Monday, January 23, 2012

Township DELETES Financial Payment Data From 1/23/12 Board Packet for the Public

Hi All,
Township Deletes Part of Board Packet from Public View After Initially Posting Information
I discovered the "bills paid" on the board packet for the Monday, January 23 Board of Trustees meeting.  I sent out an email to some to take a look at the packet and that I would write a blog later.  However, now that I am ready to comment....the financial payments list is deleted from public view.  Who deleted it and why? Those payments need to be approved at this meeting.  The public has a right to see those payments.  They are now off the website. That financial information should be included on the web every meeting.

Fortunately, I still have a copy of that pdf file on my computer.  The document is many pages long. Why did the Township remove the list from the public view?  Is it because it shows the amount of payment and to whom, without details and without identifying which account/fund was debited?  There are payments such as a total of $27,000 to Michigan Motion Pictures; $10,000 to Bl. Hills School District and no mention as to the purpose of the expense. Are the taxpayers in the movie business? Why this particular payment to BHSD?  Do the trustees know the answers?  If not, will they ask for clarification at the public meeting before authorizing payment?

The grand total for the 13 day billing period in January that needs to be approved is:   $10,688,706.84 which does include about $8.5 million dollars to the 4 school districts and the library.   I will assume those payments/transfers are for taxes collected in summer and winter  2011 by the Township on their behalf.

Twp. Has Permanent Cameras Installed
Mon., Jan 23 will be televised LIVE on Comcast TV 15
The cameras are installed in township hall and this will be the first "live streamed" meeting of the Board of Trustees done by the Twp. Cable department.  Tune in at 7 pm.  It was mentioned at an earlier meeting that the Board would be discussing the preliminary 2012-2013 budget at this meeting.  Unfortunately, that is not on this agenda.  Unfortunately, neither is an agenda item to approve televising other public meetings.


Consider Approval of Liquor License Policy presented by Attorney Bill Hampton
The Board Packet includes 2 copies of a liquor license policy.  One appears to be an existing policy that shows proposed additions and deletions.  The problem is there is no date on the "existing" policy to indicate WHEN that policy was originally adopted.  Therefore, I am assuming one is an existing policy and the other is the proposed policy.  
Why is the liquor policy being revisited and considered for changes?  Is it because there are liquor license applications in "the works" that are having problems with the existing policy?  I read in Bloomfield Patch about the Maple Art Theater planning on reopening under new ownership/lease with a liquor license.  Does this new policy help that effort?  A new business at Woodward and Big Beaver has come before the Nov. 28, 2011 Board  and has been denied twice.  Does this new policy help that effort?  I do not have those answers.  I don't know if those locations are zoned properly to have a liquor license. Can a theater sell liquor without also having a restaurant?  I certainly hope the proposed policy changes protect the interests of the residents of this community.  The presentation and the details of this proposed liquor policy change should be discussed by the trustees at the meeting before the public and that the "why's"  to changes now to this liquor policy  are considered carefully.


In Feb. 2010 the Township requested from the citizens 1.3 mills to "maintain the current level" of services.  The millage narrowly passed and the Township collects approx. $4.4 million more every year for a 10 year period.
  • Therefore, why does the 1/23/12  agenda have a new hire in the fire department?  
  • Is he related to a current firefighter?     
  • Was this position posted and who were the other applicants, if any?  
  • Did someone retire or leave the township for a new hire position to be possible?
  • Just asking.... why more firefighters have been hired since Feb. 2010 when the Feb. 2010 millage "promotion to the public" was to "maintain the current level of service"  ?
  • Why are more firefighter applications still being accepted today?
  • Agenda item #3

Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees meeting
Monday, January 23, 2012 @ 7 PM

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