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November 30, 2004
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The Board of Supervisors met on 11/18/04 and approved the new budget after coming to a compromise
on the Financial Director position. They agreed to NOT fund the position for an entire year but to include
1/2 a year's worth of wages at $25K. ($25K is not 1/2 of $45K or is this new math?) The position is NOT
approved so don't believe what you read in the papers! They agreed to revisit the issue in July after the
new software package has been in place for 6 months. If the position is still needed, the funding will be
there. However, Supervisors Holmgaard, Hoff, & Miller ALL voted to start searching for a Financial Director
right away. Sound like double talk? It's not. That's what happened. The budget is now available for public
review (for 20 days.) It will be voted on at the December 16, 2004 meeting.
In other meeting news, a K-9 Unit has been approved and funding will come from the DA's office. The
lowering of fees for non-residential developments was tabled. Township Manager Kichline presented the
Board with her work-up of neighboring communities' fees and the Board decided to take some time to look
the results over before voting on it. The new 5 Minute Rule brought some unusual agenda items to the
meeting. One new resident requested help in the form of a letter (or something) from the Board to the US
Postal Service to get mail delivery on his side of the street. He and his wife feel that their development
(Segal & Morel near Broadway & Newlins) is no longer a rural area. Another new property owner wanted to
know how to get the name of his new street changed to something other than Stump Road.
Jalepaneaux Inc. asked for waivers of sidewalks and curbing along Kuebler Road where they are planning
to construct a 150,000 square foot steel pipe service center. That waiver was deferred until needed. They
also requested a waiver from the "offsite improvement fees." That issue was tabled pending the outcome
of the entire fee rate vote for non-residential developments. They were granted preliminary conditional
plan approval. A condition is that the tree rows are preserved.
See the meeting notes on the Blog for more details! Don't forget to read some of the other posts there
too... and the Comments to them too.
on the Financial Director position. They agreed to NOT fund the position for an entire year but to include
1/2 a year's worth of wages at $25K. ($25K is not 1/2 of $45K or is this new math?) The position is NOT
approved so don't believe what you read in the papers! They agreed to revisit the issue in July after the
new software package has been in place for 6 months. If the position is still needed, the funding will be
there. However, Supervisors Holmgaard, Hoff, & Miller ALL voted to start searching for a Financial Director
right away. Sound like double talk? It's not. That's what happened. The budget is now available for public
review (for 20 days.) It will be voted on at the December 16, 2004 meeting.
In other meeting news, a K-9 Unit has been approved and funding will come from the DA's office. The
lowering of fees for non-residential developments was tabled. Township Manager Kichline presented the
Board with her work-up of neighboring communities' fees and the Board decided to take some time to look
the results over before voting on it. The new 5 Minute Rule brought some unusual agenda items to the
meeting. One new resident requested help in the form of a letter (or something) from the Board to the US
Postal Service to get mail delivery on his side of the street. He and his wife feel that their development
(Segal & Morel near Broadway & Newlins) is no longer a rural area. Another new property owner wanted to
know how to get the name of his new street changed to something other than Stump Road.
Jalepaneaux Inc. asked for waivers of sidewalks and curbing along Kuebler Road where they are planning
to construct a 150,000 square foot steel pipe service center. That waiver was deferred until needed. They
also requested a waiver from the "offsite improvement fees." That issue was tabled pending the outcome
of the entire fee rate vote for non-residential developments. They were granted preliminary conditional
plan approval. A condition is that the tree rows are preserved.
See the meeting notes on the Blog for more details! Don't forget to read some of the other posts there
too... and the Comments to them too.
From 11/6/04: The Board of Supervisors met on Nov. 4th to discuss the software package purchase and the First
Submission of the 2005 budget (among other things). It looks like the township will be getting the package initially proposed
since the price was right. The other package being considered was, as Supervisor Nicholas said, too expensive. The
purchase will go ahead as long as the vendor will make changes to the company's (standard?) contract without a change in
price. Nicholas said that the contract stipulated that the vendor was not responsible for the loss of the software if there was
an equipment failure and at the same time would not provide the Township with a list of recommended equipment.
Holmgaard agreed and said that he would deal with it.
On the budget front, there was a vote taken and no winner (except us residents!) Supervisor Hoff was not at the meeting and
the four members present were split 2:2. Chairman Ackerman said that he would not accept the budget as written because
of the line item calling for a Finance Director at $45 K. He said that he thought the Township Manager should do the work.
Supervisor Nicholas agreed with Ackerman and further stated that she wanted the line item removed from the budget
because if it was left in, the money would certainly be spent. She also said that once the new software was in place and the
new building completed, if there still was a need for a Director of Finance, it could be revisited.
Here's our take on the above. There is a Township Manager Ordinance on the books. It was put in place when the position
was created in 1997. It clearly states that the Township Manager is responsible for all things financial. In order to CHANGE
the duties of the Township Manager a new Ordinance must be enacted. From the Ordinance:
must have been done by the Supervisors through an Ordinance. To our knowledge, that has not happened. We agree with
Chairman Ackerman and Supervisor Nicholas! WAIT until the new software is in place to see what needs to be done in
terms of creating a new position. Also, it is our belief that a Finance Director should not answer to the Township Manager but
should be directly responsible to the Board of Supervisors. The financial aspect of running our Township is NOT one to be
treated slightly. It is IMPORTANT. If the existing manager is unable to handle the duties of the position, which should be
changed, the manager or the job description? Just a thought.
infrastructure improvements! Fortunately this was tabled until next meeting by Supervisor Nicholas who requested
comparable fee/figures from other area municipalities. Township Manager, Kichline, will prepare them for the Board.
Comments to them too.
Submission of the 2005 budget (among other things). It looks like the township will be getting the package initially proposed
since the price was right. The other package being considered was, as Supervisor Nicholas said, too expensive. The
purchase will go ahead as long as the vendor will make changes to the company's (standard?) contract without a change in
price. Nicholas said that the contract stipulated that the vendor was not responsible for the loss of the software if there was
an equipment failure and at the same time would not provide the Township with a list of recommended equipment.
Holmgaard agreed and said that he would deal with it.
On the budget front, there was a vote taken and no winner (except us residents!) Supervisor Hoff was not at the meeting and
the four members present were split 2:2. Chairman Ackerman said that he would not accept the budget as written because
of the line item calling for a Finance Director at $45 K. He said that he thought the Township Manager should do the work.
Supervisor Nicholas agreed with Ackerman and further stated that she wanted the line item removed from the budget
because if it was left in, the money would certainly be spent. She also said that once the new software was in place and the
new building completed, if there still was a need for a Director of Finance, it could be revisited.
Here's our take on the above. There is a Township Manager Ordinance on the books. It was put in place when the position
was created in 1997. It clearly states that the Township Manager is responsible for all things financial. In order to CHANGE
the duties of the Township Manager a new Ordinance must be enacted. From the Ordinance:
- "DEFINITION: This employee is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day conduct of Township business and
for carrying out the policies of the Board of Supervisors. The employee is responsible for maintaining Township
financial records, preparing financial reports, paying financial obligations, and keeping Supervisors informed of
the Township's financial condition. Work involves contact with citizens to see that their problems and concerns
are dealt with or brought to the attention of other officials. This employee coordinates the work of other
Township employees in providing these services. Work is reviewed by the Supervisors through periodic written
and oral reports and by outside audit of financial records."
must have been done by the Supervisors through an Ordinance. To our knowledge, that has not happened. We agree with
Chairman Ackerman and Supervisor Nicholas! WAIT until the new software is in place to see what needs to be done in
terms of creating a new position. Also, it is our belief that a Finance Director should not answer to the Township Manager but
should be directly responsible to the Board of Supervisors. The financial aspect of running our Township is NOT one to be
treated slightly. It is IMPORTANT. If the existing manager is unable to handle the duties of the position, which should be
changed, the manager or the job description? Just a thought.
infrastructure improvements! Fortunately this was tabled until next meeting by Supervisor Nicholas who requested
comparable fee/figures from other area municipalities. Township Manager, Kichline, will prepare them for the Board.
Comments to them too.
From 11/3/04: The Board of Supervisors meeting is tomorrow night at 7:30 in the Municipal Building. The Agenda is now
online at the official Township website. If you check it out, you'll see big red letters at the bottom advising us that if we want
to speak during the COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR, we must SIGN up first. Without looking, we cannot remember if it also
states the new "five minute" rule.
On the Agenda, under Old Business is Item #04 AWARD MUNICIPAL SOFTWARE PACKAGE. Under New Business is Item
#08 2005 TOWNSHIP BUDGET/FIRST SUBMISSION. These may seem unrelated. They are NOT! The software package
push is probably because of the Auditor's letter telling the Board that the bookkeeping system is a hodgepodge and that
new software AND a Financial Director are needed! Yes. We think that both items should appear in the BUDGET. We
certainly do not question the need for new software at all. We are sure that it is long overdue. We thought there was a
Township Manager Ordinance requiring the Township Manager to do all things financial. Now we learn that we need
another manager/director. What's wrong with this picture?
Also, Solicitor Kline noted at the last meeting that potential new businesses for the township have complained about the
high fees. This may be Item #02 FEE RATES/NON-RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS. We do not know if they are one and the
same, however, on the surface it would seem that lowering fees to attract new businesses should be a good thing.
HOWEVER, it will mean MORE traffic before new roads are built to accommodate it! We can't get in or out of the Township
now! We need solutions! Maybe all fees should be RAISED instead!
Come to the meeting! Tell them how YOU feel. They don't know if you don't tell them!
online at the official Township website. If you check it out, you'll see big red letters at the bottom advising us that if we want
to speak during the COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR, we must SIGN up first. Without looking, we cannot remember if it also
states the new "five minute" rule.
On the Agenda, under Old Business is Item #04 AWARD MUNICIPAL SOFTWARE PACKAGE. Under New Business is Item
#08 2005 TOWNSHIP BUDGET/FIRST SUBMISSION. These may seem unrelated. They are NOT! The software package
push is probably because of the Auditor's letter telling the Board that the bookkeeping system is a hodgepodge and that
new software AND a Financial Director are needed! Yes. We think that both items should appear in the BUDGET. We
certainly do not question the need for new software at all. We are sure that it is long overdue. We thought there was a
Township Manager Ordinance requiring the Township Manager to do all things financial. Now we learn that we need
another manager/director. What's wrong with this picture?
Also, Solicitor Kline noted at the last meeting that potential new businesses for the township have complained about the
high fees. This may be Item #02 FEE RATES/NON-RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS. We do not know if they are one and the
same, however, on the surface it would seem that lowering fees to attract new businesses should be a good thing.
HOWEVER, it will mean MORE traffic before new roads are built to accommodate it! We can't get in or out of the Township
now! We need solutions! Maybe all fees should be RAISED instead!
Come to the meeting! Tell them how YOU feel. They don't know if you don't tell them!
In case any of you wonder how we are doing since our September 18, 2004 launch, here are some graphs to view. Double
click on the images below for larger views. We are excited at the traffic we are getting. Thank you all! Tell your friends!
click on the images below for larger views. We are excited at the traffic we are getting. Thank you all! Tell your friends!
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