Watertown Charter Township

Watertown Charter Township

Minutes of Board of Trustees Regular Meeting

January 15, 2007

Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Board Members Present: Supervisor Adams, Clerk Husby, Treasurer Thelen, Trustees Maahs, Mitchell, Skerritt, and Weitzel. Staff present: Tubbs

Public Comment:

Jack Enderle, County Commissioner, spoke about his committee appointments and new member orientation.
Kyle Knight reported on the weather related and accidents, high number of deer/car crashes, and the increase in drug related offenses.
Christine Forsyth, Clinton County Conservation District, reported on the upcoming annual meeting, ongoing programs and projects, new staff, new programs, and the spring tree sale. She provided a meeting notice and a newsletter to each board member.

Public Hearing: Hearing opened at 7:17 p.m. Special Assessment for Deer Creek streetlights and fire hydrants. No public comment. Hearing closed at 7:18 p.m.

Consent Agenda: Thelen shared a memo concerning paperwork filed to collect delinquent property taxes and further steps in order to protect the personal property for collection of the taxes. She will consult the township attorney. Adams has received correspondence from Trustee Skerritt announcing his resignation to place as item #10. Husby added the updated bill list and a request from Pat Wysong to schedule an annual meeting with the Clinton County Road Commission for item #11. Thelen provided a copy of PA 608 of 2007 concerning joint fire authorities and compensation to add to correspondence. The township manager’s report on the table was added to the consent agenda. Motion by Skerritt and seconded by Thelen to accept the Consent Agenda items as presented. Motion carried

Agenda Approval: Tubbs requested to add a recommendation from the Planning Commission regarding hiring the Planning Director as item # 1b. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to approve the agenda of the Board of Trustees regular meeting dated January 15, 2007 as amended. Motion carried

Approval of Minutes:

Regular meeting, December 18, 2006: Weitzel commented that the roll call vote to extend the regular meeting beyond 10:30 p.m. was not listed, the motion did not fail, and the meeting was adjourned because it lacked unanimous consent of members present. Skerritt pointed out a name correction on a motion. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Thelen that the minutes of December 18, 2006 be tabled. Motion carried
Special meeting, December 13, 2006: Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Mitchell that the minutes of the special meeting on December 13, 2006 be approved as presented. Motion carried
Special meeting, December 20, 2006: Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Skerritt that the minutes of the special meeting on December 20, 2006 be approved as presented. Motion carried
Special meeting, December 28, 2006: Motion by Skerritt and seconded by Maahs that the special meeting minutes for December 28, 2006 be approved as presented. Motion carried

Approval of bills: Weitzel asked about the Consumers Energy bill for the parking lot light. Husby asked about the $700.00 bill for painting the restrooms. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Mitchell to approve the bills as presented. Motion carried

Pending Business: none

New Business:

1. Appointments: Boards & Committees.

a. Planning Commission for term expiring on March 31, 2009. Motion by Adams and seconded by Thelen to appoint Charles Openlander to the Planning Commission to fill a term expiring on March 31, 2009. Motion carried

b. Planning Commission recommendation for Planning and Zoning Director.

Tubbs explained that she served on the committee that selected and interviewed applicants for this position. Andrea Zeeb has been selected, but she couldn’t attend this Board meeting because she is out of the country. Tubbs offered two suggestions: to accept the recommendation to hire from the Planning Commission executive committee and the Planning Commission; or to schedule a special Board meeting in order to meet the candidate. Weitzel stated that it is essential for the Board of Trustees to meet the applicant in advance of hiring. Husby agreed and added that since all that was offered was the resume and cover letter, that a written summary of the Planning Commission executive committee action and a copy of questions that were asked would be very helpful. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Mitchell to table this issue until the next regular meeting.

Yes: Husby, Weitzel, Mitchell

No: Thelen, Adams, Maahs, Skerritt

Motion failed

Motion by Thelen and seconded by Skerritt that the Board of Trustees meets on February 14, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of meeting and considering for hire the Planning Director candidate. Motion carried

2. a. Cemetery Board appointment-Tom Lowell. Motion by Thelen and seconded

by Mitchell to re-appoint Tom Lowell to the Cemetery Board for a term of three years ending on December 31, 2009. Motion carried

b. Board of Review appointment-Gary Salisbury. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Mitchell to re-appoint Gary Salisbury to the Board of Review for a term of two years ending on December 31, 2008. Motion carried

3. Teamsters Local 214-union contract. Weitzel spoke for the committee of: Adams, Weitzel, and Tubbs, who negotiated the contract. Weitzel reviewed the changes.

Tubbs stated that the holiday schedule was not agreed to and feels the committee needs to look it over. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Thelen that the agreement between the Charter Township of Watertown and the Teamsters, State, County, and Municipal

Workers Local 214 be referred to the three person negotiating committee for review and recommendation to the Township Board.

Motion carried

4. Resolutions-Special Assessment Districts-Links at Royal Scot.

a. Resolution No. 01-152007-1-Declaration of Necessity for Public Improvement of annual streetlight maintenance and operation for the Links at Royal Scot. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Skerritt to waive the reading of the resolution no. 01-152007-1. Motion carried

Motion by Thelen and seconded by Skerritt to adopt resolution no. 01-152007-1

Declaration of Necessity for Public Improvement of annual streetlight maintenance and operation for the Links at Royal Scot as presented.

Yes: Adams, Husby, Thelen, Skerritt, Mitchell, Weitzel, Maahs

No: none

Motion carried and resolution adopted

b. Resolution No. 01-152007-2-Declaration of Necessity for Public Improvement of annual fire hydrant maintenance and operation for the Links at Royal Scot.

Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to waive the reading of resolution no. 01-152007-2. Motion carried

Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to adopt resolution no. 01-152007-2, Declaration of Necessity for public improvement of annual fire hydrant maintenance and operation for the Links at Royal Scot as presented.

Yes: Thelen, Mitchell, Weitzel, Husby, Skerritt, Adams, Maahs

No: none

Motion carried and resolution adopted

5. Resolutions-Special assessment Districts Deer Creek

a. Resolution No. 01-152007-3, Establishment of special assessment district no. 83 for Deer Creek fire hydrant district.

Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to waive the reading of resolution no. 01-152007-3. Motion carried

Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to adopt resolution no. 01-152007-3, establishment of special assessment district no. 83 for Deer Creek fire hydrant district as presented.

Yes: Mitchell, Maahs, Adams, Thelen, Husby, Skerritt, Weitzel

No: none

Motion carried and resolution adopted

b. Resolution No. 01-152007-4, Establishment of special assessment district no. 35 for Deer Creek streetlight district.

Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to waive the reading of resolution no. 01-152007-4. Motion carried

Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to adopt resolution no. 01-152007-4, establishment of special assessment district no. 35 for Deer Creek streetlight district as presented.

Yes: Weitzel, Adams, Skerritt, Mitchell, Husby, Thelen, Maahs

No: none

Motion carried and resolution adopted

6. Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority equipment. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that we concur with the recommendations of the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority to authorize the expenditure of up to $4,000.00 for ventilation equipment and the expenditure of up to $2800.00 for a computer from unexpended operation funds from the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority 2006 Budget. Motion carried

Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that we concur with the recommendation of the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority to authorize the transfer of up to $6800.00 from excess funds from the operating budget for 2006 to a reserve account to be used for the purchase of ventilation equipment and a computer in 2007. Motion carried

7. Sewer Text Amendment. Tubbs explained that this has been ongoing for over a year and it came about with the building on Ingersoll Road. They were allowed to place a building in the Industrial Zone just outside of where sewer is available. Adams further explained that it was in the old zoning ordinance, but somehow didn’t get carried over into the new zoning ordinance and it is a loophole that needs to be closed. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Thelen that the proposed language for a text amendment requiring that “all development proposed in either the B-1, B-2, or LI Zoning District shall be required to be serviced by a public water supply and sanitary sewer system”, be referred to the Planning Commission as a Township Board initiated text amendment and that the process for amendment be initiated at the February 14^th Planning Commission meeting. Motion carried

8. Wall panels for the south room. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Skerritt to approve the purchase of two 6 ft high 10 ft long versi panels from Mity-Lite at a cost of $1762.00 to be taken from the 2006 reserve office equipment fund. Motion carried

9. Herbison Road Property. Tubbs had on the table, correspondence from our attorney concerning the property. Skerritt feels that this property will be a major headache for the Township. Weitzel is concerned with the cost involved. Mitchell asked about burning the structure. Husby suggested again contacting a non-profit home rehab organization to purchase the property. Thelen added that the Township is allowed to sell it, but any profit would go to the State. The Township Manager will compile options and present them to the Board of Trustees in the future.

10. Resignation of Trustee Skerritt. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Husby to accept the resignation of Trustee Alan J. Skerritt, effective March 31, 2007.

Yes: Skerritt, Thelen, Husby, Weitzel, Maahs, Adams, Mitchell

No: none

Motion carried

Thelen would like to give residents sufficient time to investigate the position.

Weitzel would like to consult the township attorney about the process. Husby would like to see it advertised and interviews conducted. Thelen would like the board to have a summary of options by the next regular meeting. The Township manager is to seek an attorney opinion.

11. Clinton County Road Commission-annual meeting date. Husby explained that Pat Wysong called Friday afternoon with dates and times available. Interested members will consult with one another to select a date and time.

Discussion and Public Comment: Mitchell asked about the trucks using Grove Road instead of Airport Road. Weitzel commended those involved with the renovation of the front of the building.

Adjournment- The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.M.

Date approved: February 20, 2007 _____________________________

Deb Adams, Supervisor

______________________________

Jean Husby, Clerk