Avon Twp. officials now must justify trips

Avon Township board members on Monday approved the travel policy that comes in the middle of a squabble with the assessor, who wants to attend a Miami convention about 90 days before he leaves office.

Under the policy, the township supervisor, assessor, trustees and staff members now must justify a trip and gain formal approval for expenditures. The five-member Avon Township board then will decide if a travel request is approved.

"This is not our money. This is the money of the people of Avon Township," said Trustee Sherry Ridge, who worked on the policy Trustee Marc Feldstein.

Trustee William "Bill" McNeill was the lone dissenter in a 4-1 vote, contending state law requires legitimate, budgeted travel expenses for elected officials must be paid.

However, township Supervisor Sam Yingling said legal advice he received indicated the travel policy can apply to all officials except the highway commissioner.

Monday's action came about a month after Yingling said former township Supervisor Shirley Christian improperly issued checks for Assessor Rick Dishman's intended trip to the ProVal International Users Group conference from Sept. 26-Oct. 1 in Miami. Dishman leaves office Dec. 31.

Yingling said minutes from April and May meetings show the township board tabled Dishman's request for about $3,000 for the excursion. Minutes are a summary of what happens at a governmental meeting.

In June, Dishman rejected a township board demand he obtain refunds for everything connected to the ProVal convention. ProVal is a private organization involved with software for real estate tax bills.

Dishman, who didn't attend Monday's meeting, and assistant Penny Heckel, reserved two rooms at Loews Miami Beach Hotel for $1,638. Conference fees for Dishman and Heckel cost $870, with two airline tickets running another $478.

Yingling said Loews last month refunded the $1,638 at his request.

Dishman lost to Bryce Carus in the April election. Carus takes over as assessor on Jan. 1.

Avon Township includes all or part of Grayslake, Hainesville, Third Lake and the Round Lake Area.