Board discusses salary benchmarking and an 'entrance' finance audit; staff to refine RFPs and return with costs

The board discussed two procurement topics intended to improve compensation transparency and financial oversight: a salary benchmarking and wage survey and an entrance-style financial audit.

Trustees said the township lacks a standardized salary structure and asked staff to issue an RFP to gather market data on wages and total compensation (salary plus benefits). Finance staff recommended that a consultant should report in time to inform next year’s budget cycle (results by December/January were suggested). Trustees asked that proposals break out wage and benefits costs so the board can phase work across fiscal years if needed.

Board members also discussed an RFP for an entrance-style audit covering several fiscal years prior to the current administration (draft RFP listed 04/01/2019–03/31/2024). Finance staff and the township manager said standard external audits already cover internal-control testing, but trustees asked for a deeper “entrance” or forensic-style review to surface any systemic issues and to define improvements to policies (purchase order practice, posting to correct accounts and nonemployee credit-card use were mentioned). Trustees and staff said they will require oral interviews of finalists and prioritize timely results so upcoming contract negotiations and budgeting (police contract timing was raised) can use the findings.

Trustees asked staff to circulate a revised RFP incorporating board comments and to return with proposed budgets; staff noted the work was not yet budgeted and asked trustees to identify funding sources if they want both projects done in the current fiscal year.

Ending: Staff will revise both RFP drafts to include a clear scope of work, breakout of wages vs. benefits research, a recommended schedule to deliver results before December and an oral-interview step for finalists, and return the documents for board action at a future meeting.