Watertown Charter Township
Minutes of Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
November 19, 2007
7:00 P.M.
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, and Trustees Maahs, Mitchell, Weitzel, and Zay. Staff present: Tubbs, Polverento
Public Comment:
Jack Enderle, County Commissioner, commented on the investiture of the new judge. He reported that the County adopted its budget. There is a Green Space public hearing on November 27th at 6:30 P.M. There is interest in farmland preservation and they will be getting into that in the near future. There was discussion concerning the county passport services.
Steve Fabiano, fire chief, reported 50 calls in October. Calls for the year are up 14%.
Sgt. Knight reported that there have been 157 car/deer accidents in October. Things have been pretty quiet. The dog problem is ongoing.
Donna Bachelder, 8045 Eaton Hwy, addressed the subject of paving Eaton Hwy. She feels that the petition for paving is deficient and would like to have it checked.
Janice Lynch, 8650 Eaton Hwy, wants to know how much money will be needed on the Watertown Charter Township side of the road. She spoke with the assessor concerning plat or parcels.
Paul Luzynski, 8918 Eaton Hwy, did not realize that signing the petition would lead to paving the road. He thought that it was to do a study. He wants to take his name off the petition.
Jeanne Adleman, 7658 Eaton Hwy, stated that it will be a financial hardship for her family to pay the assessment for paving Eaton Hwy. She is protesting it.
Sandra Adleman was in attendance to speak for Cheryl Maier and asked what act the special assessment would be under. Adams suggested that she should put her feelings in writing.
Mark Hamelink, 8801 Eaton Hwy, is against the paving. There is too much traffic and the paving would create more.
Eva Feazel, 9810 Eaton Hwy, suggested that all of Eaton Hwy or none should be paved-not a partial paving.
Thelen suggested that it should be discussed later and she would like an update on the petition process.
Eric Dewey, 8783 Eaton Hwy, said that he signed a petition five years ago and he wondered if all of the petitions had been combined. Dewey also asked about the interest rate and payments, etc.
Kirk Ramsey, 16933 Wacousta Road, is concerned that they haven’t had any notification on the process. He asked how the cost is being assessed. He likes the paving on Wacousta Road and doesn’t think it has created more traffic. He spoke about combining lots.
Tubbs said that all of those involved in the paving of Eaton Hwy will get a notice in writing of the meeting where the Board will consider whether or not to go ahead with the project. It was to be discussed at the December 17th meeting, but it may not be discussed until January 19, 2008.
There was a question concerning government participation in paving or other improvements.
Consent Agenda: Weitzel asked to move Board Report #6 and also Correspondence #2 to the agenda . Motion by Mitchell and seconded by Thelen to approve the consent agenda as amended. Motion carried
Agenda Approval: Husby requested "setting a meeting for the public hearing for the budget" be added to the agenda. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Mitchell to approve the November 17, 2007 agenda as amended. Motion carried
Approval of Minutes: Regular meeting, October 15, 2007- Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Mitchell that the minutes of the regular meeting on October 15, 2007 be approved as presented. Motion carried
Special meeting, October 9, 2007-Motion by Mitchell and seconded by Zay that the minutes of October 9, 2007 be approved as presented. Motion carried
Closed session, September 17, 2007-Motion by Thelen and seconded by Mitchell to approve the minutes of the closed session of September 17, 2007 as presented. Motion carried
Approval of bills: Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Thelen to approve the bill list for November 19, 2007 and the supplemental bill list for November 19, 2007. Motion carried
Pending Business:
1. Review of 2008 Budget. Husby wanted to discuss Capital Improvements. She would like to see the $10,000 budgeted for the Gator removed from the budget. She asked about the $30,000 for general repair and maintenance. Motion by Husby and seconded by Mitchell to remove $10,000 for the Gator from the 2008 Budget. Motion carried
2. Hardship Exemption-Poverty Guidelines. Adams would like to have this item removed from the agenda. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs to refer the "Hardship Exemption-Poverty Guidelines" to the supervisor’s office for review and recommendation and the item be removed from Pending Business agenda. Motion carried
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Franchino Mold & Engineering Company-request for resolution to join the Michigan Tool & Die Renaissance Recovery Zone Program. Bill Elliott from Franchino Mold & Engineering Company stated that by receiving the tax break, they would be able to upgrade to new technology, etc. There is so much out-sourcing to China that they need to remain competitive. They have been a good neighbor to the township. He is looking at ten years because it would match them with the others in the consortium. Weitzel commented the Township gave five years to Eckhart and there is a need to be fair and consistent. Thelen presented a spreadsheet with the taxes lost for the first year as approximately $8,000.00. Tubbs added that they can apply for an extension after demonstrating that they are good neighbors as can Eckhart.. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Mitchell to waive the reading of the resolution. Motion carried
Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Mitchell to adopt the resolution to request the State of Michigan designate Franchino Mold and Engineering a Renaissance Recovery Zone for a duration of up to five years.
Husby suggested a longer duration, since they have been in business for many years here. Thelen agreed that the company has earned the right for a longer waiver of taxes.
Yes: Mitchell, Adams, Maahs, Zay, Weitzel, Husby
No: Thelen
Motion carried and resolution adopted
Thelen voted no because she wanted it to be for a longer period of time.
2. Gift of vacant land on the Looking Glass River by Inez Parks Welsh. The Township received a letter from the attorney for Inez Parks Welsh who wants to gift this parcel to the township. Adams would like to refer this to the township manager to bring back information to the Township Board. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Thelen to refer this to the township manager’s office for review and recommendation. Motion carried
3. Capital Improvements, Yearly Review. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Zay that the Watertown Charter Township Board of Trustees changes the priority rating on Project #13, Elements of the Non-Motorized Circulation Plan in the Township Capital Improvements Plan from Mid to High.
Yes: Zay, Thelen, Adams, Maahs, Husby, Weitzel
No: Mitchell
Motion carried
4. Habitat for Humanity-offer of purchase for the Herbison Road property. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Mitchell to accept the offer from Habitat for Humanity, Clinton County to purchase the property located at 8949 W. Herbison "as is" for $7,082.00.
Yes: Adams, Husby, Maahs, Zay, Weitzel, Mitchell, Thelen
No: none
Motion carried
5. Compensation Commission Resolution. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to waive the reading of the resolution. Motion carried
Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Thelen that the Township Board accepts the Resolution to Establish Township Officer Salaries for 2008 and 2009.
Yes: Thelen, Zay, Husby, Adams, Maahs, Weitzel
No: Mitchell
Motion carried
6. Policy and Personnel Recommendations:
a. Purchasing procedure amendment-Policy 4.14 Written Quotations and Sealed Bids. Weitzel explained that the Policy and Personnel Committee met on November 13th and made the following recommendations: Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Mitchell on behalf of the Policy and Personnel to amend Policy 4.14 Written Quotations and Sealed Bids by adding a new paragraph-"Cooperative purchasing programs: Bidding requirements may be waived by the Township supervisor if the purchase of supplies, equipment, or services is available through cooperative purchasing programs or associations." Motion carried
Zay suggested that we track savings.
b. Cost of living adjustment-non-union employees. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs on behalf of the Policy and Personnel Committee that the Township Board grants a cost of living increase of 3% to the planning director, bookkeeper, and the township manager assistant for the fiscal year 2008.
Yes: Maahs, Adams, Zay, Weitzel, Husby
No: Thelen, Mitchell
Motion carried
c. Committee recommendations-Township website. Weitzel explained that there are three people doing most of the minutes for the boards and committees. Township manager Tubbs explained that she has asked the departments to give the information to the website manager. Husby asked that the committee review the content of the website to consider all the other things that could be posted there such as the budget, the audit, the CIP, etc.
7. Joint Fire Authority Agreement. Mitchell reported that they have had meetings with Eagle Township. They decided to clarify some language and make additions, so Adams contacted Tom Yeadon to provide proposed language. It was sent to Eagle Township.
Most of the new language was discussed, with a couple of corrections and further clarifications asked for.
8. Eaton Hwy paving report. Tubbs reported on the most recent meeting. She is uncomfortable in moving forward without contacting the bonding attorney. She thinks that it is questionable whether or not there is 51% on the petition for both Delta Charter Township and Watertown Charter Township? Thelen suggested that the petition be checked to make sure that there is 51% of the road frontage represented on the petition. Husby noted that the signatures have been rechecked and two of the signers have registered since January when the petition was turned in. Tubbs suggested that after speaking with counsel that there is another informational meeting. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Thelen that advice and recommendation be sought from the Township Bonding Counsel regarding issues with the Eaton Highway paving project. Motion carried
9. Budget adjustments. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Husby to approve the budget adjustments as presented. Motion carried
10. Zoning Ordinance codification issues. Polverento has been reviewing from the old to the new and found several issues concerning the codification. She spoke with Tom Yeadon about this. He suggested that the best way to remedy this would be to adopt a new ordinance. Board members felt that this would be unacceptable. The changes should be brought into the Code of Ordinances. It needs to be in one document. Husby has reviewed many of the other ordinances and has not found problems so far, but many changes occur to the zoning ordinances annually. All corrections and amendments will be forwarded to the township attorney.
11. Correspondence #2-letter from Debra Auge. The letter concerns fees for building permits. Weitzel thinks that the Board of Trustees needs to take some action. He suggested that the supervisor’s office research to see if these fees are in line with the neighboring townships’ fees. Husby reminded him that the assignment for this had made in June and if we are going to refer this again we need a report date. Weitzel would like to see a breakdown of how the fees are split. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that the Township Board directs the Township manager to review the building permit fee structure and contractual services and report her findings to the Township Board at the January 2008 meeting. Motion carried
Thelen would also like the name of the building inspector to be noted in the report.
12. Budget hearing. A public hearing will be noticed for December 4, 2007 at 6:00 P.M.
Discussion and Public Comment:
Adjournment- The meeting was adjourned at 10:14 P.M.
Date approved: ________________ __________________________
Deb Adams, Supervisor
__________________________ Jean Husby, Clerk