Watertown Charter Township

Watertown Charter Township

Minutes of Board of Trustees Regular Meeting

May 21, 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, Trustees Maahs, Mitchell, Weitzel, and Zay. Absent: Thelen with notice. Staff present: Tubbs, Polverento

Public Comment:

· Jack Enderle addressed the Board and commented on the budget.

· Stephen Fabiano reported that they responded to 37 requests for services in April.

· Dale Westrick, 9041 W Herbison Road, addressed the Board concerning the fees charged for permits for building decks. John Maahs will speak with the building department and get back with him.

· Sgt. Knight reported on the Summer Lane issue. The prom season program was very successful. Destruction of school property occurred in Riley Township and DeWitt Township. The department is now participating in the "click it or ticket" program.

· Scott Eavey addressed the Board concerning a problem with barking dogs. He has made several complaints and talked with the neighbor, but there has been no resolution to the problem which stated in 2002. He wants to know about the ordinance enforcement procedure and when he will get some resolution to this problem. Tubbs explained that the letter she sent today gives notice that the neighbor has two weeks to comply with the noise ordinance. He should continue his complaint calls if needed in order for the process to move to the next step.

Consent Agenda: Husby commented on the new alert from MTA concerning pending legislation to remove election, assessing, and tax collection from the townships and transfer them to the county. It should be added to “correspondence.” There were three items on the same issue. Motion by Maahs and seconded by Weitzel to approve the consent agenda as amended. Motion carried

Agenda Approval: Adams asked to add the memo from Trustee Maahs as item #10. Memo on mileage reimbursement will be #11. Husby noted the additional bill list for bills to be approved. Red Team item concerning membership can be added to item #4. Motion by Maahs and seconded by Mitchell to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried

Approval of Minutes: Regular meeting, April 16, 2007. Motion by Maahs and seconded by Mitchell to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried

Approval of bills: Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs to approve the bills as amended. Motion carried

Pending Business:

Zoning ordinance amendments. Husby noted that this is the second reading for 13.4c, 14.4c, 15.4 d, and 3.10c. Motion by Maahs and seconded by Husby to adopt the additions to Section 13.4c, 14.4c, 15.4d, and amendments to 3.10c, to the Zoning Ordinance

Yes: Mitchell, Adams, Maahs, Zay, Weitzel

No: Husby

Absent: Thelen

Motion carried and amendments adopted

2. Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority-Pending Authority Agreement. The two person committee needs direction concerning the Board’s opinion. There will be a special meeting on Wednesday, May 30^th at 6:00 P.M. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that the Township Board establish a special meeting on May 30^th at 6:00 P.M. for the purpose of discussing the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority-pending Authority Agreement. Motion carried

New Business:

1. Appointments:

a. Planning Commission-Beth Ball (term to expire on March 31, 2008). Adams recommended to the Board of Trustees the appointment of Beth Ball to the Planning Commission for a term expiring on March 31, 2008. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs to concur with the recommendation of the township supervisor and appoint Beth Ball to the Planning Commission for a term expiring on March 31, 2008.

Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs to table the appointment of Beth Ball. Motion carried

Motion by Maahs and seconded by Weitzel to accept the resignation of Beth Ball from the Compensation Committee. Motion carried

Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that the appointment of Beth Ball to the Planning Commission be brought from the table. Motion carried

Vote on original motion: Motion carried

b. Appointee to the newsletter/website review committee. Presently, Trustees Weitzel and Mitchell the only newsletter committee members and there needs to be a third appointed. Husby explained that she and Trustee Weitzel discussed having some oversight for the website and possibly creating guidelines for the website. The website committee review could be managed by the newsletter committee. Weitzel, Mitchell, and Zay volunteered to be members to an ad hoc website review committee. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Husby to appoint Trustee Zay to the newsletter committee.

Motion carried

2. Partial PA 116 termination-Mulder. Motion by Maahs and seconded by Mitchell to waive the reading of the resolution. Motion carried

Motion by Husby and seconded by Maahs that the Township Board adopt the resolution

for partial termination of the property owned by Tim Mulder described in the resolution

as 2.35 acres at 12450 Forest Hill Road as described on the attached survey.

Yes: Adams, Maahs, Mitchell, Zay, Weitzel, Husby

No: none

Absent: Thelen

Motion carried and resolution adopted

3. Wetlands Ordinance Committee. Polverento presented a memo concerning a committee to develop a wetlands ordinance. Maahs thought that maybe the Environmental Affairs Committee could do research. Zay commented that when a wetland is filled in that the water goes elsewhere. He felt that an inventory would be good as a beginning. Motion by Adams and seconded by Maahs to refer to the subject of wetlands protection to the Environmental Affairs Committee to look at the cost and the feasibility of developing a wetlands ordinance. Motion carried

Maahs will initiate a meeting. Trustee Zay is included in the committee.

4. RED Team membership. Husby highlighted the proposal for RED Team to become a committee of LEAP. The 2007 dues will transfer. There is a special meeting on Wednesday, May 23 at LCC to vote on the proposal. New funds will go to LEAP and some of the funds will go to Tri-County. LEAP is being driven by private enterprise. Motion by Maahs and seconded by Mitchell in support of the RED Team to evolve into a committee under LEAP.

Yes: Zay, Adams, Mitchell, Maahs

No: Husby, Weitzel

Absent: Thelen

Motion carried

6. Road project requests. Tubbs reported that the Township just received an estimate from the Road Commission for Eaton Hwy. The estimate came in at approximately $898,000.00. She and Dennis Williams from Delta Township would like to hold a joint, informal meeting of the residents from both townships. Maahs asked that there notice be mailed to everyone on the road. The meeting should be within two weeks. Eaton Hwy and State Road paving will be placed on pending for their public hearings.

5. Payment by credit card. Motion by Maahs and seconded by Weitzel to refer “payment by credit card” to Policy and Personnel for further review and clarification. Motion carried

7. SCCMUA-disposition of remaining 2006 Fund Balance. Motion by Maahs and seconded by Husby that the unreserved retained earnings of $54,675.00 remaining from 2006 Fund Balance be deposited into Sewer Revenues account number 590.000.001.697.001. Motion carried

8. 2007 recommended road projects. Tubbs explained that these are what she feels absolutely need to be done. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs to approve the Clinton County Road Commission projects date 4-05-07 contract numbers 497.015-157703, 157704, and 489.015159701, 159702 in a total not to exceed $82,808 with the funds coming from township account number 446.000.801.008. Motion carried

9. Budget adjustments. Motion by Maahs and seconded by Mitchell that the budget adjustments dated 5/21/2007 be approved as presented. Motion carried

10. Memo from Trustee Maahs concerning a program that he would like to see instituted. It involves a model citizen award to be given out each year. The general public would nominate and a committee would review the names submitted. He would like to share good news for a change. A certificate could be awarded at the Memorial Day services. Motion by Maahs and seconded by Weitzel for the establishment of a committee of three, consisting of two Township Board members and one citizen, to accept and review nominations from the public and make a determination of merit for one or two Model Citizens on an annual basis, occurring on or about Memorial Day. Motion carried

Trustee Maahs and Clerk Husby volunteered to be on the committee.

11. Mileage reimbursement. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Mitchell that the mileage reimbursement practices be referred to the Policy and Personnel Committee for further review. Motion carried

Reports:

Weitzel commented that he asked Jack Keyes to attend the last Planning Commission meeting. At the next Planning Commission meeting, he will be making a presentation to the Planning Commission to make them aware of the county’s role in the procedure. Weitzel suggested that Board members attend that meeting.
Husby reported that she attended a records management seminar. She would like a disaster plan pertaining to vital records be referred to the Public Safety Committee for a development of a disaster plan. There is a need for electronic mail retention policies. Motion by Husby and seconded by Mitchell to refer disaster planning to the Public Safety Committee. Motion carried
Motion by Husby and seconded by Mitchell to refer that subject of electronic mail retention policies to Policy and Personnel for review and consideration. Motion carried
Husby would also like the Board By-law Review Committee meet. Maahs volunteered to be on the Board By-law Review Committee.

Discussion and Public Comment:

Husby announced that the 4-H Club will be helping with flower planting and flag placing in the cemetery on May 24. The parade will be this Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and the Triathlon will begin at 7:00 a.m.
Robert Erskine spoke about “opensource.org.” He asked about an IT committee. He also asked about ordinance codification. He also asked about the petition that he submitted.
Weitzel added another subject for the Policy and Personnel Committee-announcements, staff and Board member comments.

Adjournment- The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 P.M.

Date approved: ________________ _____________________________

Deb Adams, Supervisor

______________________________

Jean Husby, Clerk