CFS board members upset (12/15/2008)

One appointment by the Jay County Commissioners has members of a local board upset.

Members of the Community and Family Services advisory board stopped in this morning to object to the appointment of Jim Bruner to the CFS executive board. The commissioners appointed Bruner after receiving a recommendation from outgoing board member Bill Kelly.

"Our recommendation is he doesn't be appointed," said Clarel Strausburg, who spoke for the advisory board. "We've had problems in the past with Mr. Bruner."

Bruner served as president of the advisory board earlier this year, but resigned from the position in June. Neither side provided specifics as to why, but friction between members was a definite contributing factor.

Bruner was at first reluctant when approached by the commissioners to fill the position, and said this morning that tense relations with some other board members was one of the reasons.

Another complaint the advisory board presented was that they were unaware a new appointment was being made. Stausburg said he was under the impression that a member of the advisory board would be selected to fill a vacancy on the executive board, and that the council would present a recommendation to the commissioners.

"It doesn't say it has to be from the advisory council," said attorney George Lopez after reading the bylaws. Although that may have been initiated by past practice, there is no rule on the books stating such.

"The commissioners can appoint anyone they want to sit on the board," said commissioner Milo Miller Jr., but told the advisory members that he would speak with Bruner to try to resolve the situation.

"It doesn't surprise me," said Bruner, when commissioners spoke with him later in the morning. "I ain't going to be upset one way or the other."

Bruner said some staff and executive board members he had spoken to were happy to see he would be coming in, as well as interim director Joe Fennig. While aware some people don't get along with him, and hadn't with his predecessor Kelly, he told commissioners he is not intimidated and won't step down unless they think it's the best decision.

The commissioners plan to contact Fennig to get his input on the situation before making any decisions. If retained, Bruner's term will begin effective Jan. 1.

In other business today, the commissioners:

•Expressed their likely intent to purchase the former First National Bank building if the price comes back within allowable margins. The commissioners received two appraisals on the buildings - $155,000 and $146,000 - and are allowed to spend up to the average, ($150,500) to purchase the building using money from the infrastructure fund.

The commissioners are waiting to hear back on a selling price, but anticipate they can purchase the building for around $130,000.

See The annex will likely become to the new home of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Office, which will move out of the annex building on West Arch Street that it currently shares with the Jay County Health Department.

The 4,500-square foot building would provide adequate space for the extension office as well as additional room for courthouse storage.

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