WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
February 3, 2009
CALL TO ORDER
The Williamstown Board of Trustees convened at 7:00 p.m. at
the Williamstown Township Hall located at 4990 Zimmer Road,
Williamston, Michigan. Supervisor Mickey Martin called the
meeting to order and reviewed the agenda.
PRESENT BY ROLL CALL
Present: Trustee Frans Wilbrink, Trustee Martin Wright, Trustee Bob Hayes, Trustee Rick Williams, Clerk Ernie Gaffner, Treasurer Janet Eyster, and Supervisor Mickey Martin.
Absent: None
MOTION by Supervisor Martin moved that Sergeant Steve Sopocy of the Ingham County Sheriff's Department be added to the agenda after Public Comment. Supervisor Martin also recommended items under New Business: Right of Way Ordinance for discussion and Board of Review Appointments be moved under the Consent Agenda.
SECONDED by Trustee Wright
Motion Carried
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AGENDA & NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Supervisor Martin called for public comment at 7:05
p.m.
Al LeBlanc, 4720 Jadestone Drive, expressed concern about
items being moved from New Business to the Consent Agenda and
questioned when the compensation commission would meet..
Helen LeBlanc, 4720 Jadestone Drive, would like to receive
emails from Williamstown Township.
Supervisor Martin closed public comment at 7:10 p.m.
Sgt. Steve Sopocy- shared a report of calls to the Ingham
County Sheriff's department for service that occurred in January,
2009. The report consisted of 911 calls, Criminal Complaints
(written) ranging from burglarys to car accidents, blotter calls
(i.e., deer/car accident no damage to car), traffic accidents and
hours of patrol in the Township. Sgt. Sopocy also asked residents
to be on the look out for a suspicious black male and white
female in a GMC Astro type van, license plate No. 9JQY02 posing
as salesmen selling shampoo and soaps then stealing property from
open garages and vehicles. Residents are asked to drive
cautiously this winter. Finally, Sgt. Sopocy has been assigned to
study intersections in Ingham County. This assignment will be
funded by a grant.
Discussion: The board would like Sgt. Sopocy to report
at each Township Board meeting, but request he email his report
prior to each board meeting so that they may place it in the
board's packet.
Bob Hayes arrived at 7:20 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of 1/20/09
Treasurer's Report
Building Inspector
Accounts Payable Checks - Paid
Payroll Checks - Paid
Accounts Payable Checks - Approval
Revenue Expenditure
Added item - appointments to the Board of Review: Ed Timm,
Gerald Eidt and Kurt Guter
During discussion a request was made to pull for amendment:
Accounts Payable Checks to be Approved and Revenue Expenditure
from the consent agenda.
MOVED by Trustee Hayes to approve the consent agenda consisting of: Minutes of 1/13/09 meeting; Minutes of 1/20/09; Treasurer's report for December 2008/January 2009; Building Inspector January Permits Issued and finaled; Accounts Payable Checks - Paid, checks #17753-17762; Payroll Checks - Paid, checks #40436-40465 with voided check 40437 for $16,781.64; Added item - appointments to the Board of Review: Ed Timm, Gerald Eidt and Kurt Guter
SECONDED by Trustee Williams
Motion Carried
MOVED by Treasurer Eyster after discussion and clarification of items to approve Consent Agenda items: Accounts Payable Checks to Approve, checks #17763-17791 for $11,376.23 and Revenue Expenditure Report ending 01/31/09.
SECONDED by Trustee Wright
Motion Carried
Right of Way Ordinance-Supervisor Martin shared the
draft ordinance which had been reviewed and modified, The
ordinance has been reviewed by the Communications Committee and
recommended it move forward.. The ordinance will now go to the
township legal counsel for review.
PLANNING COMMISSION
Planning Commission representative, Mike Fielek, commented on
recent commission business as outlined in the submitted minutes
of January 20, 2009 meeting, Wetlands Ordinance Amendments and
Zoning Ordinance Amendments-wetland buffer.
Amendments: Supervisor Martin shared changes to the
Wetlands Ordinance on page 2-2 under Continuing Violation the
word substantive should be placed after…but no
substantive ; then on page 4-4, Section 4.4, Protective of
Wetlands During Land Division and Development this item should be
acceptable by the Township Planner and Assessor prior to
recording. and the ptoperty owner shal provide a copy of the
recorded affidavit or deed restriction to the township Then page
6-2, Section 6-2, Mitigation should read 1. No Permitted Net
Loss of ..,. first sentence, remove the word
net
MOTION by Trustee Hayes to move the approval of the Wetland Protection Ordinance
(with December 2006 amendments and proposed amendments recommended to the
Township Board by the Planning Commission on October 21, 2008.)
SECONDED by Trustee Wright
Motion Carried
Amendments: Supervisor Martin shared Revisions to the
Williamstown Township Zoning Ordinance to Regulate Wetland Buffer
Areas. Page 4, Item 17 should read …maintain an
established lawn or trail (added: or trail) that was
created…
MOTION by Trustee Hayes to move the approval of the revisions to the Williamstown Township Zoning Ordinance to Regulate Buffer Areas as amended.
SECONDED by Treasurer Eyster
Motion Carried
Commissioner Fielek shared the Zoning Ordinance Public
Hearing on definitions is set for the next meeting in two weeks.
The Home Business/Home Occupation is still under discussion and
finally the meeting last Tuesday with Williamston City Planning
Commission went well, there are some common interest and a wish
list is under discussion. The next time the two convene jointly
they will discuss CATA and how to better utilize this
service.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Budget 2009-2010 Budget Approval-Supervisor Martin
shared the Public Hearing was held February 3, 2009, at 6:15 p.m.
to review 2009-2010 budget.
Discussion: Mr. Gaffner shared after attending an
interesting conference this past week he has a better
understanding of his statutory duties as clerk. This position
holds more responsibility than many others and additional funds
will most likely be requested for the position of deputy clerk.
Many areas need to be brought current to meet the requirements of
the State and this will take time and money. Board members feel
Williamstown Township needs to keep costs down, live within the
income budget in order to stay fiscally responsible.
MOTION by Treasurer Eyster to adopt the 2009-2010 Budget presented at public session on February 3, 2009, as presented.
SECONDED by Trustee Williams
Motion Carried
MOTION by Trustee Wilbrink for a Roll Call vote on the 2009-2010 Budget.
SECONDED BY Eyster
Motion Failed
NEW BUSINESS
Road Patrol - Grant-County Commissioner, Randy Schafer,
stated Ingham County used to have 35 road patrol on duty and now
they have 23 with a 5 million dollar deficit. Commissioner
Schafer shared there are grants available up to $100,000 to
contract for police services. Commissioner Schafer recommends
that Williamstown Township submit a Resolution to Contract for
Police Services for this one-time grant and Mr. Schafer will take
the Resolution to the Board of Commissioners for review and ask
that they live up to their grant offer which will be available on
January 1, 2010.
MOTION by Trustee Wilbrink to move Resolution #76 requesting a grant of $200,000 for Ingham County to permit the Williamstown Township to contract for police service for the Township.
ROLL CALL
Ayes: 7 Supervisor Martin Trustee Williams Nays: 0 Motion Carried
Treasurer Eyster Trustee Wright
Trustee Hayes Clerk Gaffner
Trustee Wilbrink
Property acquisition from County-Supervisor Martin
shared Williamstown Township has acquired property through
forfeiture of non-payment of taxes due. Parcel #33 03 03 26 201
026 consisting of 0.07 acres on Beeman Road, zoned R1. It was
recommended Williamstown Township sell the property.
MOTION by Williams to move that parcel number 33 03 03 26 201 026 consisting of 0.07 acres on Beeman Road, zoned R1 be sold by Williamstown Township, contacting the adjacent property owners and contiguous neighbors before advertising.
SECONDED by Clerk Gaffner
Motion Carried
Budget Amendment-Supervisor Martin shared in order to
maintain sufficient funds in Clerk Department #215-703 a budget
adjustment of $1,000 is recommended.
MOTION by Trustee Wright to move the budget be amended to add $1,000 to GL 101-215-703 (deputy clerk wage) and reduce GL 101-215-864 (Clerk's department conferences and training).
SECONDED by Trustee Hayes
Motion Carried
Reports--Departments & Committees
Supervisor Martin shared Trustee Williams, Trustee Hayes,
Clerk Gaffner, and Treasurer Eyster joined her at the MTA
conference. Supervisor Martin asked those who attended to submit
a written report of their experience by the end of the month.
This information will be shared at the Williamstown Township
Board Meeting in March.
Communications Commission Meeting, January 21, 2009, Marv Thomson, shared an
AT & T Contract Update. Mr. Thomson shared Broadstripe a
cable and Internet provider is in chapter 11 Bankruptcy and plans
to restructure their debt. They expect to continue business as
usual. AT & T will begin service in a small portion of the
township (Adjacent to Meridian Township) in the Pebblebrook
Subdivision area. Currently, the township has 167 Internet
subscribers. Looking to have equipment lease paid off by April,
2011 and the Tower fee is $167 per month, at the present time.
Subscriber issues have been Freedom Net is not returning calls,
one subscriber on Barry Road has had trouble with service and it
has not been fixed, speed of Internet service has been slow.
Other than that, service has been satisfactory.
Trustee Wright shared he attended a Road Commission Meeting.
The topic of discussion was concerning administration fees on
road projects. Historically it has been at 11 percent, then 7
percent then in 2008 0 percent. Further discussion is required.
For future reference, Resident, Tom Mitchell, sits on the Road
Commission. Supervisor Martin shared the Road Commission would
like Williamstown Township to work with them on Road Repair. It
was recommended the Road Commission Director attend the next
Williamstown Township Board meeting in March.
Trustee Williams shared Williamstown Township minutes by Clerk
Gaffner and recording Secretary Debbie Schultz have been
superb.
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Nancy Williams, 131 Bismark, offered comments for property
acquisition Parcel #33 03 03 26 201 026.
Al Leblanc, 4720 Jadestone Drive. Offered comment on the use of a roll call vote.
Rod Imhoff, 2380 Wilgus Road, shared comments regarding Road
Commissions plan to fix Williamston Road. Mr. Imhoff would like
copies of board packets made available to the public at the
regular meetings.
Helen LeBlanc, 4720 Jadestone, commented on deputy raises, snow plowing and mowing services.
Supervisor Martin closed public comment 9:06 pm.
MOTION by Trustee Williams supported by Trustee Hayes
moved to adjourn 9:07 p.m.
____________________________
Ernie Gaffner
Township Clerk