Watertown Charter Township 

Minutes of Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
January 21, 2008
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, Zay, and Weitzel.  Absent:  Trustee Mitchell with notice.  Staff present:  Tubbs.  Other:  Ron Overton 

Public Comment:

• Jack Enderle, County Commissioner, reported on the election of officers and committee appointments of the Clinton County Board of Commissioners.  They approved $10,000.00 towards the Ingham County mortgage foreclosing counseling program.  They also renewed an agreement with Ingham County for the Veterans Affairs program. 
• Sgt. Knight, County Sheriff Dept., reported on the numbers concerning various types of crimes and incidents for 2007.  He provided an update on the court case concerning speed limits.  There have been a couple of B & E’s.  Public Act 85 concerning speed limits was explained. 
• Deanna Hanieski, 8583 Eaton Hwy, is concerned about getting Eaton Hwy paved.  She wants to know about the progress of the project. 
• Dale Westrick is concerned about inspection fees.
• Gene Adamczyk, 8579 Eaton Hwy., is also concerned about the progress of the paving of Eaton Hwy.  He wants to get it going.  Tubbs reported that the Township has received petitions to not pave Eaton Hwy and she is concerned there is less than 51% support from residents of Watertown Charter Township.  The project hasn’t stopped.  The Township is waiting for advice from their attorney.  There was a question about sharing of the cost for the paving over the whole township.  Tubbs explained that a petition for a ballot initiative could be submitted.  However, a current survey indicates that it would not be supported. 
• John Hanieski, 8583 Eaton Hwy, asked the Board of Trustees to proceed on the project and follow due process.  Tubbs responded that what they are asking the Watertown Charter Township Board of Trustees to do is to support a project that less than 50% of the township residents want to do. 
• Kirk Myers, 8580 Eaton Hwy., suggested that the opposition is caused by the unknown cost of the paving to the property owner.  He wants answers about the funding.
• Tubbs replied that as soon as the Township hears from their attorney, there will be a letter sent out for another meeting.  John Maahs explained that the Board of Trustees has no vested interest in pushing the project or stopping the project.  The Township has to listen to both sides of the issue.  Tubbs explained that one issue involves the taxing authority since this is a borderline road. 
• Tubbs presented the Michigan State University student group that is working on the practicum project for a parks and recreation plan.  They passed out a scope of services.  The students have toured the township and the parks.  They are working on a community profile, an inventory of the parks, and will use GIS mapping.  A student will present a rationale for the program.  They will complete their work by May. 

Consent Agenda:  Adams pulled correspondence no. 11(letter concerning a gym rental) and correspondence no. 14 (Clinton County Sheriff’s office request) t TO place on the agenda as items no. 7 and 8.  Weitzel pulled Board report #1(Facilities manager report) and the Township Manager’s report (Board report no. 13, gift of land) to be placed as agenda items 9 and 10.  Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to approve the Consent Agenda for January 21, 2008 as amended.  Motion carried 

Agenda Approval: Weitzel would like to pull the Clinton County Economic Alliance item from “Approval of Bills”, and add it to the agenda as item no. 11.  The Closed Session will be item #12.   Adams would like to add item no. 1b appointment of Billy Crego to the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority.  Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to approve the January 21, 2008 Board of Trustees agenda as amended.  Motion carried 

Approval of Minutes:  Regular meeting, December 17, 2007- Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to approve the regular meeting minutes dated December 17, 2007 as presented.   Motion carried

Special meeting, December 27, 2007-Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to approve the Board of Trustees special meeting minutes dated December 27, 2007 as presented.   Motion carried 

Approval of bills:   There is an additional bill list on the table.  Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to approve the special bills lists dated January 21, 2008 as amended.   Motion carried 

Pending Business: 

1,         Inspection fees.  Tubbs explained some differences in the rate schedules.  Weitzel commented on the comparison of the townships and he feels that our costs are excessive.    Overton would like to see a two-fee schedule:  a lower one for improvements to a house and a higher one for new construction.  Husby asked how the fees compare by municipalities that have their own department rather than by contract of an inspector.  Maahs quoted a portion of the letter from the Township building inspector and feels it is a complicated subject, that we are in the ballpark.  Weitzel would like the fees to be affordable for the resident to improve their property.  Thelen was surprised at the results. She thought that it CONTRACTING would be a cost saving to the residents.  Tubbs responded that it is a cost saving to the resident because the user is paying the fee.  Husby commented that whatever is done that the Township should be concerned that safety is encouraged.  Maahs suggested that maybe all of the residents should share the cost so that the burden isn’t placed solely on the user.  Larry Barr commented that fees should be related to the services provided. He asked about an ad hoc committee to study the subject and he would like to be on the committee.  Dale Westrick commented that the fees need to be reasonable so that people want to improve their property.  Tubbs recommended that the issue be set aside for a month to allow the township manager and the planning director and the building inspector to come back with some ideas to present to the Board of Trustees.  Weitzel wants to see something done to make the fees fair and reasonable.  It might result in a request for bids for inspection services.  Zay suggested that the same group named has discussed it before and further review may result in a status quo.  There is a long history of how the fees got to this point, and if justified, we should be able to explain to the residents what they are getting for their money.  Rich Pochert commented on the process and the situation.   Maahs suggested that the group should be charged with how to lower fees and if not, why not.  The matter will be sent to the township manager to meet with the planning director and the building inspector to come to a consensus on proposals for the Township Board to hear at the next regular Board meeting on February 19, 2008.

2.         Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority Agreement.  Adams explained that the agreement in the packet has been revised by the attorney and the ad hoc committee.  She spoke with an Eagle Township Board member about some changes that needed to be made.  Adams received a revised document today with the only changes in the preamble.  Eagle Township wants to add “and emergency medical services” to every place where fire protection is used.  She hasn’t had a chance to discuss it with Trustee Mitchell, and she is not ready to recommend to the Board to the changes suggested by Eagle Township.  Husby pointed out that there are some inconsistencies in verbiage concerning medical first response service.  Adams suggested that the Board of Trustees approves the agreement in the Board packet and forwards it on to Eagle Township in its present form.  Thelen suggested that the phrase “and medical first response service at the advance life support level” be inserted where Eagle Township wanted to add “and emergency medical services.”  Adams does not support that change.  It is fire service that they are providing for in the agreement.  Maahs agrees with that concept.  The preamble is the basis for having the fire authority.  Motion by Maahs and seconded by Zay that Watertown Charter Township approves the Joint Fire Authority Agreement presented to the Board dated January 21, 2008 as presented. 
Yes:     Weitzel, Maahs, Zay, Adams, Thelen, Husby
 No:       none            Absent: Mitchell
 Motion carried

            The clerk will notify Eagle Township of the action of approval of the agreement. 

NEW BUSINESS:

1.         Appointments:

a.   Motion by Thelen and seconded by Adams that the Watertown Charter Township Board of Trustees accepts the resignation of Willard Huntoon from the Road Priorities Committee with regrets.  Motion carried

b.   Adams pointed out that the term for a board member should be three years per the agreement.  Motion by Maahs and seconded by Thelen to extend the appointment of Billy Crego to the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority to expire December 31, 2010.  Motion carried

12.       Closed Session.  8:50 p.m.  Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs to go into closed session for the purpose of discussing litigation involving the Township.
Yes:  Adams, Maahs, Weitzel, Zay, Husby, Thelen
No: None  Absent: Mitchell
Motion carried

Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that the Township manager and the chair of the Planning Commission be invited to attend the closed session.  Motion carried

Closed session ended at 9:50 P.M. 

FIVE MINUTE RECESS

5.         Closing of Account #98-130-8, Grand River Sewer Extension.   Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that the Board of Trustees concurs with the treasurer’s recommendation to close savings account #98-130-8, Grand River Sewer Extension with Citizens Bank and to transfer remaining funds to savings account #69-135-2, Sewer Receiving.  Motion carried

6.         Codification.  Husby presented a summary of the progress concerning the Codification.   

7.         Correspondence from Elaine Wells.  Motion by Adams and seconded by Maahs that the $85.00 paid for the rental in December 2007 be transferred to rental for December 2008. 
Yes:  Zay, Adams, Maahs, Weitzel
No:  Thelen, Husby   Absent: Mitchell
Motion carried

9.         Facilities manager report.  Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Thelen that the Township Board directs the Township manager to make an evaluation of the gym rental tables and chairs regarding their condition and report the findings at the February 19, 2008 Board meeting.  Motion carried

10.       Township manager’s staff report concerning the land gift to the Township.  Weitzel explained that the Township Board made a motion at the November regular meeting for the township manager for review and recommendation.   He wants to know the liabilities and responsibilities concerning the property.  He thinks that there should be a reply sent to the attorney for Ms. Welsh.  Tubbs explained the steps that she has taken.  The township manager is to contact the attorney to let him know that the Township is reviewing the request and the possible uses and they anticipate doing a more formal response after the February or March meeting.

11.       Bill for the Clinton County Economic Alliance.  Weitzel would like to know what we would get for the money.  He wants to know their salaries and their staffing.  He wants to make sure that there are no overlaps in services.  Thelen suggested a presentation at the February meeting by Mr. Czarnecki.  Husby will contact him.

8.         Clinton County Sheriff’s Office-contribution for Tri-County Metro Narcotics Unit.  Adams reported that the Township made contributions in 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992 of $2,000.00 each year.  The Township made a contribution of $250.00 in 1996.  Weitzel explained that he was on the Board when some of the contributions were made and it was felt that there were duplication of services with the State Police program.  Thelen noted that at one time, the Board made contributions and then later it was discontinued.  She is uncomfortable with the Township making contributions.  She would like to see a policy and a line item in the budget.  Husby suggested they have to be very specific about offering funds for any program or work through a service agreement.  Motion by Thelen and seconded by Adams to refer the creation of a donation policy to the Policy and Personnel Committee.  Motion carried 

Discussion and Public Comment:   

• Overton said that the Planning Commission is going to have a public hearing concerning the Zoning Ordinance part of the Codification.

Adjournment- The meeting was adjourned at 10:27 P.M.

Date approved: February 19, 2008                                  _____________________________

                                                                                    Deb Adams, Supervisor

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    Jean Husby, Clerk