It's not often that we get a chance to praise the Elmwood township Board of Trustees. But they did the right thing Monday, 13 February when they voted to hire a new auditor to look into the township's books. For years the board has continued to re-hire their same auditor of 20 years, even though experts recommend changing auditors much more frequently. Even last year, when controversy raged over questionable management and inadequate financial controls at the township marina, the four holdover members from the previous board--a working majority--blocked attempts by the three reform members--Supervisor Deri Smith and Trustees Paul Walter and Jeff Howell--to bring in new blood.

This time around, apparently convinced by the scandals in East Bay township (scandals that were permitted by the township's lax accounting and auditing procedures) the holdovers changed their votes and hired Wilson and Warn, CPA. David Wilson is a specialist in auditing township marina operations. Although Dave Wilson was given no mandate last night to look into the marina's history, his approach should bring a breath of fresh air to a township hall that sorely needs it.

Of course, the Board didn't do everything right. By a 4-3 vote--holdovers against reformers--they voted to make payouts to Dick Eldred and Chuck Lessard, two former Marina employees whom Smith did not rehire for the 2005 marina season. Although township legal counsel Jim Young advised in May 2005 that the "board would be remiss in their duties to not investigate" the allegations directed at the marina management, the four holdover board members called off the insurance company’s investigation into the marina in August of 2005. The aborted investigation and criticisms from township residents have raised legitimate questions about the management of the marina, and these allegations deserve a thorough investigation, not a payoff.

Let's hope that the new auditor finds his way to the marina. It's not far from township hall.