Township board meetings clock in at more than five hours, despite getting together almost every week.
Trustee Neil Wallace wants to make it official, calling for four regular meetings a month.
‘For the past several months we have had a board meeting scheduled virtually every week. Even with all of that, we are not completing our work,? Wallace said in a Sept. 15 memo to the Independence Township Board. ‘The budget hearings have not been as well attended as they should be.?
His request was denied by a 4-3 vote. Supervisor Dave Wagner, Treasurer Curt Carson, and trustees Mark Petterson and Larry Rosso voted ‘no.?
The board currently meets twice a month, Tuesdays at 7:30, with special meetings/budget workshops on several off weeks at 7 p.m.
Wagner said he was ‘completely opposed to it.?
‘If we’re worried about money, the trustees could once again say they don’t want their pay,? Wagner said. ‘We have a township right next to us (Springfield Township) that’s our size, has only one meeting a month, has more items on their agenda and they seem to get through them without any difficulty.?
He also thought the only reason for the proposal was so they would be televised. Township policy is to not broadcast special meetings.
‘I think we all need to look at ourselves and try to keep these meetings down. Sure, we have to have enough information. Sure, we have to have enough discussion. I just don’t see any legitimate reason to do this whatsoever,? he said. ‘I just think it’s a real bad precedent to set.?
Rosso said he was ‘not thrilled? about turning special meetings into regular ones; however, he said he was willing to waive his special meeting compensation.
Though he believed intentions were sincere, Trustee David Lohmeier said for trustees to give up special meeting pay was merely ‘a token.?
‘It’s not a big impact to a budget and in fact I think it’s little insulting to the budget problem we have in million dollar gaps,? he said. ‘If we want to take a 20 percent pay cut (both part-time and full-time) and give up the vehicle mouths (car allowances), then you’re feeling some pain. That’s a real statement. Otherwise we’re just dancing.?
Lohmeier liked the idea of four meetings a month because it would give more flexibility.
‘For workshops, you meet exactly on what you add. If you have other items that come up like we did tonight that you need to address, you don’t really have that flexibility,? he said. ‘Unless you have a full unanimous, everybody is there and frankly we are always missing one or two people. I think this gives us more flexibility and I love the idea of going to seven o’clock ? this gives us an extra half hour I think the idea is great.?
Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen said she would be willing to try four regular meetings a month as an experiment.
‘I think there is many times things drag out way longer than they need to. If you have a question, a legitimate question, fine, get your information, but I think sometimes questions are asked or comments are made just to show how smart someone is,? she said. ‘If we could just get down to business and get it taken care of instead of doing the posturing, I think it would serve us well.?
Carson agreed.
‘There is no township in the state going through what we’re going through time wise,? he said. ‘We should be able to get our work done and we just have to start following some procedures to get it done.?
He also noted he was all for regular meetings starting at 7 p.m. but not four meetings a month.
‘I’m happy with the program the way it is,? Carson said. ‘I’m more than willing to show up for a budget workshop or to a special meeting if we need it.?