The Suttons Bay Township Board last week adopted salary resolutions that will increase pay for all five board members by 2.25 percent in the coming fiscal year.

The board voted 4-0 last week, with trustee Ron Send absent, to adopt resolutions increasing pay effective April 1, the beginning of fiscal 2008/2009.

Unlike the nine other general law townships in Leelanau County, Suttons Bay Township does not hold an Annual Meeting where township voters in attendance decide pay raises for elected officials. The township ended the practice of holding annual meetings nearly a decade ago after years of sparse attendance and little apparent interest from members of the public.

At the board’s regular monthly meeting on Feb. 13, supervisor Rich Bahle explained that Send had recommended the 2.25 percent "cost of living" pay increase for elected officials, acting as a committee of one. Previously, the township’s salary committee consisted of Send and trustee Dick Catton, who resigned last year. Catton’s seat as trustee has since been filled by William Drozdalski, who was not seated in time to serve on the committee.

New pay levels will be reflected in a fiscal 2008-09 budget, which will be the subject of a public hearing just prior to the board’s next regular monthly meeting, at 5 p.m., March 12.

If the budget is adopted, the supervisor’s salary will increase from $16,912 to $17,301.

With the 2.25 percent increase, clerk Sandy VanHuystee’s annual salary would rise from $24,718 to $25,286. Treasurer Cathy Herman’s annual salary would increase from $26,100 to $26,590, and annual pay for the two trustees would rise from $1,456 to $1,489.

Last year, each of the elected township officials received a four percent "cost of living" pay raise.

At its March 12 budget hearing, the board will consider adoption of a $1.656 million spending plan for the coming fiscal year based on revenues and cash on hand of more than $1.7 million. With the exception of grant revenues and expenditures tentatively set aside for major parks projects in the coming year, the 08/09 budget varies little from this year’s.

In other business at last week’s meeting, the Suttons Bay Township Board:

• Endorsed Bahle’s nomination of John Krug to serve another term representing the township on the Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library Board of Trustees. Krug currently serves as chairman of the library board.

• Agreed to purchase a new photocopier for $2,446 and approve a $336 annual service agreement with Netlink Business Solutions of Traverse City on VanHuystee’s recommendation.

• Authorized the expenditure of up to $1,000 for new computer hardware for zoning administrator Steve Patmore.

• Learned that staff planner Rochelle Rollenhagen has resigned. Although Rollenhagen will be available to work on a temporary consulting basis, the township, the Village of Suttons Bay and Bingham Township – who share expenses for zoning and planning services from Patmore and Rollenhagen under a joint contract – are now looking for a new planner.