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Bruce sets policies for
purchases, facility use

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Despite some disagreements, Bruce Township officials have approved two policies for protection and purchases.
       At its Jan. 20 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved policies that will expand upon the board's purchasing rights, as well as protecting the township when its facilities are used.
       The facilities use policy was approved unanimously, while the purchase policy went through with a 3-1 vote. Treasurer Deborah Obrecht was the dissenting vote, and Trustee Mark Falker was absent.
       The purchase policy was updated in response to a request from Obrecht and the township attorney after some of the board's purchases were made without gathering bids.
       Though the practice was acceptable under the current purchase policy since they fell under $1,000<hence they don't need to be bid out <Obrecht thought some of them could have been lumped together, such as signage.
       "If we have a $1,000 limit, we can't ask a guy to send three bills if it's over $1,500," she said Friday.
       She previously moved to have the policy limit reduced to $500, but the motion died from lack of support. The new policy has the limit set to $2,000.
       Supervisor Jim Tignanelli said the new limit was established after reviewing the policies of similar communities and finding out the township was lower than every other community except Armada.
       "These things still get board approval, we can't haphazardly go buy things," he said.
       The idea of a $500 petty cash fund was opposed as well.
       At one point, members of the board erupted into laughter as they discussed language regarding signature stamps for checks in the policy, discovering neither the clerk nor treasurer utilize them since their deputies are signers.
       The policy also asked for a $7,500 limit for emergency situations. Obrecht questioned why the township would need that much and why it wouldn't go before the board.
       Tignanelli and Bruce-Romeo Fire Chief Floyd Shotwell said that amount could be easily spent depending on the emergency, and that arranging a special meeting for an emergency may not be timely.
       "If we have a tanker spill or a roof collapse at the township hall, to post an 18-hour notice for a special meeting to see if we should buy sandbags or need extra materials for a spill is just not practical," he said.
       Obrecht said she wanted to wait before approving of the policy, as there were changes that she wanted to review.
       "I don't understand why we couldn't wait for a month," she said Friday.
       The facilities use policy came about after questions were raised regarding the farmers market that was held in the township's park. Money was collected by the individual who ran it, but it was used for advertisement. Additionally, payment was not required.
       Tignanelli and Clerk Susan Brockmann developed a facilities use policy based on the policies of neighboring communities that will protect the township. It also describes the rules regarding the use of the township hall.
       The township will continue to not charge a fee for use of the facility.
       "We never have charged, and I just didn't want to go there, I didn't see a need for it," said Tignanelli.