Belding City Manager Meg Mullendore’s desk is frequently covered in a large volume of paperwork associated with FOIA requests from Belding resident Kimberly Orlich, who has submitted 175 FOIA requests to the city in seven months. — Daily News/Cory Smith
BELDING — On the second story of Belding City Hall, in a corner office, sits a desk stacked with nearly a dozen folders filled with hundreds of files of paperwork.
The office belongs to City Manager Meg Mullendore, who on certain work days admits she cannot recognize the top of her desk, buried in files.
Some of the folders and papers on her desk were not something Mullendore anticipated when she was hired last April. By the end of her first month on the job, she felt overwhelmed.
Meg Mullendore
Kimberly Orlich
The contents on her desk include more than 50 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted to the city — in the month of May alone.
The Daily News sent its own FOIA request to the city of Belding to find out what all of these requests were about. The results: From Jan. 1 to Aug. 1, the city received 175 FOIA requests, all from one resident.
Kimberly Orlich of Belding has sent to the city, on average this year, more than five FOIA requests per week, on topics ranging from the actions of city officials to personnel records of police officers.
Mullendore believes Orlich’s actions are more personal in nature than in the interest of the public good. The city manager said as much at the most recent city council meeting on Sept. 3.
“It’s extremely frustrating, it’s disheartening and it’s disingenuous of this individual,” Mullendore said. “It’s very frustrating knowing that there are things that I could be doing and the staff could be doing that are more beneficial to the entire community and not just one disgruntled resident.”
However, in an email to The Daily News, Orlich said she believes she is performing a public service by attempting to seek information from the city. She said her goal “was and is to bring to light to the public the facts.”
Changes in Belding’s FOIA policy
By law, the city must respond to each and every request, either by fulfilling or denying the various requests.
In response to the large amount of FOIA requests, members of city council voted on May 21 to designate Mullendore as FOIA coordinator for the city. The council also voted to designate itself as a whole to serve as the head of the public body for the FOIA appeal process.
That process has led to lengthy city council meetings in which every denied FOIA request that is appealed must be approved or denied by council members.
At the Sept. 3 meeting, council members voted on 39 FOIA appeals from Orlich, affirming the denial of all but one of the appeals. The process has began to weary council members and local residents as well.
During public comment of the Sept. 3 meeting, Otisco Township resident Lynn Mason addressed Mullendore with her concerns.
“How many dollars have been spent on this ridiculousness?” she asked.
Mullendore responded in stating that more than $14,000 in taxpayer dollars and have been spent on hours worked by city employees and more than $2,000 on attorney fees, over a period spanning about seven months to deal with Orlich’s 175 FOIA requests and related appeals.
In comparison, Mullendore said she has only received two other FOIA requests in her time in Belding, one from the Detroit Free Press and the one from The Daily News regarding Orlich’s FOIA requests.
“I can tell you that last week I spent approximately 30 percent of my week with just this,” Mullendore said. “At this point, if we keep going at this rate, 30 percent of what I am being compensated (will continue to be) utilized directly by Miss Orlich.”
After listening for an hour as council members voted down appeal after appeal, Mason said she believes the FOIA process is being abused by Orlich.
“There’s a lot of things that that money could be used for rather than wasting your time,” she said. “I’m sorry that you have to put up with this. I believe in people’s rights for FOIA, but this is abusive. There comes a time when your rights are being violated because someone else is being ridiculous. It’s unfortunate and I wish there was a better way. It’s just wrong.”
Public interest or personal vendetta?
Orlich declined to meet with The Daily News in person. In an email, she stated the information she has attempted to obtain only makes up a small portion of what she believes the public should know.
“Believe it or not, the FOIA documentation you have, albeit voluminous, comprises only a very small sampling of information the public should know,” Orlich stated. “The documents I have accumulated corresponding to the issues I raised in my FOIA requests and appeals are even more provocative, which is why I sent the FOIA requests in the first place.”
Orlich said her top concern at this point is the Michigan Open Meetings Act, which she believe’s the city is not abiding by.
“To put this to practice, for example, this would mean that we the public would hear directly from (Belding Police Chief Dale Nelson) as to the relevant issues being decided and eventually voted upon, but only after a complete discussion and disclosure of all the facts,” she said. “However, it appears the city council, aside from trying to publicly discredit me, has evaded the issues altogether.”
Orlich said she is frustrated by her denied appeals, stating that the information she is seeking is for the public good.
“Because of the way the city staff and council have decided to conduct business, this has severely frustrated this intent and the intent of our legislators in our FOIA laws,” she said.
Mullendore, however, disputes the fact that Orlich is obtaining the information for the public good because Orlich has not made public any of the information she has obtained.
“There’s nothing she is accomplishing with this,” Mullendore said. “There’s no public value. Why should the taxpayers be paying for that?”
When asked if she’s made public any of the information she’s obtained, Orlich responded “no,” but said she has plans to eventually take the city to court.
“As to making this public, of course, there is the potential for future class action lawsuits against multiple parties and restitution, so that those similarly situated will be compensated for the wrongdoings and justice finally served,” she said.
Orlich said that she has been collecting information since 2002 “corresponding to certain facts regarding certain public officials.”
“I have opted to discover the information through the FOIA process prior to discovery in the courts,” she said.
Questionable motives
Before Mullendore was hired, Belding Police Chief Dale Nelson served as FOIA coordinator for the city. He believes Orlich is acting strictly for personal reasons.
Nelson points to Orlich’s arrest for driving while impaired in 2003. Orlich was court ordered to perform preliminary breath tests (PBT) at the Belding Police Department.
Orlich has since FOIA’d accounting information for PBT tests from 2003 to present, as well records of all police officers who served her the tests.
“It’s out of control,” Nelson said. “The worst thing is, it’s a plain waste of our time.”
Orlich has also requested that the city show proof of each and every full-time officer in Belding to be officially employed by the city and to, in fact, be police officers.
Other than Orlich’s requests related to the police department, Nelson said he may receive, on average, one additional FOIA per week, which he says are usually for copies of police reports.
“Those are very simple, they are noncumbersome, you just pull the report and it’s on its way, it takes maybe 10 minutes” he said.
Costs and fees
Mullendore said Orlich has not received any of her approved FOIA requests in several months because Orlich refuses to pay the fees associated with the requests.
At the end of each FOIA request, Orlich provides a statement that reads: “Please waive any costs and fees associated with this request as the information is intended to primarily benefit the public; it is not published for public inspection, and because I cannot afford to pay for them.” Orlich also attaches an affidavit that states she is presently receiving “public assistance.”
Members of Belding City Council, from left, council member Joe Feuerstein, council member Mike Scheid, Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Belding, Mayor Ron Gunderson, council member Tom Jones, and Belding City Manager Meg Mullendore, work during the Sept. 3 council meeting on one of 39 FOIA appeals submitted by Belding resident Kimberly Orlich. — Daily News/Cory Smith
However, Mullendore said if the FOIA request does not appear to be for the public good but rather for personal gain, she is not obligated to waive any fees.
“You can waive up to $20 or waive the entire amount if it’s for the public good,” Mullendore said. “It’s arbitrarily your decision. Since I know at this point, due to the large volume, and that this is simply for her personal gain, I’m choosing not to waive the fees. At this point I’m not waiving any costs.”
Costs can vary depending on what is being requested in a FOIA request, how much time it takes to obtain the information, and who is performing the work to obtain the information.
Trying to move forward
Mullendore said she will continue to respond to Orlich’s FOIA requests, as she is required to by law, but hopes the volume of requests from Orlich will eventually shrink in number.
“Because of the FOIA legislation we have no choice but to deal with this,” she said. “My thought is, if the taxpayers of this community realized what somebody is demanding of this government, they should be outraged. The average time collectively that we are spending is anywhere from 15 to 20 hours a week and we are well over $16,000 in total taxpayer dollars spent on this.”
Belding City Councilman Tom Jones said he believes in the FOIA system, but he is disappointed in how Orlich is using it.
“On one hand, it’s ridiculous what we are going through right now, but I think there is ultimately a reason for it, in a sense of keeping the information open to the community,” he said. “Some of the things that have been FOIA requested regarding the police department are just uncalled for. I don’t know why anybody would want to know some of that information.”
Jones said he believes the city is as open and honest as it can be with its residents.
I think Belding has always been (a place) where if somebody asked a question, they were told an answer,” he said. “We don’t try to hide anything, we don’t try to conceal things.”
FOIA requests submitted by
Kimberly Orlich to the city of Belding
1. Jan 15: Documents showing the amount of money the city council has authorized to be paid to the city attorney from 2006 to date.
2. Jan 15: Documents showing the amount of money the city council has authorized to be paid to attorney Karen McFadden and McFadden Law Office PLLC from 2006 to date.
3. Jan 15: Copy of the Belding’s conflict of interest policies and procedures.
4. Jan 15: Copy of Belding’s policies and procedures pertaining to city contracts with third parties.
5. Jan 15: Copy of Belding’s policies and procedures pertaining to city contracts with employees.
6. Jan 17: Official description and map of the current boundaries of the city of Belding.
7. Jan 20: Documentation showing the name of the same attorney whom you contacted and represented to be “our attorney.”
8. Jan 20: “Display of Invoices by vendor” showing information for Karen McFadden and her law firm for 2006 and 2007
9. Jan 22: Letter regarding invoice date Dec. 10, 2012, from Varnum (Grand Rapids law firm).
10. Jan 22: All “invoices” from Varnum from 2006 to date.
11. Jan 22: Copy of the documents showing the particular name(s) to whom the checks were made payable for Varnum’s services from 2006 to date.
12. Jan 22: City council resolution granting the authority for Smyrna Bar and Restaurant’s sale of of liquor, sale of food and authority to provide dancing to the public.
13. Jan 22: Copy of Smyrna Bar and Restaurant’s business license issued by the city.
14. Jan 22: Copy of Smyrna Bar and Restaurant’s liquor license, food license and dancing permit.
15. Jan 22: Documents showing local property taxes paid for the property located at 5022 Whites Bridge Road for the years 2006 and 2012.
16. Jan 22: Documents showing the local business taxes paid for/by Smyrna Bar and Restaurant.
17. Jan 23: Documentation showing the city’s affiliation with Belding Emergency Fund being operated in the city as a domestic non-profit corporation.
18. Jan 24: Documents showing the city’s payments made for the use of Post Office Box 191, Belding, MI for the years 1993, 2012 and 2013.
19. Jan 24: Copy of the Belding Police Department’s 2004 through 2010 inclusively, and 2012 and 2013 fee schedules.
20. Jan 26: Documents showing the accounting monies received for providing administrative warrants from 2005 to date.
21. Jan 26: Documents showing the number of administrative warrants issued from 2005 to date.
22. Jan 26: Documents showing the persons or businesses who have been authorized to create administrative warrants.
23. Jan 26: Documents showing the persons or agencies who have served and delivered administrative warrants.
24. Jan 26: Documents showing the use of, definition of, and nature of the administrative warrants provided by the police department for money.
25. Jan 27: Invoice date 12/14/2011, Reference No. 268978 and copy of the check number 57382 dated 12/20/2011 in the amount of $285 issued to McFadden Law Office PLLC.
26. Jan 29: Invoice date 06/21/2011, Reference No. 267352 and copy of the check number 56430 dated 6/24/2011 in the amount of $397.50 issued to McFadden Law Office PLLC
27. Jan 29: Documents showing “Mayor Ronald Gunderson” to be “the head of the public body, city of Belding.”
28. Jan 29: Approved FOIA policies and procedures showing Gunderson has been granted the authority to act as the head of the public body.
29. Jan 29: Documents showing the head of the public body for FOIA appeals from what are represented to be FOIA responses, rendered and issued by Police Chief Dale Nelson.
30. Jan 31: Any and all resolutions of Otisco Township for the Ionia County Sheriff Department/Office to provide special police protection for the Otisco Township.
31. Jan 31: Any and all resolutions of Otisco Township showing the appropriation of funds to the Ionia County Sheriff’s Department/Office to provide special police protection for Otisco Township.
32. Jan 31: Any and all ocuments showing the sheriff’s appointments of special township deputies for Otisco Township.
33. Jan 31: Invoice date 04/12/2011, Reference No. 266778 and copy of the check number 56048 dated 4/15/2011 in the amount of $363 issued to McFadden Law Office PLLC.
34. Feb 4: Invoice date 12/06/2010, Reference No. 265682 and copy of the check in the amount of $225 issued to McFadden Law Office PLLC for “Professional Services for Nov.”
35. Feb 9: The accounting documents showing the monies the Belding Police Department and/or the City of Belding received for preliminary breath tests administered at the Belding police station for the fiscal year 2003.
36. Feb 9: Invoice date 9/17/2008, Reference No. 258386 and copy of the check number 50528, dated 09/19/2008 in the amount of $274.39 issued to McFadden Law Office PLLC.
37. Feb 12: The financial documents showing the accounting of monies received for Salvage Recertification Inspections for 2004.
38. Feb 12: Documents showing the number of Salvage Recertification Inspection performed by Police Chief Nelson and the Belding police staff for the year 2004.
39. Feb 14: Copy of the documents showing monies the Belding Police Department and/or the City of Belding received for Preliminary Breath tests administered at the Belding police station for the fiscal year 2002.
40. Feb 14: Invoice date 1/11/2008, Reference No. 256042 and a copy of the check number 48925, dated 1/25/2008 in the amount of $652.50 issued to McFadden Law Office PLLC.
41. Feb 15: Copy of the documents showing monies the Belding Police Department and/or the City of Belding received for preliminary breath tests administered at the Belding police station for the fiscal year 2004.
42. Feb 15: Invoice date 02/11/2008, Reference No. 256266 and a copy of the check dated 02/21/2008, in the amount of $555 issued to McFadden Law Office PLLC.
43. Feb 17: Copy of the documents showing monies the Belding Police Department and/or the City of Belding received for preliminary breath tests administered at the Belding police station for the fiscal year 2005.
44. Feb 17: Invoice date 03/12/2008, Reference No. 256554 and a copy of the check number 49292, dated 03/20/2008, in the amount of $982.50 issued to McFadden Law Office PLLC.
45. Feb 18: Copy of the documents showing monies the Belding Police Department and/or the City of Belding received for preliminary breath tests administered at the Belding police station for the fiscal year 2006.
46. Feb 18: Invoice date 04/10/2008, Reference No. 256819 and a copy of the check number 49468 dated 04/17/2008, in the amount of $217.50 issued to McFadden Law Office PLLC.
47. Feb 26: Invoice number 10729, Date 5/13/2008, Reference No. 257264 and a copy of the check number 49764 dated 5/30/2008, in the amount of $607.50 issued to McFadden Law Office PLLC.
48. Feb 26: Copy of the accounting documents showing the monies the Belding Police Department and/or the City of Belding received for preliminary breath tests administered at the Belding police station for fiscal year 2007.
49. Feb 27: Invoice number 10778, date 6/10/2008, Reference No. 257530 and a copy of the check number 49962 dated 6/27/2008, in the amount $510 issued to McFadden Law Office PLLC.
50. March 1: Invoice number 10817, date 7/15/2008, Reference No. 257878 and copy of the check number 50164 dated 7/25/2008, in the amount of $592.50 issued to McFadden Law Office PLLC.
51. March 1: Invoice date 7/07/2010, Reference No. 264290, and copy of the check number 54525 dated 7/09/2010, in the amount of $125 issued to McFadden Law Office PLLC.
52. March 1: Copy of the accounting documents showing the monies the Belding Police Department and/or the City of Belding received for preliminary breath tests administered at the Belding police station for fiscal year 2009.
53. March 2: Any and all documents showing the individual whom Belding has designated as Michigan Freedom of Information Act coordinator.
54. March 2: Any and all documents showing the individual whom Belding has designated to hear appeals under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.
55. March 4: Copy of the accounting documents showing the monies the Belding Police Department and/or the City of Belding received from preliminary breath tests administered at the Belding police station for fiscal year 2010.
56. March 8: Copy of the accounting documents showing the monies the Belding Police Department and/or the City of Belding received from preliminary breath tests administered at the Belding police station for fiscal year 2012.
57. March 9: As to the current part-time dispatcher/clerk for the Belding Police Department, provide a copy of the documents showing his or her name.
58. March 9: As to the current part-time dispatcher/clerk for the Belding Police Department, provide a copy of the documents showing city council meeting minutes showing authority to hire.
59. March 9: As to the current part-time dispatcher/clerk for the Belding Police Department, provide a copy of the documents showing approved job description.
60. March 9: As to the current part-time dispatcher/clerk for the Belding Police Department, provide a copy of the documents showing approved employment description.
61. March 9: As to the current part-time dispatcher/clerk for the Belding Police Department, provide a copy of the documents showing current rate of pay and showing from what funds said individual is paid.
62. March 9: Copy of the documents showing the monies the Belding Police Department and/or the City of Belding received for the preliminary breath tests administered at the Belding police station for the fiscal year 2013 as of the date of this writing.
63. March 10: The documents showing the name of the prosecuting attorney and/or law firm for Belding for 2003 and 2004.
64. March 13: The website address at which the documents showing that Belding adopted the Michigan Vehicle Code.
65. March 13: The website address at which the documents showing that the Belding Police Department adopted the Michigan Vehicle Code.
66. March 19: Copy of the documents showing when Belding first adopted the Michigan Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act, Act 2 of 1968, as amended.
67. March 19: Copy of the documents showing when the Belding Police Department first adopted the Michigan Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act, Act 2 of 1968, as amended.
68. March 20: The incident book entries showing the preliminary breath tests administered at the Belding police station for the period of Jan. 1, 2013 through Feb. 5, 2013.
69. March 22: The City of Belding annual report showing the assets from preliminary breath test administered at the Belding police station in compliance with the Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act, Act 2 of 1968, as amended for 2012.
70. March 23: Invoice date 7/07/2010, Reference No. 264290, and copy of the check number 54525 dated 7/09/2010 in the amount of $125 issued to McFadden Law Office PLLC.
71. March 24: The City of Belding annual report showing the assets from preliminary breath test administered at the Belding police station in compliance with the Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act, Act 2 of 1968, as amended for 2011.
72. March 27: The original document(s) issued by the State of Michigan showing the authority of the Dale E. Nelson to be a police officer.
73. March 27: Any subsequent certification documents issued by the State of Michigan thereafter showing the authority of Mr. Nelson to be a police officer.
74. March 29: Copy of the documents showing the authority of the Belding police chief.
75. March 29: Copy of the documents showing the authority of the Belding police officers.
76. March 29: Copy of the documents showing the authority of the Belding dispatchers.
77. March 29: Copy of the documents showing the authority of part-time clerk/dispatcher Jennifer McNinch to handle public monies.
78. March 29: The required bonds held by the individuals above who have handled public monies.
79. March 29: The City of Belding’s annual financial report showing the amount of monies Belding received in assets for preliminary breath test searches for 2002, 2011, and 2012.
80. April 1: The City of Belding annual report showing the assets from preliminary breath test administered at the Belding police station in compliance with the Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act, Act 2 of 1968, as amended for 2005 and 2006.
81. April 5: The City of Belding annual report showing the assets from preliminary breath test administered at the Belding police station in compliance with the Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act, Act 2 of 1968, as amended for the years 2007 and 2008.
82. April 9: Copy of the paycheck issued to Police Chief Nelson immediately after July 1, 2012.
83. April 9: Copy of the paycheck issued to Police Chief Nelson immediately prior to July 1, 2012.
84. April 9: The financial documents showing the monies (dues) paid to the Police Officers Labor Council from Jan. 1, 2012 to date.
85. April 11: Certified copy of the Belding Police Department’s schedule of fees for 2002 through 2013, inclusively.
86. April 17: Financial accounting documents generated and reported by Belding showing 64A District Court fines the city received in revenues for fiscal year 2003.
87. April 19: Documents showing the names of those personnel who were assigned the corresponding badge numbers represented upon the “Incident Book” public documents.
88. April 23: Copy of City Manager Mullendore’s employment contract.
89. April 24: Documents showing the names of those personnel who were assigned the corresponding badge numbers represented upon the 2007 “Incident Book” public documents.
90. April 25: Documents showing the names of those personnel who were assigned the corresponding badge numbers represented upon the 2007 “Incident Book” public documents.
91. April 26: Documents showing the names of those personnel who were assigned the corresponding badge numbers represented upon the 2006 “Incident Book” public documents.
92. April 29: Documents showing the City of Belding’s policies and procedures in the filing of an ethics complaint against Ms. Mullendore.
93. April 29: Documents showing Ms. Mullendore’s previous ethics investigation and outcome.
94. April 29: Copy of Ms. Mullendore’s criminal history record.
95. April 29: Documents disclosing what the city council learned about Ms. Mullendore’s “temper problem” and “the alcohol-related incident at the softball game.”
96. May 1: Belding Police Department’s policies and procedures in responding to calls regarding persons with mental illnesses.
97. May 1: Documents showing the Belding Police Department’s responses to any and all calls made regarding Joel Christian Thomas, including badge numbers.
98. May 3: Any and all employment contracts with Shawn Olger.
99. May 3: Position descriptions of the position of reserve sergeant.
100. May 3: Position descriptions of the position of reserve officer.
101. May 3: Employment qualifications for the position of reserve officer and reserve sergeant.
102. May 3: Documents issued by the State of Michigan or Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards showing all certificates issued to Shawn Olger.
103. May 6: Documents showing authority of Shannon Hummel to be a police officer.
104. May 6: Any certification documents showing the authority of Hummel to be a police officer.
105. May 6: Copy of Hummel’s signed, dated and approved employment contracts.
106. May 7: Documents showing authority of David Thomas to be a police officer.
107. May 7: Any certification documents showing the authority of Thomas to be a police officer.
108. May 7: Copy of Thomas’ signed, dated and approved employment contracts.
109. May 7: Copy of the city clerk’s certification for Resolution No. 2013-03-23
110. May 7: Copy of all published notices of the special city council meeting held March 2, 2013, and meeting minutes.
111. May 7: Copy of all published notices of the special city council meeting held March 25, 2013, and meeting minutes.
112. May 8: Copy of checks issued on May 5, 2013, for Police Officers Labor Council, Mid-Michigan Chiefs of Police and Michigan Local Government.
113. May 8: Documents authorizing council member Andrea Belding to act as Region 3 officer for the Michigan Municipal League.
114. May 11: Copy of annual performance goals and objectives of Police Chief Nelson from 2010 through 2013.
115. May 11: Copy of performance evaluations for Police Chief Nelson from 2010 through 2013.
116. May 12: Documents showing the payments the city of Belding paid to the attorney or law firm for my driving while impaired conviction in 2003.
117. May 13: Documents showing authority of Jason Cooper to be a police officer.
118. May 13: Any certification documents showing the authority of Cooper to be a police officer.
119. May 13: Copy of Cooper’s signed, dated and approved employment contracts.
120. May 13: Documents showing the names of the individuals comprising the City of Belding Personnel Board for 2012 and 2013.
121. May 14: Copies of four city ordinances regarding police reserve officers, admin and control, authority, and limitations.
122. May 15: Documents showing authority of Judy Taylor to be a police officer.
123. May 15: Any certification documents showing the authority of Taylor to be a police officer.
124. May 15: Copy of Taylor’s signed, dated and approved employment contracts.
125. May 17: Documents showing authority of William Burns to be a police officer.
126. May 17: Any certification documents showing the authority of Burns to be a police officer.
127. May 17: Copy of Burns’ signed, dated and approved employment contracts.
128. May 17: Copy of the complete salary history schedule for Police Chief Nelson since date of hire to date.
129. May 18: Documents showing authority of Marci Cooper to be a police officer.
130. May 18: Any certification documents showing the authority of Cooper to be a police officer.
131. May 18: Copy of Cooper’s signed, dated and approved employment contracts.
132. May 18: Documents showing adoption of most recent Municipal Employees Compensation Plan.
133. May 18: Copy of most recent Municipal Employees Compensation Plan adopted.
134. May 18: Copy of accompanying personnel policies and procedures to determine employee compensation for all employees.
135. May 20: Documents showing authority of Timothy Albert to be a police officer.
136. May 20: Any certification documents showing the authority of Albert to be a police officer.
137. May 20: Copy of Albert’s signed, dated and approved employment contracts.
138. May 21: Documents showing the list of all exempt City of Belding employment positions.
139. May 21: Documents showing the list of classified City of Belding employment positions.
140. May 21: Copies of oaths of office of Thomas, Hummel and Albert
141. May 22: Resolutions and certifications for the hiring of Police Chief Nelson.
142. May 22: Resolutions and certifications for contract between Police Chief Nelson and City Manager Wood signed and dated Dec. 3, 2001.
143. May 22: Resolutions and certifications for the understanding for Office of the Chief of Police between the city of Belding and Nelson, signed May 15, 2012.
144. May 24: Copy of resolution showing the appointment of the attorney for the city of Belding.
145. May 24: Copy of Belding ordinance No. 379 (Law Enforcement Training Council).
146. May 24: Copy of Belding ordinance No. 368 (UTC).
147. May 24: The most current resolution showing the appointment of the attorney for the city of Belding pursuant to the Belding City Charter, Section 7.7.
148. May 27: Copies of the oaths of office of: Jason Cooper, Marci Cooper, Burns and Taylor.
149. May 30: Copy of the Collective Bargaining Agreement of the Police Officers Labor Council and Belding Police Department Division prior to the existing 2012-2016 agreement.
150. May 31: Copy of the Collective Bargaining Agreement of the Police Officers Labor Council and Belding Police Department Sergeant’s Division prior to the existing 2012-2016 agreement.
151. June 1: Copy of licenses to Police Chief Nelson to perform as police officer, traffic engineer and salvage vehicle inspector.
152. June 1: Financial documents showing monies paid to the Police Officers’ Labor Council for 2010 and 2009.
153. June 4: Financial documents showing the monies paid to the Police Officers’ Labor Council for the years 2007 and 2008.
154. June 5: Copy of ordinance 414 1.9.103 (Compensation of Appointed Employees)
155. June 5: Copy of Employee Compensation Plan and accompanying personnel policies and procedures
156. June 8: Documents showing city’s Policies and Procedures in implementation of the Veteran’s Preference Act.
157. June 8: Documents showing the adoption of the Fireman and Policemen Civil Service System.
158. June 9: Copy of annual performance goals and objectives established by the city manager and Nelson from Dec. 3, 2001, through May 15, 2012.
159. June 9: Copy of the method of evaluation formulated and conducted by the city manager for Nelson.
160. June 13: Documents showing the number of overtime hours Police Chief Nelson accrued and money received in the month of May 2013.
161. June 17: Documents regarding expenditures and revenues for Belding 911 Dispatch in 2007.
162. June 19: Copy of employment contract with the city attorney appointed under the Belding City Charter.
163. June 19: Documents showing that the attorney for the city of Belding is currently bonded by the city of Belding.
164. June 19: Documents showing the appointment of the city attorney covering the years 2003 and 2004.
165. June 19: Documents showing the appointment of the city attorney covering 2003 and 2004 pursuant to Chapter 7, Section 7.7 of the City Charter.
166. June 29: Documents showing 64A District Court fines received by the city of Belding for 2012.
167. July 13: Documents showing that police officer Jason Cooper took Joel Thomas to be arraigned within 48 hours of his arrest.
168. July 15: Copy of any and all complaints against Joel Christian Thomas issued and filed in July 2013.
169. July 19: Copy of the City of Belding’s annual financial report showing the amount of monies paid to McFadden Law Office PLLC and any of its officers or members in the year 2004.
170. July 21: Copy of the record retention schedule for the Belding Police Department.
171. July 23: Copy of documents showing the City of Belding’s and its governmental officials’ compliance with the State of Michigan Records Reproduction Act, PA 116 of 1992 as amended.
172. July 23: Copy of the City of Belding’s Affirmative Action Plan.
173. July 23: Copy of the City of Belding’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy.
174. July 24: Copy of the particular “forms” which were adopted by the City Council at its meeting as referenced upon the July 2, 2013, meeting packet, which are not published for public inspection.
175. July 24: The city attorney’s approval of the forms referenced above.