Board of Trustees Minutes - Special Meeting
August 29, 2006

Supervisor Reaume called the meeting to order at 7:11 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Richard Reaume, Supervisor
Ron Edwards, Treasurer
Marilyn Massengill, Clerk
Kay Arnold, Trustee
Charles Curmi, Trustee
Robert Doroshewitz, Trustee
Steven Mann, Trustee

ABSENT: None

OTHERS PRESENT:

Randy Maycock, Fire Chief
Timothy Cronin, Township Attorney
Joe Bridgman, Deputy Clerk
Alice Geletzke, Recording Secretary
9 Members of the Public

D. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

     Special Meeting - Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Mrs. Massengill amended the agenda with the additions, under New Business, of Item J3, Resolution to State for Additional Voting Equipment, and Item J.4, Taking to Voters the Rescission of Public Act 78. She then moved to approve the agenda for the Board of Trustees Special Meeting of August 29, 2006, as amended. Seconded by Mr. Edwards.

AYES: Massengill, Edwards, Arnold, Doroshewitz, Reaume
NAYS: Curmi, Mann
Motion carried.

Mr. Curmi moved to take Public Comments and Questions prior to the Closed Session. Seconded by Mr. Edwards.

AYES: Curmi, Edwards, Doroshewitz, Reaume, Mann
NAYS: Arnold, Massengill

F. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS

Thomas Kato of Capital Acquisitions Development spoke regarding their continuing interest in the Township property, the offer submitted to the Clerk earlier, their readiness to close on the property, and the preliminary approvals received from MDOT, Wayne County, and the Planning Commission.

Ms. Arnold indicated the Planning Commission preliminary site plan approval was only for the bank area.

Mr. Mann noted the delay of several months caused by Mr. Kato’s dropping the original bid of $4.25 million given during the competitive bid process, resulting in the sale not being consummated. He appreciates their continuing to show interest; however, he personally doesn’t see how a commitment could be taken from Mr. Kato in the interests of the Township.

Richard Sharland was advised to bring up his questions regarding the audit and the rezoning during the agenda items.

CLOSED SESSION

At 7:30 p.m., it was moved by Mrs. Massengill, and seconded by Ms. Arnold, that a closed session be called for the purpose of:

RE: Discuss Sale of Township Hall Property

This is a permissible purpose under Michigan’s Open Meetings Act, Public Act No. 267, Article 15.268, Section 8, Paragraph (d). Ayes all on a roll call vote.

At 8:25 p.m., it was moved by Mrs. Massengill and seconded by Ms. Arnold to return to open session.

Ayes all on a roll call vote.

E. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA – N/A

G. PUBLIC HEARING – N/A

H. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – N/A

I. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

     I.1 Revised No Fault Insurance and Emergency Response
         Cost Recovery Policy

Attorney Cronin reviewed the changes in the proposed policy which were highlighted in the copy presented. Board members also requested the following changes: Second page, first paragraph, last sentence to read, “Where permitted by applicable law, the Treasurer may, subject to Board approval of any write-offs, pursue recovery of the cost……” and the second page, last paragraph to read, “at least annually” rather than “not less than annually”.

Mr. Doroshewitz moved to approve the revised No Fault Insurance and Emergency Response Cost Recovery Policy including changes noted today. Supported by Mr. Edwards.

Ayes all.

     I.2 Reconsideration of Rezoning requested in Application 1928/0506.

Mr. Edwards brought the item back for reconsideration at Ms. Arnold’s request.

Mr.Reaume moved that the Board reconsider rezoning requested in Application 1928/0506. Supported by Mr. Doroshewitz.

Ayes all.

Mr. Doroshewitz moved to table reconsideration of the rezoning requested in Application 1928/0506 and remand to the Planning Commission to answer this. Mr. Doroshewitz withdrew his motion.

Mr. Doroshewitz moved to remand to the Planning Commission the rezoning requested in Application 1928/0506 with direction to clarify questions as stated in the previous meeting, as well as any additional questions a Board member submits to the Planning Commission prior to reconsideration. Seconded by Mr. Curmi. This motion was also withdrawn.

Mr. Mann felt the direction should be as a Board, rather than individual members submitting questions to the Planning Commission.

Mr. Mann moved to table Application 1928/0506 until the Board of Trustees meeting of September 12, at which time deliberation can be made on a list of questions and direction to submit to the Planning Commission. Supported by Mr. Edwards.

Ayes all.

J. NEW BUSINESS

     J.1 2005 Audit – Joe Heffernan, Plante & Moran

Joe Heffernan and Pamela Barber of Plante & Moran discussed graphs pertaining to General Fund Revenues and Expenditure Trends (including transfers), Historical Trends in General Fund Revenues and Expenditures, General Fund Expenditure Categories, Comparison of General Fund Revenue and Expenditures, Fund Balance Trend Compared to Minimum Target – General Fund, and Water and Sewer and Solid Waste Disposal Fund Activity.

Mr. Heffernan commented on the 20% minimum fund balance target which shows Plymouth Township in a much better position than most other communities who are only at 50% of their fund balance target.

He also reviewed items that need consideration for next year such as discussing with state legislators the renewal of statuatory provisions of state shared revenue which are sunsetting in September, 2007. Also, the single business tax has now been eliminated, there are concerns with occupancy determining taxable value on rental units, possible elimination of cable fees, and the new accounting rule for the 2008 budget which mandates counting retiree health care costs.

Mr. Heffernan answered Mr. Sharland’s earlier question regarding the additional $1.9 million on the revenue side and a $1.9 million charge for services higher than last year. On the expense side, there is about a $1.3 million charge for public works. Both of those are because of the new Township Hall. On the revenue side, the water and sewer fund which, for accounting purposes, is not a governmental activity, had to contribute $1.9 million for their use of part of the building. The $1.3 million on the expenditure side is the non-capitalizable part of the building. The two of those net against each other for this one-time transaction for the building.

The Board discussed at length internal accounting procedures with regard to the issuance of checks.

Mr. Reaume moved to receive and file the 2005 Audit. Seconded by Ms. Arnold.

Ayes all.

      J.2 SOS Constitutional Amendment – Mike McGee, Miller Canfield

Mr. McGee addressed the Board regarding the possibility of the SOS (Stop Over Spending) amendment appearing on the November ballot and what the consequences might be for local governmental units.

He indicated multi-year financial obligations would require a Township-wide vote; for example, special assessment districts, and water and sewer rates.

Mr. Edwards thought rates should be reviewed and possibly revised in anticipation of this possibility.

The Board recessed briefly at 10:15 p.m. and resumed the meeting at 10:25 p.m.

     J.3 Approve Resolution to Obtain Additional Voting Machines

Mrs. Massengill informed the Board of the need for submission to this Resolution to the state so that two or four additional machines can be requested.

Ms. Arnold moved to adopted Resolution No. 06-08-29-25, to apply to the Secretary of State for a grant to purchase additional voting equipment. Seconded by Mr. Edwards.

Ayes all.

The Resolution reads as follows:
WHEREAS, the Plymouth Township Board wishes to apply to the Secretary of State for a grant to purchase an optical voting system and related Election Management System (EMS) software to comply with the Help American Vote Act (HAVA).
WHEREAS, the Plymouth Township Board has chosen to submit a grant application for a new optical scan voting system in 2006.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Plymouth Township Clerk is authorized to submit this grant application on behalf of Plymouth Township, Wayne County, on this day of August 29, 2006.

     J.4 Taking to Voters the Rescission of Public Act 78

Fire Chief Maycock and Mr. Edwards discussed the possibility and reasons for putting on the November ballot the rescission of Public Act 78, which creates the Civil Service Commission. Township voters approved this in 1964. Chief Maycock enumerated the difficulties in maintaining hiring lists and the potential high costs of testing procedures with many upcoming vacancies. He also noted several portions of the Act have been superceded by the labor contracts.
Mr. Mann was troubled that this discussion arose so close to the ballot deadline and he felt that members of the Fire Department would be in attendance if they knew this discussion was being held. He feels the Civil Service Commission takes the hiring and disciplinary actions out of the political arena.
Mr. Cronin agreed to furnish copies of Public Act 78 and the Board agreed to have the Supervisor contact the Civil Service Commission to set up a meeting with them.

K. SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS

Mr. Reaume discussed with Board members possible late September or early October dates for an Open House for the new Town Hall.

He updated Board members on the Sheldon Road underpass and checking on whether special payment terms have been extended by the County for the City of Plymouth.

L. TRUSTEE COMMENTS – There were none.

M. PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Don Schnetter felt that if Public Act 78 was law , it shouldn’t be changed by labor agreements.

N. ADJOURN

Mrs. Massengill moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Mr. Edwards.

Ayes all.

Meeting adjourned at 11:25 p.m.



Marilyn Massengill, Clerk
Charter Township of Plymouth

The Charter Township of Plymouth will provide necessary reasonable aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities at the meeting/hearing upon two weeks notice to the Charter Township of Plymouth. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Charter Township of Plymouth by writing or calling the Human Resource Office, Charter Township of Plymouth, 9955 N. Haggerty Road, Plymouth, Michigan, 48170, (734) 453-3202, TDD users: 1-800-649-3777 (Michigan Relay Service)-