Oxford/Orion FISH and the local Boys and Girls Club will no longer receive annual contributions from Oxford Township due to recent legal opinions.
‘In the past, I have voted yes to give money to these organizations,? said Supervisor Bill Dunn. ‘I think they’re wonderful organizations. They do a good service. But I will be voting no because of the opinions we’ve got.?
Township officials voted unanimously Feb. 8 to stop donating money to these two non-profit groups as a result of legal opinions obtained through the Michigan Townships Association (MTA).
Clerk Clara Sanderson said the township has been contributing to FISH since the late 1970s or early 1980s. Since 1999, the group has received $3,000 annually.
As for the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan ? Orion/Oxford Club, she said the township has been donating to it since the late 1990s and their annual contribution has been $4,000 since 1999.
Last week, Sanderson informed the board that based on her conversation with an MTA representative, contributions to these private charity groups are ‘questionable.?
‘She said townships really are not in the business of providing social services,? Sanderson said. ‘That usually has to do with the county.?
Sanderson noted she was informed that Orion Township previously ‘stopped contributing? to FISH and the Boys and Girls Club ‘because it wasn’t specific enough as to what they were providing and doing with the funds.?
A township’s contributions must meet the standard of ‘value for value,? according to officials.
Trustee Sue Bellairs said she asked a group of attorneys at the MTA convention in January and three of them gave her ‘a definite ‘absolutely not?? regarding the donations.
However, the township did learn that its annual $1,500 contribution to the Northeast Oakland Historical Society ‘was legal? and covered under Michigan law concerning historical preservation. Sanderson said the township’s been donating to the historical society since 1989.