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St. Ignace City Council Meeting Minutes The meeting was called to order at 8:00 p.m. by Mayor Grondin with the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilmember Gustafson gave the invocation. Present: Councilmember Della- Moretta, Fullerton, Gustafson, LaLonde,Tamlyn-Massaway, Wyse, Mayor Grondin. Absent: None. Staff Present: Eric Dodson, City Manager, Prentiss M. Brown, Jr., City Attorney;Renee Vonderwerth, City Clerk; Eugene Elmer, Assessor /Treasurer; Les Therrian, Superintendent of Utilities; Tim Matelski, Chief of Police; Deb Evashevski, DDA Director; Paul Sved, Bldg. Insp; Bucky Robinson, Fire Chief. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 20, 2007 were approved as presented. Additions to the Agenda: None. 1. WASTE MANAGEMENT CONCERN - VISITORS' BUREAU: Lynne Piippo, from the Visitors' Bureau, voiced several concerns regarding a commercial customers Waste Management pick-up service to their business. City Manager Dodson stated that he would take these concerns to Waste Management and bring back their response to Council at the next meeting. Lynne Piippo thanked Council for their consideration with this matter. 2. YELLOW BIKE PROJECT: Mary Swiderski, representing the Wellness Coalition from MSU Extension, presented the Yellow Bike project to Council. In addition, she informed Council that her supervisor, Michelle Walk, feels the project should be insured and requested the City to consider adding it to their insurance policy. It was the consensus of Council to have the City Manager research this and bring a recommendation back to the next Council Meeting. 3. REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: City Manager Dodson informed Council that the Real Estate Committee met on August 15th to discuss the possible purchase of Starline property adjacent to the American Legion Park, adding that the committee has recommended not pursuing the property purchase at this time because of budgetary limitations. After a lengthy discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Gustafson, seconded by Councilmember LaLonde that the Real Estate Committee meet with the Treasurer, DDA Director, Clerk and other pertinent administration to review all issues relating to placing this proposal on the ballot and bring a recommendation back to Council by the first meeting in October. Motion carried unanimously. 4. INTRODUCTION OF TOWER ORDINANCE, ARTICLE XIII, CHAPTER 38- ZONING ORDINANCE: City Manager Dodson stated that the planning commission and the Building Inspector have been working on an ordinance to regulate towers, and summarized the contents of the ordinance presented to them for introduction. It was moved by Councilmember LaLonde, seconded by Councilmember Wyse to introduce the Tower Ordinance. Motion carried unanimously. 5. REQUEST FOR PUBLIC HEARING: It was moved by Councilmember Gustafson, seconded by Councilmember Wyse to hold a Public Hearing for the Tower Ordinance on September 17, 2007. Motion carried unanimously. 6. DEFICIT REDUCTION PLAN: City Manager Dodson stated that the audit committee met to discuss the deficit elimination notification received from the State of Michigan, and reviewed the plan prepared for submission to the State addressing these issues. 7. DEFICIT REDUCTION RESOLUTION: Resolution The following resolution was offered for adoption by Councilmember Gustafson, supported by Councilmember LaLonde: WHEREAS, the 2006 City of St. Ignace audit reflected some deficit funds in the audit report; and WHEREAS, the attached letter, dated September 4, 2007, to the Local Audit and Finance Division, Michigan Department of Treasury, outlines the method to correct the deficits. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the St. Ignace City Council approves the deficit elimination plan as per the attached letter. Roll Call: Yes: Councilmember Fullerton, Gustafson, LaLonde, Tamlyn-Massaway, Wyse, Mayor Grondin, Councilmember Della-Moretta. No: None. Absent: None. Resolution declared Adopted. 8. BUDGET REQUEST/BUDGET SCHEDULE: City Manager Dodson, referring to the form included in the packet, requested Council's input on possible projects, programs and any saving plans to help implement a financial modeling program, adding that this will be one of many parts that will be brought together to form a budget for 2008 and future years. A budget will be presented to Council at the first meeting in October and work sessions will be scheduled until the budget is finalized. 9. WATER/SEWER UPDATE: City Manager Dodson updated Council that the water fund has a positive cash balance at this time, however a bond payment is due in September which will put it back into a negative balance. In addition, the sewer fund cash balance is still negative, but overall following the projections closely. 10. FORT deBUADE UPDATE: City Attorney Brown informed Council that the closing on the purchasing of Fort deBuade occurred on August 27, 2007, stating that this will have a positive effect on the City of St. Ignace. 11. CITYMANAGER EVALUATION: At this time, Mayor Grondin collected the remaining evaluations', stating that the negotiation committee will meet to review them before the next Council meeting. 12. .MICHIGAN OPEN MEETINGS ACT: City Attorney Brown addressed Council in reference to a letter from the St. Ignace News, which requested the City to revoke their action at the last meeting because they violated the law. City Attorney Brown informed Council that according to the Open Meetings Public Act 267 Section 8 ( c ), "a Public body may meet in closed session for strategy and negotiations sessions connected with the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement if either negotiating party requests a closed hearing", and advised the City not to revoke the decision as requested by the St. Ignace News. At this time, Councilmember Gustafson reaffirmed the motion made at the previous meeting, stating that the Building Inspector requested a review of one aspect of his contract and the negotiating committee's recommendation was to revise that one portion of his contract to allow him to sell forty hours of vacation three times per year. It was moved by Councilmember Gustafson, seconded by Mayor Grondin to reaffirm that decision. Motion carried unanimously. Councilmember LaLonde clarified that he voted no on the original motion but is voting yes on the motion to reaffirm that decision. 13. RECREATION DEPARTMENT INTERNSHIP: Mayor Grondin stated that at the last meeting Councilmember Tamlyn- Massaway voiced her concern regarding the recreation department internship, adding that at the last meeting he requested the City Attorney to review the concern and bring an opinion back to Council. At this time, City Attorney Brown stated that after researching and studying the issue, it is his opinion that the payment to the intern, who is a daughter of a Councilmember, is a violation of the anti-nepotism section in the City Charter and advised Administration that payment for this type of work is avoided. At this time, Mayor Grondin directed the City Manager to write a policy concerning internships, to provide guidelines on this issue, adding that he supports the City Manager's decision because his intent was to help a college student defray some costs and it turns out that the stipend is a violation and should not have been paid. Consideration of Bills: Councilmember Gustafson inquired on the bills from Oscar Larsen for installation of emergency stop systems and replacing pumps, nozzles and lamps at the marina. Gene Elmer informed Council that for the last four years, the Fire Chief has requested this safety issue be addressed and it finally got done. Also, Councilmember Gustafson, inquired on the bill from Comtech for geo-gird. Les Therrian stated that Chambers Street is being rebuilt and this geo-gird is being used to hold the road in and keep it from shifting in the spring. Lastly, Councilmember Gustafson inquired on what differences the City is experiencing without the prison labor and how the City is addressing these issues. Les Therrian stated that it is trying to be addressed in-house. Public Comment: At this time, Mayor Grondin inquired of Councilmember Tamlyn-Massaway if the information that she would not be attending the MML conference was correct as she was nominated at the last meeting to be the voting delegate. Councilmember Tamlyn-Massaway affirmed that she could not attend. At this time, City Clerk Vonderwerth informed Council that she would not be able to attend as well. It was moved by Mayor Grondin, seconded by Councilmember Wyse to appoint Councilmember LaLonde as the voting delegate. Motion carried unanimously. Steve Dufresne inquired why the public restrooms at the Pavilion were not open Sunday night and wondered if there was any resolution as to set hours that they would be open. City Manager Dodson will look into the matter. Also, at this time, Gene Elmer stated that he was downtown on Sunday night and it was very busy with people all over the place and was shocked at the number of stores that were closed on the last big push of the summer.
The following bills were presented to Council for payment:
Mayor Paul Grondin Renee' D. Vonderwerth, City Clerk |
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