next meeting or the meeting after that. “It’s important to get the facts, the accurate facts, and then review and discuss,” he said;
• Heard Clerk Hurst thank the election workers and announce that they are getting a high-speed scanner to help speed the process along; and
• Heard Hurst announce there is a new mandatory rule at the landfill and the landfill will no longer offer loaners for the high-visibility vest and hard hat as of a Jan. 1 deadline. She suggested the township buy 10 or 20 of the $21 kits of vest/hardhats and required a $21 deposit to loan it to residents to go to the landfill When they return the kit to the office they will get their $21 back, she said. Oddy asked if it was for people to go “up on the hill” or only to the dumpsters and Hurst said anyone on the property. Oddy suggested Young add it to his negotiations with the landfill. Oddy said he has never been asked to wear a vest or hardhat when he goes to the landfill. Supervisor Morgan said they would have to look into Hurst’s suggestion.