The Baroda Village Council has voted to seek a written opinion from its attorney on the legality of a petition seeking the disincorporation of the village and its absorption into Baroda Township.
It was a packed house Monday night at the Baroda Municipal Building as village residents sought answers regarding the disincorporation question. The Baroda Township Clerk’s office has verified the petition signatures, leading to the creation of a special commission to study the issue, but it’s all come as a surprise to many.
Brad Mattner is one of three village residents selected to serve on the commission, and he suggested Monday night that the petition’s language may not comply with the state law governing a village’s disincorporation. He told us he questions that language and also Baroda Township Clerk Christina Price’s role in collecting petition signatures.
“We just were brought to attention that there was severe conflicts of interest with the township clerk and her emails, as I talked about tonight, that’s very concerning,” Mattner said.
We’ve been told it’s not illegal for a clerk to collect petition signatures in their own community, but it’s also not common.
Village Trustee Nikki Andrews told residents Monday the village should maintain transparency when making decisions.
“I remind myself and our community at large that we have a moral imperative to serve the residents of Baroda,” Andrews said. “The choices we morally and legally choose to make are best made without any hidden agendas. Transparency will tend to reveal personal and group agendas that are self-serving. I encourage each of us to work within the spirit of cooperation, not competition.”
Andrews later told us the entire discussion raises many issues.
“We need factual data and evidence to prove whether it’s going to help or not, and that’s the thing, we don’t know,” Andrews said. “And this whole thing was rushed with the petition, and there’s no proof that it’s going to save taxpayers or turn around and hurt taxpayers even more. We don’t know.”
Trustees voted unanimously to seek a legal opinion on the petition wording. Village President Michael Price told us he has his own issues with the disincorporation issue.
“My worry is that it’s going to be a complete waste of time and money and when the vote comes up, it’ll be turned down so it just we end up spending money and get nowhere,” Price said.
Meanwhile, Baroda Township is still seating its representatives on the disincorporation committee, which will first meet March 12.
Photo: Baroda Village Trustee Nikki Andrews reads a statement to residents and colleagues.
