Slowly but surely, it appears a forensic audit regading the investments policy for Orion Township will eventually take place.
The Orion Township Board of Trustees has agreed on a request for proposals (RFP), and a subsequent time to meet and answer questions for possible bidders.
But, like many things in the now year- and-a-half long issue, this decision also took some time to be made.
A motion was put forth (and eventually passed) to set a meeting for July 10 at 3 p.m., to take questions from those that may be interested in bidding.
But, before a vote on that issue was taken, Clerk Jill Bastian offered a new idea involving an offer from William Hampton, a lawyer from Secrest & Wardle, whose firm represents the township.
Bastian said Hampton was willing to work as a fact finder/independent investigator for, what would likely be, an extremely competitive rate of $125 an hour.
Hampton would also work outside of his firm, to offset any conflicts of interest.
Trustee Matt Gibb was concerned about Hampton’s preexisting relationship with the township.
?(Hampton) is within an arm’s length of the township,? Gibb said.
Gibb also said Bastian’s notion of a $3,000 cap for Hampton’s services was likely unrealistic, as that would amount to only 24 hours of work.
Bastian told the board she was presenting the information in hopes that it could speed the process along.
She proposed putting a 60-day cap on Hampton’s work, the same amount of time it will take the board to select an auditor.
After deliberations, the board voted 6-1 to move forward with the original recommendation of their Forensic Audit Committee, consisting of Gibb and fellow trustees John Garlicki and Mike Gingell.
The committee targeted the Aug. 14 board meeting as the date to select an auditor, and, in reference to Bastian’s concerns, noted that things such as the length of the audit will be taken into account, with regards to any auditor’s proposals.
Bastian said Hampton could still come to the July 10 meeting and eventually present a bid.
‘All parties who may want to place a bid can get their questions answered,? she said.