VILLAGE OF ARMADA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
7:00PM
President Stork called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All rose for Pledge of Allegiance. Present at roll call: Stork, Stirrett, Clark, Cooper, Wolak, and Sutherland. Absent: Coenen. Also present: Treasurer Adair, Frank and Laurie Parise, Brian Lee, Tom Arlington, Gary Timmer, Scott Chabot, Richard and Joan Weinand.
AGENDA, APPROVAL OF
MOTION by Cooper, seconded by Clark, to approve agenda as amended.
Removed Approval of RCM Minutes of 11/09/09 from Consent, added as Agenda Item #11.
Removed Amendment to Approved Minutes of 10/26/09 from Consent, added as Agenda Item #12.
All Ayes CARRIED
CITIZEN COMMENT
Laurie and Frank Parise of 23455 Torrey Street raised concerns to Council about their driveway approach. They expressed dissatisfaction with the repairs done to the approach. Mrs. Parise had previously spoken to Scott Chabot and President Stork and was confident that the repairs would be correctly done but she claims that is not the case and brought pictures to the meeting to show to Council. Street Administrator Clark stated that the repairs were not aesthetically pleasing but the project budget was met. President Stork suggested Mrs. Parise speak to the Street Administrator prior to the approval of the budget so this might be considered in next years budget.
GENERAL BUSINESS
MOTION by Cooper, seconded by Stirrett, to approve the consent agenda as amended.
All Ayes CARRIED
Approval of RCM Minutes of 10/26/09 pulled, added as Agenda Item #11.
Payment of Bills totaling $19,778.97 approved for payment as follows:
1. General Fund $ 8,958.68
2. Water Plant Fund $ 5,165.14
3. Water System Fund $ 0
4. Sewer Plant Fund $ 0
5. Sewer System Fund $ 65.03
6. Major Street Fund $ 1,566.06
7. Local Street Fund $ 1,596.76
8. Municipal Street Fund $ 2,427.98
9. DDA $ 0___
Total $ 19,779.65
C. Treasurer’s Report approved for filing.
Correspondence approved for filing:
1. Letter from Clerk to residents about sidewalk reconstruction
postponement.
2. Letter from DEQ dated October 30, 2009.
3. Letter from the Community Services Agency dated 11-13-09.
E. Amendment to Approved Minutes of 10/26/09 removed, added as Agenda
Item #12.
2. UNITED WATER REPORT
Gary Timmer of United Water gave a brief summation of his monthly operating report for the Waste Water Treatment Plant. He stated that the Motive Pump #1 is back up and running for now, all three tanks are in service. The new pump has been ordered and will arrive within 8-10 weeks. The mixer has been fixed and five are now operational. At the last update, the mixer was mounted and they were waiting for an electrician to hook up, which has now been completed. Initial design included three mixers per tank, but United Water has found that two are sufficient to mix the sludge. One mixer is in pieces and will be used for parts to cut expenses. The report was accepted by Stirrett to be placed on file.
3. EMPLOYEE BLUE CROSS RENEWAL
The Clerk prepared a summary of the options for the Blue Cross renewal as several options were presented to the Clerk in a meeting with Mike Arsenault, the Village insurance representative from Cardamone Insurance. The Clerk met with the employees to discuss these options and discuss their concerns with changing the existing coverage. On behalf of the absent Clerk, the Treasurer explained to Council the current coverage and the options. After a lengthy discussion, the Council agreed with the Clerks suggestion, if changing from the current plan, of a slight increase to the deductibles, which the Village pays for under the current HRA plan, saving the Village $2,669.76 per year in premiums.
MOTION by Cooper, seconded by Sutherland, to approve Alternative #5 offered from Blue Cross for the Health, Prescription Drug, Dental and Vision Insurance for the Village of Armada at the same level of coverage for calendar year 2010 at a cost of $3,470.76 per month.
Ayes: Stirrett, Cooper, Sutherland, Clark, Wolak, Stork
Nays: None
Absent: Coenen CARRIED
4. EMPLOYEE GIFT CERTIFICATES
President Stork explained to Council that it has been the Village's tradition to present the employees with Christmas gift certificates for Village businesses. She asked Council to allow the Clerk to prepare and present these certificates for the employees.
MOTION by Wolak, seconded by Cooper, to allow the Clerk to prepare and present the Village employees with Christmas gift certificates.
Ayes: Wolak, Cooper, Clark, Stork, Stirrett, Sutherland
Nays: None
Absent: Coenen CARRIED
5. EMPLOYEE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATION COMMITTEE
The employee agreements will expire on March 31, 2010 and a negotiation committee needs to be organized to meet when the employees are ready to discuss their agreements. President Stork asked for volunteers to sit on this committee.
MOTION by Clark, seconded by Wolak, to appoint Trustees Cooper, Stirrett, and Sutherland to the Negotiation Committee for the employee agreements.
All Ayes CARRIED
6. RESIGNATION FROM ZBA
Steve Clark submitted a letter of resignation from the Zoning Board of Appeals so he can serve on the Planning Commission as Council ex-officio.
MOTION by Wolak, seconded by Sutherland, to accept the resignation of Steve Clark for the Zoning Board of Appeals effective immediately with regret.
All Ayes CARRIED
7. APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL EX-OFFICIO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION
President Stork recommended Steve Clark to fill the Council Ex-Officio seat on the Planning Commission as required by the Zoning Ordinance. The seat will be vacated by Michael Stirrett. Stork stated that this was a suggestion of Trustee Cooper last year to rotate the Council Ex-Officio seat on a yearly basis.
MOTION by Cooper, seconded by Wolak, to appoint Steve Clark as member ex-officio to the Village of Armada Planning Commission for a term ending November 22, 2010.
All Ayes CARRIED
8. CALL TO ACTION FORMS
President Stork discussed the call to action forms, which are located, filled out, and filed at the Village office, and are used to inform commissioners and supervisors of resident concerns. She explained that these forms are maintained by the clerical staff, not the Trustees, to assure that they are all located in one binder. Copies will be given to respective Trustees to respond to the resident’s concerns and the resolution area should be completed when the resident is informed of the resolution. Trustee Wolak suggested assigning complaint numbers to the form for better tracking.
9. PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX CONTRACT AND RESOLUTION
Treasurer Adair explained to Council that Macomb County contracts with the Village, and has since before she was elected, to buy delinquent real property taxes within the Village and she does not issue for warrants to collect, the County Treasurer does. She explained that the County is now contracting with municipalities to collect their own personal property taxes, which is a business tax. She stated that the advantage to the County is that they will collect the interest on late taxes and the advantage to the Village is that the collections will be handled solely by the County. No charges will be incurred by the Village.
MOTION by Wolak, seconded by Clark, to approve the resolution to direct the Treasurer to enter into an agreement to provide that the Macomb County Treasurer shall collect the delinquent personal property tax of the Village of Armada for the tax year 2005 and all subsequent years until canceled by either party and to have the President and Treasurer attest.
Ayes: Sutherland, Stirrett, Stork, Wolak, Clark, Cooper
Nays: None
Absent: Coenen CARRIED
10. MUNIVEST
Treasurer Adair briefed Council on Munivest which is a brokerage which deals exclusively with municipalities and unions and offers potential future investment opportunities. After discussion, Council agreed to invite Munivest to a future Council meeting for a presentation.
11. APPROVAL OF RCM MINUTES OF 11/09/09
Correction to page three, first paragraph, forth sentence from the end reads, “Chabot stated that, weather permitting, the final coat of asphalt should be applied.” Should read “Chabot stated that, weather permitting, the final coat of asphalt should be applied by the end of the week.” Correction to page three, under motion to adjourn, time of adjournment is listed as 9:12, should be 8:12.
MOTION by Cooper, seconded by Clark, to approve the minutes of the November 9, 2009 regular meeting of the Village Council as amended.
All Ayes CARRIED
12. AMENDMENT TO APPROVED MINUTES OF 10/26/09
The approved minutes from the meeting of 10/26/09 were brought back before Council to remove some wording. Correction to page 5, first paragraph, last sentence reads “Stork stated that this has been addressed by adding top soil to the trenches so the grade…” should read “Stork stated that this has been addressed by adding top soil so the grade…” Trustee Cooper stated that she feels that this type of item should be under new business, not the Consent Agenda as these minutes were previously approved. President Stork stated that this item was placed on the Consent Agenda at the suggestion of the Village Attorney.
MOTION by Clark, seconded by Cooper, to correct approved minutes of October 26, 2009 regular meeting of the Village Council as amended.
Ayes: Clark, Cooper, Wolak, Sutherland, Stork
Nays: Stirrett
Absent: Coenen CARRIED
OLD BUSINESS
1. STREET ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Street Administrator Clark gave a brief update of the Franklin/Hollweg Street Project. He stated that the second coat of asphalt is down and restoration work on the ditches is done. He stated that there are still a few punch list items to be completed but the project is basically done. Scott Chabot discussed the project and the punch list items with Council stating that the contractors were working today to smooth out the cold joints. The DPW will be moving mailbox posts to position them closer to the road. Some areas of loose matting need to be addressed. The S.E. corner of Torrey and Franklin has excess vegetation which will be removed and the general site clean up needs to be completed. Chabot stated that the seeding will need to be monitored in the spring and that the contractor is responsible for the any additional seeding if necessary. Chabot also stated that the preliminary costs are within the budgeted amounts. Discussion included prohibiting parking of Franklin until the road is stabilized and future soil boring on Simons, Barrows and Teitz Streets for future projects. Clark stated that he feels that the project turned out well and he thanked Scott for all of his hard work and dealing with residents. Clark also thanked President Stork and the office staff.
CITIZENS COMMENTS
None Received.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
None Received.
Trustee Cooper and President Stork made community announcements.
No further business.
MOTION by Cooper, seconded by Sutherland, to adjourn the meeting at 8:26 pm.
All Ayes CARRIED
Minutes submitted by:
Michelle Poulos
Armada Village Clerk