Raisin Township extends superintendent position through 2015

In a 6-1 vote Monday, Oct. 13, Raisin Township’s board of trustees extended the superintendent position through 2015, with current Supt. Jim Palmer filling that role. The superintendent position was to end on November 12.Raisin Township Supervisor Jay Cavanaugh was the only dissenting vote. Cavanaugh iterated that he thought the six-month limit on the superintendent position was to allow the township time to find a long-term candidate, adding that at the time when Palmer was appointed the board felt rushed. “I think we need to be doing an application process,” the supervisor added.Trustee Tom Hawkins agreed with Cavanaugh that the township should seek applications for the position, but thought the extension through 2015 would give the township more time to make the right decision on who to appoint, or to even keep the position. “He’s done an excellent job in the role,” said trustee Debra Brousseau. “I think he’s well qualified for the position,” said trustee Betty Holdridge.Even though the board appointed Palmer as an “interim,” according to Raisin Township attorney David Lacasse, the Michigan Township Association doesn’t recognize “interim.” “When a position is filled, the position is filled,” said Lacasse. Also at the Monday meeting, trustees unanimously accepted the 2015 draft budget from the budget committee. One recommendation that was made was separating the fire and police budgets, which would not change the command structure of the departments. “We recommend the budgets be segregated again to add transparency,” said budget committee member Russ Mead. The draft budget also moves police and fire funding into the general fund. Mead said that no statutory requirements were found to keep them separated from the general fund. The police and fire budget for 2015 is expected to be $751,000, which is down from $829,000 in 2012, according to Mead. The 2015 budget not only includes paying for an extra officer, but also sets aside $50,000 for future vehicle acquisitions for the police and fire departments. Mead added that at the end of 2014, the township would have $1.3 million in the general fund balance. The public hearing for the draft budget was set for Monday, Oct. 27, at 6:30 p.m. at the Raisin Township Community Center (RCC) In other business, the board:• Approved the purchase of three signs for the RCC at the cost of $1,315• Accepted the bid from K and B Asphalt Sealcoating Inc. for $2,338.88 to complete work on the RCC’s parking lot • Accepted the $1,000 bid from TC Sports to powder coat playground equipment • Approved the purchase of a server for the police department from I.T. Right for $3,135• Appointed Dale Witt to the road committee• Approved the hiring of Robert Cassie as a full-time firefighter

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