APPROVED
Minutes of a Regular Meeting
Pittsfield Charter Township Board of Trustees, September 10, 2002
E.A. Jackson Morris Hall, The Robert A. Lillie Service Center
6201 W. Michigan Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
Members
Present: Brostrom,Burhop, Conner, Lirones, Marine, Skrobola, Walter.
Members Absent: None.
Others Present: John
Phillips, Judith Walter, Kristin Orlowski, Fred Schwarze.
___________________________________________________________________________________
1.0 Call Meeting to Order
Supervisor Walter called the
meeting to order at 7:30 p.m., a quorum was present.
2.0 Pledge of Allegiance led bySupervisor Walter.
3.0 Roll Call – all members present.
4.0 Open Meetings Act/Public Comment I
5.0 Public Hearings/Presentations
6.0 Approval of Minutes
6.1 Request Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting held on August 27, 2002.
Trustee Burhop said that on page 3, 2nd paragraph from the bottom, it read “Mr. Shaeffer pointed out that goldenrod is a noxious invasive weed”. She wished to add the following comment to the minutes: “It’s sold by the Washtenaw County Commissioner in their spring plant and their fall plant sale. I have bought some from them, and it’s not a noxious weed because the pollen on goldenrod is bee-borne, and ragweed is airborne, so it’s ragweed that’s the nasty, not goldenrod. So, he didn’t know that.” She added that on page 2, 4th paragraph from the bottom, it read “Clerk Lirones said that the township had then asked him to work directly with George McCalla.” She wished to add the following comment to the minutes: “Shouldn’t that read, ‘Clerk Lirones said that Clerk Lirones had then asked him to work directly with the township,’ because I don’t think I was involved?”
Clerk Lirones said that the minutes merely quote what people say. She asked Trustee Burhop if she would like her comments added in a separate note in this week’s minutes.
Trustee Burhop said that would be fine. (Please see the first paragraph)
Trustee Brostrom said that on page 1, 2nd paragraph, there was a word missing because it read “…and have been told they need to from…”
Clerk Lirones said that the word should be “form”, not “from”.
Trustee Brostrom noted the correction. He said that on page 2, last paragraph, it should read “so that they” instead of “so that it”. On page 13, 5th paragraph, there was a semi-colon inserted into the word “Clerk” which should be removed. He added that under the 2nd Public Comment, where Trustee Conner spoke, it should read “this prompted the News to investigate the issue and talk to YCUA and to…”, and “this is the kind of measured”, not “measure”.
Motion by Treasurer Skrobola,
supported by Trustee Brostrom, to approve the minutes of the regular Board
meeting held on August 27, 2002, as corrected.
MOTION CARRIED.
6.2 Request Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting held on August 13, 2002.
Motion Treasurer Skrobola,
supported by Trustee Burhop, to approve the minutes of the regular Board
meeting held on August 13, 2002.
MOTION CARRIED.
7.0 Consent Agenda
8.0 Items from the Treasurer
9.0 Items from the Clerk
9.1 Request to Authorize Expenditure of $2,275.00 from Phase II for Wildlife Inventory in Central Area to come from Phase II EPA/DEQ Compliance Program, to be charged to account #286-818 Contracted Services.
Motion by Clerk Lirones, supported by Treasurer Skrobola, to authorize an expenditure of $2,275.00 from Phase II for Wildlife Inventory in the Central Area to come from the Phase II EPA/DEQ compliance program, to be charged to account #286-818 Contracted Services.
Trustee Marine asked how this fit in with the natural features inventory that the Natural Features and Wetlands Committees had been discussing.
Deputy Clerk Jan BenDor said that the Natural Features Committee had proposed a comprehensive inventory that would be rather expensive. That project had been postponed this year. She said that when she had looked at the deadlines for the grants she had realized that some information was needed in order to have a chance to compete for some of the grant money. She said that a low-cost preliminary inventory made sense. She said that a more comprehensive inventory of a larger area could always be done later, but that this one only focused on the Central Area Rural Preserve land. She added that this will also advance some of the goals for preparing a master plan for that property, which is a prerequisite for any DNR recreational grants.
Trustee Marine asked how the consultants were chosen to perform the inventory.
Deputy Clerk BenDor said that she thought it would be best to go with consultants that the State was familiar with, so their findings would be credible.
Trustee Brostrom asked if a comprehensive inventory was being considered seriously for the future, and if it was, would this current inventory reduce its cost.
Deputy Clerk BenDor said that the Committee felt a comprehensive inventory would be desirable in the future. She said that this preliminary survey may serve as a basis to qualify for other grants that may help pay for a more in-depth survey.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES:
Brostrom, Burhop, Conner, Lirones, Marine, Skrobola, Walter.
NAYS:
None.
ABSENT:
None.
ABSTAIN:
None.
MOTION CARRIED.
9.2 Request Approval for Payment of the Payables, checks 39936-40050 in the amount of $688,656.86.
Motion by Trustee Conner, supported by Clerk Lirones, to approve the payment of the payables, checks 39936-40050 in the amount of $688,656.86.
Trustee Burhop asked what the Applebee’s charge was for.
Supervisor Walter said that it was a USW refund for bonds and escrows for inspections.
Trustee Burhop asked what the Metron-Farnier charge was for.
Supervisor Walter said that it was most likely the purchase of more meters.
Trustee Burhop pointed out the charge for Native Prairie Restorations. She said she hoped that everyone had read her letter and were aware of how she feels about it. She said that it was taxpayers’ money and had not been approved by anyone but the Clerk.
Trustee Marine asked what the “National Testing Laboratories” and “Brookside lab test” charges were.
Supervisor Walter said the water supply at Brookside Subdivision needed to be tested on a regular basis to make sure that it was safe.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES:
Brostrom, Conner, Lirones, Marine, Skrobola, Walter.
NAYS:
Burhop.
ABSENT:
None.
ABSTAIN:
None.
MOTION CARRIED.
10.0 Items from the Supervisor/Assessor
Supervisor Walter spoke about the recent confusion concerning the rubbish pick-up. He said that the township administration had met with representatives from Great Lakes Waste, and it had been discovered that the rubbish company only observes six holidays per year: New Year’s Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. He said that these should be the only times in which services are disrupted. He said that a letter will be sent out to the residents explaining which holiday pick-ups are delayed.
Trustee Burhop said that when she called Great Lakes customer service, they told her to put rubbish out on the regular day, which is the wrong information.
Supervisor Walter said that there had been some labor difficulties in the past that had been straightened out, and he wanted everyone to know that the rubbish collection is taken very seriously. He said that a rubbish contract had been signed last year that called for a price increase as of December 31st of this year that will be the smaller of either 3% or the CPI. He said that he wanted to warn the residents and recommended that the rubbish rate be tentatively set at $9.80. He went on to say that he had spoken to Phil Maly who had told him that the Utilities Department was making every effort to pull the numbers together to get a report on the Metron-Farnier meters. Also, he said that a work session for the proposed 2003 budget had been scheduled for Monday, September 23 at 7:30 pm at Morris Hall.
11.0 Items from the Office of Public Safety
11.1 Request Approval for Enrollment in classes: Literature 100 (50%) and Math (50%), for Sergeant Belknap beginning September 4, 2002 and ending December 18, 2002, at a cost of $404.70.
Motion by Trustee Brostrom,
supported by Trustee Burhop, to approve enrollment in classes: Literature 100
(50%) and Math (50%), for Sergeant Belknap beginning September 4, 2002 and
ending December 18, 2002, at a cost of $404.70.
MOTION CARRIED.
11.2 Request Approval for Enrollment in Criminal Justice Ethics (100%) for Dispatcher Waddell beginning September 4, 2002 and ending December 18, 2002, at a cost of $162.00.
Motion by
Clerk Lirones, supported by Trustee Brostrom, to approve enrollment in Criminal
Justice Ethics (100%) for Dispatcher Waddell beginning September 4, 2002 and
ending December 18, 2002 at a cost of $162.00.
MOTION CARRIED.
11.3 Request to Approve Tuition Reimbursement for Sergeant Belknap in the amount of $181.12 (50%), for History 103.
Motion by
Trustee Brostrom, supported by Clerk Lirones, to approve tuition reimbursement
for Sergeant Belknap in the amount of $181.12 (50%), for History 103.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES:
Brostrom,
Burhop, Conner, Lirones, Marine, Skrobola, Walter.
NAYS:
None.
ABSENT:
None.
ABSTAIN:
None.
MOTION CARRIED.
11.4 Request to Approve Tuition Reimbursement for Lieutenant Hagen in the amount of $645.00 (100%), for Intervention Strategies in School Violence.
Motion by
Clerk Lirones, supported by Trustee Brostrom, to approve tuition reimbursement
for Lieutenant Hagen in the amount of $645.00 (100%), for Intervention
Strategies in School Violence.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES:
Brostrom,
Burhop, Conner, Lirones, Marine, Skrobola, Walter.
NAYS:
None.
ABSENT:
None.
ABSTAIN:
None.
MOTION CARRIED.
11.5 Receive Police Department Call Activity Statistical Report for the month of August 2002.
Motion by
Trustee Connor, supported by Trustee Burhop, to receive the Police department
call activity statistical report for the month of August 2002.
MOTION CARRIED.
11.6 Receive Resignation of Paid On-Call Fire Fighter, Daniel Burke.
Motion by
Trustee Brostrom, supported by Trustee Burhop, to receive the resignation of
Paid On-Call Firefighter Daniel Burke.
MOTION CARRIED.
11.7 Request to Approve Replacement of Paid On-Call Firefighters.
Motion by
Trustee Brostrom, supported by Trustee Burhop, to approve replacement of Paid
On-Call Firefighters, as outlined in the memorandum from Director Phillips.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Brostrom,
Burhop, Conner, Lirones, Marine, Skrobola, Walter.
NAYS:
None.
ABSENT:
None.
ABSTAIN:
None.
MOTION CARRIED.
12.0 Items from the Office of Municipal Services/Planning and Zoning
12.1 Motion to Approve the Great Lakes Waste/B.F.I. Rubbish Report and Pay the Bill in the amount of $48,759.15, for the month of August 2002.
Motion by Treasurer Skrobola, supported by Clerk Lirones, to approve the Great Lakes Waste/B.F.I. Rubbish Report and pay the bill in the amount of $48,759.15, for the month of August 2002.
Trustee Conner asked if there was any way to track the quality of service received by the township residents from Great Lakes Waste.
Supervisor Walter said that it is generally driven by customer feedback, but aside from that there is no formal evaluation process.
Trustee Conner suggested implementing a way of quantifying their performance similar to the call activity statistical report put out by the Public Safety Department.
Trustee Brostrom asked if customer calls were clustered around the holidays, or whether there were other calls as well.
Supervisor Walter said that the calls generally come in clusters around the holidays because of confusion about which holidays result in delayed pick-up. He said that the important thing for everybody is to know when their trash is going to be picked up.
Trustee Burhop said that the township ordinance states that the trash cans must be out by 6 o’clock in the morning and taken back in by 6 o’clock in the evening. She said that sometimes the trash isn’t picked up until after 7:00 pm.
Supervisor Walter said that the company seems willing to work with the township and had agreed to pay some of the cost of sending a post card to the residents. As for the tracking system, he said that once the new phone system is in order, that will be easier to do, since currently calls regarding rubbish pick-up do not go to a central collection point.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES:
Brostrom,
Burhop, Conner, Lirones, Marine, Skrobola, Walter.
NAYS:
None.
ABSENT:
None.
ABSTAIN:
None.
MOTION CARRIED.
12.2 Receive Building Department Permit Summary for the month of August 2002.
Motion by Treasurer Skrobola,
supported by Trustee Brostrom, to receive the Building Department permit
summary for the month of August 2002.
MOTION CARRIED.
12.3 Requesting Approval of Resolution Authorizing the hire of Mr. Todd Thornsberry to the Position of Housing Inspector-Building Department, effective September 16, 2002 at a starting salary of $34,898.00 per year, at Grade 4, Step 1 of the non-union administrative pay scale.
Motion by Treasurer Skrobola, supported by Clerk Lirones, to approve the resolution to hire Mr. Todd Thornsberry to the position of Housing Inspector – Building Department, effective September 16, 2002 at a starting salary of $34,898.00 per year, at Grade 4, Step 1 of the non-union administrative pay scale.
WHEREAS, the Pittsfield Charter Township Board of Trustees would like to authorize the hiring of Mr. Todd Thornsberry for the position of Housing Inspector, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Thornsberry meets the qualifications set forth in the Housing Inspector job description and has successfully completed the pre-employment hiring process.
NOW, THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Pittsfield Charter Township Board of Trustees authorize the hire of Mr. Todd Thornsberry, to serve in the position of Housing Inspector, effective Monday, September 16, 2002, at a starting salary of $34,898.00 per year, at Grade 4, Step 1, of the non-union administrative pay scale.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Brostrom,
Burhop, Conner, Lirones, Marine, Skrobola, Walter.
NAYS:
None.
ABSENT:
None.
ABSTAIN:
None.
MOTION CARRIED.
12.4 Request Approval to accept Ms. St. Charles’s Resignation with an effective date of August 12, 2002.
Motion by
Trustee Conner, supported by Treasurer Skrobola, to accept the resignation of
Ms. Sheri St. Charles from the position of Assistant Planner, with an effective
date of August 12, 2002.
MOTION CARRIED.
13.0 Items from the Parks & Recreation Department
14.0 Unfinished Business
15.0 New Business
16.0 Public Comment II-none.
17.0 Special Order of Business
17.1 Adjourn to Executive Session to discuss Fire Negotiations with the Township’s Legal Counsel.
Motion by
Clerk Lirones, supported by Treasurer Skrobola, to adjourn to executive session
to discuss Fire Negotiations with the township’s legal counsel.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES:
Brostrom,
Burhop, Conner, Lirones, Marine, Skrobola, Walter.
NAYS:
None.
ABSENT:
None.
ABSTAIN:
None.
MOTION CARRIED.
The Board adjourned from public session at 8:10 pm. At 8:42, the Board returned from closed executive session, and Supervisor Walter reconvened the public session.
18.0 Adjournment
Motion by
Treasurer Skrobola, supported by Trustee Burhop to adjourn.
MOTION CARRIED
The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 pm.
_____________________________________
Arianne Garza, Department Assistant
Recording Clerk
Pittsfield Charter Township
____________________________
Christina L. Lirones, Clerk
Pittsfield Charter Township
____________________________
James R. Walter, Supervisor
Pittsfield Charter Township
MINUTES APPROVED, AS CORRECTED, AT THE PITTSFIELD CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2002.
