November 9, 2009 Council Minutes

VILLAGE OF MATTAWAN
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
NOVEMBER 9, 2009

MINUTES
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

1.    CALL TO ORDER @ 7:00 pm

2.    PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3.    ATTENDANCE

Taken at the ZBA meeting.  All members were present.

4.    WELCOME TO THE PUBLIC

5.    ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEETING BEING RECORDED

6.    ADDITIONS TO AGENDA

Kucinich added 50th Anniversary to Old Business B.

Bemer added Wage Freeze to New Business C.

7.        APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Motion by Markle, support by Ashbaugh, to approve the agenda with the additions.  All members voted in favor.  Motion carried. 

8.    APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 26, 2009

Motion by Bemer, support by Spulick, to approve the minutes with the correction of Bemer stated instead of Markle on page two, item C.  All members voted in favor.  Motion carried.

9.      BILLS TO BE APPROVED IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 28,891.70

Motion by Kucinich, support by Bemer, to pay the bills in the amount of $28,891.70.  Roll call vote.  All members voted in favor.  Motion carried.

10.    LIMITED PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY AGENDA ITEM

There was no public comment.

11.    BOARD AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

There were no reports.

12.      STAFF REPORTS

    A       DPW SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT – TOM ANTHONY.

Superintendent Anthony stated they have been picking up leaves, working on a drainage easement in Summer Hill Estates, and located and turned all the valves.  Anthony reminded all of the MDOT meeting on the 19th regarding the round a bouts.  Anthony attended a tour of the waste water treatment plan at Coke with MPI to see how they are capturing methane and reusing it.

    B.     CLERKS REPORT
 
The property on South Point Drive has been served and resident made contact with Building Inspector Cirino and has moved out completely.  Cirino has given him until January to remove the building and clean up the lot.  If this is not done by then Cirino will proceed with final condemnation papers.

Reminder of MDOT Round About Meeting Thursday Nov. 19th Olson Activity Center 6-8P

  13.    OLD BUSINESS

A.    STREET LIGHTS AT GRANDEUR

At the May 11, 2009 meeting Superintendent Anthony stated in his Superintendent’s report it would cost the Village approximately $1,700 – $2,000 for two street lights in this area that resident Dave Ballinger had asked about at a previous meeting. 
   
A member asked where the money would come for these lights and Superintendent Anthony stated there were major street funds left from the graveling on 26th Street and we could pay for the lights out of that balance. 

Motion by Bemer, support by Spulick, to approve the purchase of two street lights in the Rue Abbe and Grandeur area to be installed as soon as possible.  Roll call vote.   All members voted in favor.  Motion carried. 

    B.  50TH ANNIVERSARY

Member Kucinich stated she felt we needed to have the anniversary celebration at the Township for more room for people to sit and talk.  Bemer stated she felt we should keep it at Village Hall.  The dates and time were discussed with no decisions being made.  President McLean stated she would like the Committee to get together again and get some details worked out.

14.      NEW BUSINESS 

    A.  REQUEST FROM WEST POINT TO ADDRESS COUNCIL REGARDING CONNECTION     FEES

A letter had been given to each Council member regarding this issue before the meeting.  Mr. Nortley was there to answer and questions.

Christopher Nortley informed Council of the possible sale of West Point in regard to the connection fees, stating they would like to work out something with the Village to pay these off.  Graham asked if they would be bringing any pre-HUD homes into the Village and Nortley replied there would be no pre-HUD units.  All new or used units will be HUD approved and all vinyl sided.  

Another letter will be sent regarding the connection fee payoff at a later date.     

    B.  SANITARY SEWER CONNECTION PROBLEM AT 12TH STREET

Please read memo provided by Superintendent Anthony

Superintendent Anthony stated they would be taking samples next week for sulfuric acid and when the results came back he would have a better idea of what we can do to fix this problem.

    C.  WAGE FREEZE FOR 2010/2011 BUDGET YEAR

Member Bemer stated she felt due to the economic times the Village should freeze wages for the upcoming budget year.  Member Markle stated she felt we should wait until closer to budget time to see where we stand financially at the end of this fiscal year before we take any action. 

Motion by Bemer, support by Ashbaugh, to freeze wages for the 2010/2011 budget year.  Roll call vote.  Five members voted in favor.  Markle voted no.  Spulick asbstained.  Opposition noted.  Motion carried.

15.       COMMUNICATIONS

    a.  MML Legislative Link October 27, and November 3, 2009.
   
 16.      COMMENTS FROM VISITORS

Chris Ballingall of 52879 25th Street stated she has been thinking about the upcoming budget year and knowing we are losing about $10,000 in revenue from West Point and the cuts at the State level on our revenue sharing, she would like to see something done to protect the brush and leaf pick up.  We had a year when they could only make one pass through the Village and then in 2004 the Council voted another cut for leaf pick up.  She would like to see the Village put on the next November ballot a 1 mill increase to support brush and leaf pick up.  One mill would bring in approximately $47,000 so the money would always be there so this can’t be taken away from the residents.  She encourages a special assessment and if that doesn’t work she will head up a petition herself to protect the future brush and leaf pick up in the Village.   She is just asking to have this put on the ballot.
Dave Ballinger of 52198 Rue Abbe thanked the Council for approving the street lights.

 17.        COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL

Bemer stated the banners will be ordered and the Committee is going to purchase seasonal ones for the park and some with pacific blue and yellow to go along with the school colors and some with purple ones with grapes and apples. 

                18.    ADJOURNMENT
   
.    Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM.