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About a dozen residents attended the Monday morning meeting objecting to a possible purchase of computer software linking township assessor property records to the Elba Township Web Site.

Township Clerk Brenda John-son had introduced the $1,500 a year quarterly updated software package at a June township board meeting. The program would make information such as property tax identification numbers, description, owner name, address and value available to all who logged on.

Johnson said information would answer many questions posed by township residents in a timely fashion. She said during tax season many taxpayers phone the office with questions that could be easily answered by the computer.

"The benefit is to the residents," said Johnson. She said recently a house was for sale and she spent 20 minutes on the phone giving information that could have been available by computer. Johnson said residents who want to refinance would also be able to easily access a description on their property.

But former township trustee Robert E. Nelson, Jr., said anyone who wants the information can come into the township office and look it up. He said the benefit would not be to Elba Township taxpayers, but to real estate agents.

Nelson said Johnson was hired to do a job, and if her work load was to be cut, she should cut her salary.

Former township trustee Bill Comstock said the software would be "no benefits and all cost."

Several other residents objected to the purchase and said they didn't want pictures of their property easily available.

"I don't need somebody to know the layout of my property and when it was remodeled," said Comstock. "Does the public need to know the date and time when my taxes are paid?"

Supervisor John Kosiara asked the board if they wanted to table the possible purchase, and Johnson answered with a motion to purchase the equipment. Trustee Michael Hodges suggested they try the equipment on a three-month trial basis and Johnson added it to her motion. Before the board voted, Kosiara polled the audience to see if they'd use the software and received only one yes.

The board turned down the buy 5-2, with Johnson and township treasurer Nina Suter voting yes.