PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
BPA MEETING … Bryan Board of Public Affairs board members from left, Debra Beevers, Jeremy Suffel, and Brian Davis discuss the change of new monthly meeting dates at its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 19.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The Bryan Board of Public Affairs met on Tuesday, May 19 with board members Annette Schreiner, Karen Ford, Brian Davis, Jeremy Suffel, and Debra Beevers in attendance. Also, Director of Utilities Derek Schultz, Mayor Carrie Schlade, and Clerk-Treasurer John Lehner were present.
Highlighting the meeting was a resolution to revise the regular meeting schedule, which was approved unanimously.
Presently, the board meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, but beginning in July, the meetings will be held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The meetings will continue to be held at 5 p.m.
“It’s intended to improve administrative efficiencies and greater consistency in public meetings, knowing there will always be a public meeting on a Monday evening,” said Schultz.
“This does not impact utility operations, nor does it impact the financial administration.”
Schultz also requested the board to officially change its June 16 meeting to June 30 to allow for a smooth transition and avoid a large gap between meetings prior to the change. “I actually kind of like this idea, knowing that there is a public meeting every Monday,” said BPA Chairperson Annette Schreiner.
Schultz had discussed the possibility of having board packet information on Thursdays, providing time to review the materials before the Monday meeting.
The BPA also approved two separate three-year agreements for the lease of fiber optic services with Parkview Health System. This will connect with Parkview Health System facilities in Archbold, Bryan, and Montpelier.
In other BPA business:
-Discussed appointing a board member as liaison to an attorney the board had hired in September to represent it regarding the effort to disband the BPA, which failed this month.
-Board member Brian Davis proposed that the board could hire an attorney to represent it, but Mayor Carrie Schlade advised that doing so may be against the city’s charter.
-Received an explanation on financial reconciliation statements from Lehner.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:21 p.m. Next meeting will be on Tuesday, June 2 at 5 p.m.
