New Ross council reviews local-attorney contract, adjusts fuel-card access and opens annexation talk

New Ross officials met at 5:30 p.m. and reviewed several administrative items, including a proposed hourly contract with a local law firm and operational changes to town credit cards to ease fuel access for groundskeeping.

The town clerk told the council she had located a local firm, identified in the transcript as Taylor Manette Snider and Clutter, and presented a draft agreement that would move the town from a retainer model to hourly billing at a governmental rate. "It's an hourly rate, so it's not retainer anymore," the clerk said, adding the contract is a standard engagement the town can opt out of in the future. The transcript does not record a formal vote or explicit signature at the meeting.

The clerk also described a plan to reallocate $500 of available credit to raise the limit on a marshal-issued card that is currently set at $200, enabling the groundskeeper, Marvin, to use a card for fuel without repeatedly retrieving the town card. "We're going to lower the town credit card $500 and then we're going to put that $500 on their card so that makes their limit higher," the clerk said, and noted the bank requires signatures to implement the change.

Council members discussed other operational items: completing nepotism disclosure forms; a 26-minute internal-control online training the clerk asked members to watch; and a capital asset plan that the clerk said is complete and will be added to the annual financial report for submission at a future meeting.

The council considered maintenance and equipment needs for parks and grounds: the clerk outlined options for a small utility vehicle to water public flowers and support events, noting the town recently purchased a John Deere tractor due in April. Members raised concerns about using an older tank with possible fertilizer residue, which could harm plantings, and agreed to shop for alternatives. The transcript records an unclear price reference for a used unit (the speaker said "they're asking 69"); the exact price was not specified in the record.

On broader policy, a council member raised the prospect of a town-led annexation that could bring outlying parcels — including the sewer plant currently outside town limits — into the town. The member said annexation could shift tax receipts from the township to the town and potentially attract businesses, but also noted responsibilities such as road upkeep and street lighting. No formal annexation petition or vote was recorded.

The meeting also covered scheduling for a town cleanup (options discussed included mid- to late April or early May and a six-free-dumpster arrangement the town receives from the trash company), and a preliminary farmers-market schedule: markets were likely to run monthly on third Tuesdays from May through September in the steakhouse parking lot, organizers were asked to coordinate with the speaker.

The town marshal reported no items. The meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m.

The transcript shows presentation and discussion only; the record does not include formal motions or recorded votes on the attorney agreement, credit-card limit change, or annexation steps.