VILLAGE OF ARMADA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2008
7:30PM
President Stork called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. All rose for Pledge of Allegiance. Present at roll call: Stork, Stirrett, Wolak, Clark, Cooper. Absent: Coenen. Also present: Clerk Poulos, Treasurer Adair, Karl Krueger, Wayne Lobeck, Ben Delecke, Dan Sutherland, Doug Skylis, Susan Hohner, Barbara Evely, Tom Arlington (United Water), and Gary Timmer (United Water), Richard Weinand, David Stork, John Paterek and Matt Fahr.
AGENDA, APPROVAL OF
MOTION by Clark, seconded by Cooper, to approve agenda as amended.
Added Planning Commission Resignation as Agenda Item #4.
Added Planning Commission Appointment as Agenda Item #5.
All Ayes CARRIED
CITIZEN COMMENT
Township Supervisor John Paterek welcomed the new Council and expressed his desire to work together. Daniel Sutherland expressed his interest in the open Council seat.
GENERAL BUSINESS
MOTION by Cooper, seconded by Clark, to approve the consent agenda as amended.
All Ayes CARRIED
Approval of RCM Minutes of 11/10/08 pulled, added as Agenda Item #6.
Approval of SCM Minutes of 11/17/08 pulled, added as Agenda Item #7.
Acceptance of Planning Commission Minutes approved for filing, minutes from 8/4/08, 9/3/08, and 10/06/08.
Correspondence approved for filing:
1. NEMC Minutes of 9/24/08.
UNITED WATER REPORT
Gary Timmer, area Manager for United Water, gave a brief summation of his monthly operating report for October, 2008 (on file).
MOTION by Clark, seconded by Wolak, to accept the Monthly Operating Report of United Water as presented and place on file.
All Ayes CARRIED
3. COUNCIL VACANCY
President Stork explained that her seat on Council became available after her election to the President’s seat, leaving a vacancy that should be filled, according to the MML, as quickly as possible. Trustee Wolak asked Council to consider postponing this appointment until a full board is present, Trustee Coenen is on vacation and had requested, via e-mail, that the appointment be made at the first meeting in December when he is present. Susan Hohner, from the audience, stated that she believes that six people ran for three trustee spots and the only choice is to appoint the person who received the next highest votes to the spot, as the people spoke to that effect when voting. Ben Delecke stated that the seat did not exist when the votes were cast and that the former President of the Village has submitted a letter of interest, along with former Trustee Brandon Guse, for this spot and should also be considered. Trustee Stirrett raised several issues for Council to consider including reiterating that the people voted for three spots on Council, not four, and that past practice to fill vacancies has been to advertise, interview and appoint to the most qualified. He also stated that he feels there is no rush to fill the seat and that waiting two weeks for a full board is a better choice, which was agreed upon by Treasurer Adair. Trustee Cooper stated that she and Stirrett both attended a parliamentary procedure class and that she was told that it was important to fill the vacancy as soon as possible. She also stated that she had spoken to people who feel that seat should go to the person who received the next highest votes in the election.
MOTION by Wolak, seconded by Stirrett, to table this issue until the first meeting
in December.
Ayes: Wolak Stirrett
Nays: Cooper, Stork, Clark
Absent: Coenen FAILED
Trustee Clark stated that he would like Coenen to be present for the vote but believes the next highest vote getter should be appointed the seat since it is so close to the election. President Stork feels that the people have spoken. Wolak stated the he feels going forward with the vote takes away Coenens right as a Council person.
MOTION by Cooper, seconded by Clark, to appoint Dan Sutherland to the open seat on Village Council to a term ending November 19, 2010, subject to the appointee meeting the qualifications set forth in Chapter II of the Village Charter
Ayes: Stork, Clark, Cooper
Nays: Wolak, Stirrett
Absent: Coenen CARRIED
4. PLANNING COMMISSION RESIGNATION
The Council was presented with a letter of resignation from Sherri Cooper from the Planning Commission due to her election to the Village Council.
MOTION by Wolak, seconded by Clark, to accept the resignation of Sherri Cooper from the Planning Commission, with regret, effective 11-20-08.
All Ayes CARRIED
5. PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTMENT
President Stork recommended Debra Randall to fill one of the open seats on the Planning Commission. She stated that she and Planning Commission President Ben Delecke had met with her and believe she is a good candidate. She reminded Council that there are currently three open seats on the Planning Commission and stated that the Village had received three letters of interest and will interview for the other seats. The need to fill one seat is due to upcoming Planning Commission issues where a full board is needed and this will give one extra person over the quorum. Stork plans to fill the other two seats at an upcoming Council Meeting.
MOTION by Stirrett, seconded by Cooper, to appoint Debra Randall to the open seat on the Village Planning Commission to a term ending December 31, 2010, subject to the appointee meeting the qualifications set forth in Chapter II of the Village Charter.
All Ayes CARRIED
6. APPROVAL OF RCM MINUTES OF 11/10/08
This item was pulled from Consent. Stirrett and Cooper will abstain from this vote since they were not part of the Council during the meeting for which the minutes are submitted. Correction to page 1, under Agenda, Approval of, Boelke’s name is spelled incorrectly.
MOTION by Clark, seconded by Wolak, to approve minutes of the November 10, 2008, regular meeting of the Village Council, as amended.
Ayes: Clark, Wolak, Stork
Nays: None
Abstain: Stirrett, Cooper
Absent: Coenen
7. APPROVAL OF SCM MINUTES OF 11/17/08
This item was pulled from Consent. Stirrett and Cooper will abstain from this vote since they were not part of the Council during the meeting for which the minutes are submitted.
MOTION by Clark, seconded by Wolak, to approve minutes of the November 17, 2008, special meeting of the Village Council, as presented.
Ayes: Clark, Wolak, Stork
Nays: None
Abstain: Stirrett, Cooper
Absent: Coenen
OLD BUSINESS
1. BURK STREET BRIDGE
President Stork commented on a discovery of the condition of the Burk Street Bridge during recent work. She read from a letter submitted by DPW Supervisor Ed Serwatowski describing concrete spalling on the south end top of box beams 3 and 10 and minor spalling on the north end of box beam 3 and that the damage was 1.5’ by 3’ down to the rebar of the box beams. He explained that this is from salt water getting through the cracks and the importance of crack sealing the roadways. The damage could have been much worse if the bridge had not been repaired this year.
President Stork announced the following upcoming community events:
Kortes IGA –Drop receipts in the barrel at Kortes and a portion of the receipt total will be donated to the Middle School for supplies.
Holly Days – Annual event will be held December 6. Christmas Caroling begins at 5:30 downtown, tree lighting ceremony is at 6:00, and parade begins as 6:30.
Armada ACE – Accepting letters for Santa beginning Wednesday, November 26, 2008.
ABA – Hosting the first annual home and yard Christmas decorating contest. Entry forms are available at most downtown businesses and can be dropped off at CSB Bank or Kortes IGA by December 10, judging will be on December 17, and winners will be announced December 20, coinciding with the annual Santa Parade hosted by the Armada Lions.
No further business.
Meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m.
Minutes submitted by:
Michelle Poulos, Armada Village Clerk