12.4.23 SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
VILLAGE OF ORFORDVILLE
Special Board Meeting
Monday, December 4, 2023 6:00 P.M.
Orfordville Village Hall
Main Board Room
CALL TO ORDER
President Dennis Burtness called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present were President Burtness, Beth Schmidt, Nikki Tuffree, Terry Gerber, and Jason Knox. Also present were Attorney Mike Hahn, Chief Jeremiah Burdick, DPW Director Nick Todd, and Clerk Sherri Waege. Absent was Cami Myers-Alstat.
AGENDA VERIFICATION
Clerk Waege verified that on November 27, 2023, copies of the agenda were delivered to the President and Trustees; and posted at the Village Hall, Library, and Orfordville Post Office.
REFUNDING THE 2022 FIRE DEPARTMENT REFERENDUM MONEY
Clerk Waege explained that the 2022 $166,599.00 that was levied for the Fire Department for full time help was not used due to the situation with not knowing what the Town of Newark was going to do. Clerk Waege provided a written explanation for the three options, based on the guidance from the Department of Revenue. The options are:
Reduce the 2023 levy by $166,599.00 and use the unused money from 2022. If the referendum money is not levied, the referendum is no longer recurring and can no longer be charged unless another referendum is approved by the voters. Reducing the levy also affects increases for future levies.
Refund the money to the taxpayers. Clerk Waege explained that each property owner would have to be set up as a vendor, each refund be calculated based on assessed value, and a check issued.
Deposit the unused money into a separate account. The money could remain in an account but only be used for what it was approved for, which is fire department wages.
Knox explained that he felt refunding the money to the taxpayers would be the right thing to do if the money is not being used for staffing. Knox explained that recently, he has had many residents reach out to him asking what was going to happen with the money. Clerk Waege explained that she received maybe five calls in early 2023 from people that were asking what would happen with the money. Tuffree asked what would happen if a resident passed away. Attorney Hahn explained that money can be paid to an estate. Clerk Waege explained that those who sold their homes would be sent the refund, rather than it going to the new owner who did not pay it.
All three options were discussed. Clerk Waege will check with the Department of Revenue to see if refunding the money to the residents would jeopardize the recurring status of the referendum, and if there is a risk to future levy limits.
Motion by Tuffree, seconded by Schmidt to table to the December 11, 2023 meeting pending the outcome of the Department of Revenue Guidance for future referendums and tax levies. Motion carried.
OPEN PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BUDGET
President Burtness opened the Public Hearing at 7:03 p.m. There were no residents present.
There was no discussion held on the budget as the status of the 2022 unused Fire Referendum money was tabled. Motion by Knox, seconded by Schmidt to adjourn the Budget Public Hearing to the Regular Board Meeting on December 11, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. due to the budgetary questions that need to be answered by the Department of Revenue. Motion carried.
CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING
The Public Hearing was adjourned to Monday, December 11, 2023 and will remain open until then.
APPROVING THE 2024 GENERAL FUND BUDGET
Motion by Tuffree, seconded by Gerber to table to the December 11, 2023 meeting. Motion carried.
APPROVING THE 2023 TAX LEVY
Motion by Tuffree, seconded by Schmidt to table to the December 11, 2023 meeting. Motion carried.
ADJOURN
Motion by Knox, seconded by Gerber to adjourn at 7:06 p.m. Motion carried.
Submitted by,
Dennis Burtness
Village President
Sherri Waege
Village Clerk