The Benton Harbor Brownfield Redevelopment Authority approved its August financial statements and payables Oct. 9 following questions about invoice timing and payables presentation.

Board members scrutinized a list of payables that included financial services invoices from Plant Moran, advisory invoices from Fishback and a legal invoice from the authority’s counsel. Staff said the Plant Moran invoice dated Aug. 29 covered preparation of July financial statements and that the Fishback invoice covered July–August work, and that the board’s usual cadence — preparing monthly financials against the prior month’s activity — can cause what looks like a lag between service dates and invoice dates.

Therese, the authority adviser, explained that Plant Moran bills monthly and that the board typically approves invoices at the next monthly meeting; because the authority missed its September meeting, some invoices that would have been reviewed earlier were presented in October. "You're not approving it now till October. That's why it's an October payable because that's when you're approving it," she said.

After discussion about itemized balances and a request to show restricted developer-reimbursement balances separately in future reports, Member Adams moved to approve the financial statements and payables listing; Member Miguel Clark seconded. A roll call vote recorded Adams, Warren, Chandler, Yates and Clark as voting "yes," 5-0.

Invoices called out in the packet included Plant Moran at roughly $1,100 year-to-date for July and August billing (Plant Moran's monthly fee is billed at a per-unit or per-hour rate shown in the vendor agreement), a Fishback invoice of $11,096.50 for two months of advisory work, and a legal invoice related to a board-member per diem issue. Staff said Fishback provided pro bono or discounted work for a grant application last year but billed for July–August advisory services this cycle.

Board members asked staff to request clearer monthly billing dates from vendors where practical and to ask the finance vendor for a regular delivery schedule so that payables align with meeting dates and reduce confusion.

The board approved the statements and payables by roll call 5-0.