The Dorr Township Board Tuesday night decided to hold meetings on the last Tuesday of the month, agreed to a number of appointments to boards and commissions, but balked at making the township hall open to the public more hours.

The board now meets on the last Monday evening monthly, but that will be moved to Tuesdays at the request of Trustee Dan Weber. Weber said because of his new job, he will have great difficulty making the Monday meetings.

The board voted 5-0 to move to Tuesdays starting in June and good through the end of the year.

However, a proposal to open township offices to the public from 7 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays failed on a 3-3 vote with Trustee Josh Otto absent. The township hall is open now for eight hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Supervisor Jeff Miling said he believes it would be a good idea to be open to the public more often.

Trustee Patty Senneker responded, “You guys aren’t in here for 24 hours a week.”

“How would you know?” Miling asked. “We just want to make it (township hall) more available for people to come in.”

But Treasurer Jim Martin said, “I’m not sure being open more will do a lot for us.”

Martin, Senneker and Tuinstra voted against the proposal to expand public hours. Weber, Miling and Clerk Brian Boot voted for it.

A number of appointments were announced, including:

• Jim Vote to a three-year term on the Zoning Board of Appeals.
• Deb Funk to a four-year term on the Downtown Development Authority.
• Funk and Carolyn Sandel as alternates on the Board of Review.
• Weber, Dan Beute and Larry Dolegowski were reappointed to three-year terms on the Planning Commission. Tuinstra voted “no” to Dolegowski, who has been on the Planning Commission for more than 20 years.

Weber said Dolegowski is a big asset on the Planning Commission because of his lengthy experience, adding, “It’s not easy to find people to serve.”

Miling concurred, insisting, “We don’t have an overabundance of people willing to step up (to serve).”

Tuinstra said, “People, tell him (Dolegowski) I like him, but it’s been too long.”

PHOTOS: Dan Weber   Dan Beute   Larry Dolegowski