On the Agenda: Township Board Expected to Delve into Sewer Rates

The Hartland Township Board of Trustees scheduled a 6 p.m. special meeting Tuesday that's expected to focus on potential sewer rate increases as part of discussions on the 2011-12 budget.

The township has had to up rates significantly after transferring the operation to the sewer system to Livingston County and additional rate increases are expected  to match the actual costs. Officials said the jumps help off-set having no increases for some 20 years.

In addition, the meeting — at , 2655 Clark Rd — also will likely focus on the township's overall water and sewer funding issues that been a drag on the overall budget.

The meeting follows a work session last week in which board met for several hours on the budget, with debates focusing on staffing in public works and planning and zoning. The board also spent significant time on funding to the fire authority — which could run a deficit if a parking lot is replaced — and how many calcium chloride treatments are needed for the townships high number of dirt roads.

The $1.7 million general fund budget is expected to have a $600,000 surplus, fueled in part by a bump expected from this year's census. The extra money would add to an even larger existing fund balance. But officials say they want to have that money available as a potential cushion as the township, like many others, is facing deficits that run into hundreds of thousands of dollars in delinquent sewer assessments annually over the next several years. Township officials plan to have an expert on the issue discuss options during its March 15 meeting.

The 2011-12 budget begins in April and would likely be approved following a public hearing that's expected to be held March 29.

Staffing debate

In public works, the township is trying to decide whether to hire an administrative assistant who has an engineering background on a permanent basis.

Supervisor Bill Fountain said the township could afford more help in what is considered an understaffed public works department if it employed three part-time workers, instead. But Trustee Joe Colaianne said the township would have less turnover with a permanent employee and those employees generally are more committed to the job, especially in an area that requires more technical skills. He said if the township doesn't want to pay benefits, then he asked why should the township have any full-time workers.

"There's an underlying issue about hiring full-time people," Colaianne said. "Are going to a nation where all we're going to do is hire part-time for everything we do? …  Is that the kind of thing we want? I'm just saying at the end of the day, you get what you pay for."

Fountain said he isn't looking to keep people from benefits but maximizing dollars in a favorable job market for employers might be best in this case.

"I'm looking at we have $50,000 and we have a lot of work to get done and I think we can find qualified people," Fountain said. "It's a difference in philosophy. I think there are talented people who can be excellent on our team."

Trustee Joe Petrucci said more help and a full-time employee is probably needed in public works, but he suggested off-setting costs the township should look at cuts in planning in zoning because there have been fewer developments in the township. He said he would hope any moves would not result in layoffs.

"I don't want to sound like a hatchet guy … but you know what it is what it is," he said. "Other townships have practically dissolved their planning departments because there's nothing going on, but yet we haven't done a thing in ours.

"We need to take a hard look at that and it's a tough decision. It is a tough decision when you're talking about people's jobs and livelihoods. I understand that, but you know what that's what we're here for."

Next steps

Township Manager James Wickman said if the board wants to cut back in planning and zoning from what he's proposed, he'd like the opportunity to show there are duties and goals that need to be met. He said cutbacks would mean priorities wouldn't be met. While he didn't get into specifics, planning and zoning has been working to revamp the township's master plan and a plan for the village area.

Other trustees were divided how quickly to make a decision or whether the two issues should be linked.

Trustee Matt Germane said he thought many answers on planning and zoning could be provided before the board votes on a budget, but Township Clerk Larry Hopkins, who sits on the Planning Commission, said he's worried acting too quickly might not give the board the deeper analysis needed to make the right decision.

Fountain encouraged trustees to bring discuss concerns and ideas related to staffing individually with the manager.

"I think what Joe Colaianne's opinion that right-sizing (government) is what we're trying to achieve," said Fountain, adding that method would save staff time.